I started this book thinking it would be a light-hearted family drama set at a summer resort. After finishing this one, it’s hard for me to put this in one genre - there’s some romance, some humor, lots of different mysteries (present and past) going on. But it’s also got dark undertones that I was not expecting. And a murder. I was not expecting a murder mystery at all!

If you know these story elements going in - I think you’ll like this one. From a mystery perspective, it’s really interesting - what tore Traci and her best friend apart over twenty years ago? And was the long-ago drowning an accident? Events from the past mix with struggles in the present as Traci works to get the hotel on solid footing again.

I will say this one was difficult for me to get into at the beginning. Aside from my whole genre misunderstanding, there’s a lot packed into this book. The early chapters spend time rotating through a large cast of characters to set up the story. I listened to the audiobook, and sometimes it was a bit of a struggle at the beginning to keep track of the characters. Once the book got going, I enjoyed the narration and the mystery elements.

Thanks to @macmillan.audio for the advance copy of this one!

3.5⭐️

Big thank you to NetGalley & MacMillan audio for the ALC copy of this cute szummer mystery!
This one is out now!!!

The cover for this one is absolutely adorable and so fun for summer!
I really enjoyed the storyline of this. I thought that it was a tad predictable on how it would play out and wrap up, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I thought the characters were perfect for this story and the audio was done so well that it really drew me in to them!

Definitely a fun, pool day read!

Thank you to #partner @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copy of this audiobook! #macaudio2024

Can you believe, this was my first @marykayandrews book?! I can’t either but I have quite a few more on my shelves and one or two are definitely going in my bag for our cruise in a few weeks! I was quickly and easily immersed in the atmosphere of this bougie Georgia beach resort thanks to the impeccable writing and the narrator’s smooth and chipper voice. Based on the cover alone, I went in to this one expecting a fun and fluffy beach read but that is not at all what it is! There is deception, long-buried secrets, a cold case, murder, and a heaping helping of family drama. I was pleasantly surprised and could not stop listening!

If you haven’t picked up a Mary Kay Andrews book yet, definitely start with this one! I’ll be recommending this one all summer long!

This was a DNF for me. I found the characters, while I don’t believe were written to be likeable made it intolerable to continue reading.

I didn’t feel like the narrator for the audiobook added to the story. I found the voice to be a tad grating.

Thank you for the copy. I wish I had enjoyed it more.

Summers at the Saint is a great summer beach read, as it has the perfect balance of romance, suspense, and family drama. However, did struggle in the beginning while the author was laying the backstory of each individual. The pace quickly picks up when tragedies start plaguing the hotel and it's owner Traci Eddings. The reader is left wondering what's gonna happen next and if everything will work out for Mrs. Eddings and her employees. I enjoyed the book, but one of the downfalls of several story lines is you must pay close attention or you may miss an important detail. This is especially essential for the audiobook. However, the narrator does a wonderful job for the audio version distinguishing between the character's voices so it isn't monotonous and boring. I received the audiobook as an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

This may be my favorite #MKA book yet! Dare I say?

I was honored to have read an early copy.

I love the creative cast Mary Kay created for what’s another of her five star reads!
The character development & introduction of the key players individually at the beginning is really great! As the story further unraveled, pieces of each character were peeled back to learn more than we originally knew in the beginning.

I adored the characters, Parrish & Olivia. I especially loved the bond I share with Parrish of watching Friends episodes at night trying to fall asleep.

Thrown into this enchanting summer read is a murder that rocked me.

I must admit, I’d be an “ain’t!”

As usual, Kathleen McInerney dazzled with her narration of the latest MKA book!

Told with #MaryKayAndrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, & eye for delicious detail about human nature, #SummersattheSaint is a #beachread with depth & heart.

Thank you so much to Mary Kay Andrews, St Martins Press, Macmillan audio and NetGalley for my advance copy & audiobook! All opinions are my own.

I was disappointed with this book. I didn’t feel engaged with it at all. I felt like the writing and dialogue between characters was very immature.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 Stars
Happy pub day to Mary Kay Andrews and Summers at the Saints! Thank you to @marykayandrews, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen 🎧 to this book for an honest review.

📅 Tuesday, May 7, 2024 was the pub date for Summers at the Saint. 📅

🎧The narrator for this audiobook is Kathleen McInerney.🎧

I do love a good Mary Kay Andrews read. She is on my auto-buy and auto-read lists. From a girl born and raised in the south, I can confirm that she captures southern flare beautifully in each and every work!

Summers at the Saint did not disappoint in any capacity. I loved the typical southern appeal with Mary Kay’s splash of mystery and whodunnit. It’s the perfect summer read. As a matter of fact, I suggest that you read it poolside with your favorite cocktail!

Everyone in Georgia knows The Saint Cecelia as “The Saint”. It draws the wealthiest clientele and historically has had a highly competitive hiring process. However, The Saint has struggled financially over the past few years and they are faced with offering enhanced employee benefits such as onsite housing. The Saint is the best place to vacation and work. Every summer is sinfully sweet except the two in which deaths happened on the property. It’s amazing to see who knows what and who is connected to one another. What other shady happenings can be happening right under the owner’s nose? Pick up the book to find out. It’s definitely worth the read and may even surprise you a time or two!

Summertime ~ Hotel life ~ Family ~ Secrets ~ Strong Women ~ Coastal Georgia ~ Social classes ~ Romance & Love ~ Murder ~ Financial ruin ~ Siblings ~ Well-written characters ~ Beautiful backdrop ~ Audiobook ~ Must read for MKA fans

I highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was released 07 May 2024.

This is powerful book. You will feel a whirlwind of emotions. You will watch a group of unlikely friends become each others everything, as people like to call their ride or die friends. It follows a path of friends from college into adulthood and through life events and self discovery. You will be crying with them and cheering them on through each journey they take. You will want to visit the places, see the views, and enjoy the food and drinks. It is a very inspiring story of of 4 unlikely people becoming everything they dream possible and more.

*Beawre of tigger warnings for sucide, mental health, lose and addiction. *

I’m an occasional reader of Mary Kay Andrews and thought Summers at The Saint looked like a fun book to kick off my summer reading. It was ... but I was surprised this is a murder mystery. It’s set at the beginning summer on the grounds of a luxury resort named the St. Cecelia on the Georgia coast. “The Saint” has been owned and operated by several generations of the Eddings family, and the story is told from management’s perspective. It was interesting to learn about the “behind the scenes” aspects of running The Saint, and the sense of place is strong with detailed descriptions of food, amenities, and furnishings.

The plot includes many dramatic elements including family secrets, rich people behaving badly, rivalries, and romance. There’s a contemporary nod to Dirty Dancing with young resort employees living on the grounds in staff housing. This novel is long (450 pages) even at 1.75 speed, and it mostly held my attention. The audiobook, expertly narrated by Kathleen McInerney, felt like a movie in my mind.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for access to the advanced listening copy of the audiobook.

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT
Mary Kay Andrews

This is your sign from the universe telling you that just because a popular author is liked by many doesn’t mean they are going to be liked by you. The only difference between your and Tiffany’s reading experience is you.

Don’t let Tiffany pick the books you read.

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT is about a resort, Traci, the owner of the resort, and it’s about a class structure (the SAINTS and the AINTS), you either are or you ain’t,

Traci must have a great summer season to save herself and her hotel. She has a reputation to uphold and a sneaky family member to keep on her watchlist. To complicate things, she just hired her ex-besties daughter which is its own box of trouble.

Will she save herself? Will she save the resort?

I was stuck on a 10-hour flight in a tight seat and chose this to listen to.

That was a mistake but not my first one. It felt torturous listening to the audiobook and the combination of being confined to a sitting position while listening felt like it would never end. If I had died on the flight and SUMMERS AT THE SAINT was the last book, I ever read my elders would assuredly roll over in their graves.

My first mistake was not reading the synopsis or checking out any other books by Andrews before requesting this one. I wanted an escape, something set on hot summery days, maybe an even hotter summer fling, anything but this.

Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copies!

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT…⭐⭐

I read the audio version, thanks to NetGalley.

Story: 5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
Narration: 5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
Overall: 5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐

Mary Kay Andrews, Thank You For This Story

"Summers at the Sain" is a story that resonated with me. Having experienced the sudden loss of my father, I've been drawn to books that explore grief and overcoming it. This book didn't linger too long on the topic but addressed it enough to offer comfort and understanding, which I found helpful. The protagonist's journey, marked by resilience and a hidden depth beneath her goodie-two-shoes exterior, was enjoyable to follow.

Narration Review:
The narration was outstanding, making for a pleasant and immersive listening experience. The narrator's voice was engaging and matched the story's tone, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

Final Thoughts:
"Summers at the Saint" is enjoyable fiction. It is an uplifting narrative, highlighting the protagonist’s resilience and capacity for overcoming hardship and helping understand the needs of others. The happy ending left me feeling uplifted. This audiobook delivered exactly what I was looking for, and I recommend it to anyone seeking an enjoyable read or listen.

This is an amazing new romance title! It was surprising, full of complicated relationships and a perfect summer read. There were surprises and it felt real in terms of being set in todays world with impacts Covid, etc.
I really enjoyed that it showed real friendships and relationships as well as different aged characters. Having it being told from different points of view added a lot.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my auto-buy authors because I know I can always count on her to deliver one heck of a story and she does exactly that with her latest, Summers at the Saint!

I love a good underdog story so I was immediately engrossed in this story as soon as I met the main character Traci Eddings. Traci is a widow who inherited the St. Cecilia Resort when her husband passed away. Faced with numerous obstacles, including another resort stealing away her most experienced employees, and a despicable brother-in-law who would love nothing more than to see the resort go under, Traci is determined to return the Saint to its glory days and honor her late husband’s memory.

Traci is such a fantastic character and in many ways, this story is about her personal journey as she is finding her path forward after the loss of her husband. She’s smart, brave, and tough, and I admired her resilience in the face of mounting obstacles, including a mysterious death and the emergence of some long-buried secrets about a tragic drowning from years ago. I also loved the summer crew she hires to replace those who left her. They may not be the most experienced resort workers out there, but a few loyal diamonds in the rough emerge and they pull together as a team and make things happen.

Mary Kay Andrews is a gifted storyteller and Summers at the Saint is one of those wonderful books that has a little something for everyone. There’s drama, mystery, suspense, a compelling personal journey, and even a hint of romance. I devoured the book in a couple of sittings and was just thoroughly entertained every step of the way. I switched back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and highly recommend both formats. Kathleen McInerney narrates the audiobook and does a brilliant job, as always.

Summers at the Saint is out now so be sure to pick up a copy. You won’t regret it!

Thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio and @marykayandrews for this ALC to listen to and give my honest review.

I have grown to really enjoy Mary Kay Andrews books. They are the perfect read to bring you out of a slump. This book was such a mix of so many things - women's fiction, a little romance, and some murder mystery. So well intertwined. There are some flashbacks and quite a few characters but all added such a wonderful element to the story and it was easy to follow.

Perfect summer vacation read to pack in your bag. Or if you love a good audio Kathleen McInerney narrates this one and does a fantastic job. Such a good book to kick off my summer vibes.

Traci Eddings, a former outsider who married into the esteemed family that owns the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel affectionately known as "the Saint." Now a widow, Traci is determined to restore the hotel to its former glory despite facing financial challenges and staff shortages. Adding to her woes is her manipulative brother-in-law who wants to see her fail.

Traci enlists the help of a diverse group of new summer employees, including the daughter of her estranged best friend, to help turn the hotel around. However, secrets from the past, including a mysterious drowning and a recent tragic death, threaten to unravel her plans. As she navigates these obstacles, Traci discovers the strength to fight for what she loves and perhaps even finds a new chance at romance.

Review:
Mary Kay Andrews delivers another engaging and heartwarming story with "Summers at the Saint." The novel is a perfect blend of romance, mystery, and drama, set in the charming and vividly depicted St. Cecelia hotel. Traci Eddings is a relatable and compelling protagonist, whose determination and grit in the face of adversity make her a character to root for.

Kathleen McInerney's narration brings the story to life with warmth and nuance, capturing the essence of each character and the setting beautifully. The cast of secondary characters, from the motley crew of summer staff to the conniving brother-in-law, are well-developed and add depth to the story.

The plot is rich with twists and turns, including the unravelling of past secrets and the development of new romantic interests. The themes of redemption, resilience, and the power of community are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making it more than just a typical beach read. Andrews' trademark humour and keen observation of human nature shine throughout the book, providing both laughs and moments of poignant reflection.

Tropes
-Second Chances
-Enemies to Lovers
-Found Family
-Overcoming Adversity
-Mystery and Secrets

"Summers at the Saint" is a delightful and immersive read that will appeal to fans of Mary Kay Andrews' previous works as well as those looking for a story with depth, heart, and a touch of mystery. It's a perfect addition to any summer reading list.

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the audiobook. #macaudio2024 (Available now)

If you can afford to stay at St. Cecilia, you’re a “Saint.” If you can’t, you’re an “Ain’t.” The main character, Traci, was an “Ain’t” until she married the owner’s son. Now a widow, she runs the Saint as CEO and president. With a prestigious resort as a backdrop with all the comings and goings of staff, guests, and mattress complaints, the book also mixes mystery, murder, scandal, secrets, and a little romance.

This was my first from this prolific and popular author whose books kick off summer for many. But at 448 pages, this was all just too much for me. I might have enjoyed it more as an eye-read, but as an ear-read, the narrator set my teeth on edge. Every character was a caricature, whether it matched the description or not. Traci was too breathy and helpless-sounding despite being a strong character standing up for herself and her resort. The employees sounded like whiny teenagers, though they were all 20-somethings. And don’t get me started on the smarmy/sneaky/devious characters! They were practically twirling their handlebar mustaches while tying maidens to the railroad tracks.

Mary Kay Andrews is my comfort read author. She writes southern fiction with the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and family drama.

This latest book is another complete success in my opinion. Set in a club/resort on a fictional island in Georgia, it tells of a family property and a woman currently running it that began with humble beginnings. There is an old mystery, a new death, and definitely some shady dealings going on.

The narrator did a great job telling the story!

Unfortunately this book didn't live up to the hype for me. I struggled a lot with the narrator's voice (sounded like a child trying to do a play and act out scenes) and her depictions of Southern characters. As someone who grew up in the deep South, I found it very distracting and offensive to depict all southerners as shallow country bumpkins. Can a southerner not just have a simple southern accent instead of some bad woods redneck hick sounding accent? Insert eyeroll....It frustrated me too much and I couldn't focus on the actual book.

When I was able to focus on the book itself, I have to admit it didn't draw in well. I didn't find myself rooting for any of the characters or finding them likable or interesting at all. This is possible it's because of the aforementioned narrations though. I ended up having trouble listening to the entire book on Netgalley's app which is a must for NG audiobooks so I wasn't even able to download the entire audiobook and therefore have no idea how it ended. I probably would've been dnf'ing it by then though just because of the horrible narrator.

I'm very appreciative to the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early on.