REVIEW - Summers at the Saint ebook

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (ebook)

OVERVIEW

Full disclosure, this is the sixth book or so that I have read by Mary Kay Andrews. Her books are always wildly entertaining, with unique characters, and in fun settings! This particular novel takes place at a fictional resort on an island off the coast of southern Georgia, USA. 

This book is primarily about family drama, murder, sex (not graphic), and money. What a fantastic story to make a great summer beach or pool read. It was great to read and had a lot of mystery and intrigue! Awesomeness!!

Since I have deep roots in the South, I love reading about the region. But most especially Georgia, as that is where my Granny was born. She would have loved a great story like this one!

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing is always so, so fun! Mary Kay writes with joy which totally comes through in her books. She obviously enjoys telling stories which become books that are read and enjoyed by so many. I can almost feel her on my shoulder saying, "Did you notice that or this?" 

The author wrote so beautifully about the fictional island and resort in the south of Georgia. It was like I was actually there while the story unfolded!

Since this book had some light mystery-thriller elements, I did not figure out who the bad guys were until the very end. I love NOT figuring it out!!

Character development: 4.0 stars

There is one main character, Traci, who is the owner of the Saint Cecilia resort. She runs the place after the death of her husband who was the grandson of the founder of the resort. Both she and her deceased husband, Hoke, ran the place with kindness, empathy, and excellence. 

The secondary characters are Shannon, Traci's former BFF; Livvy, Shannon's daughter; Felice, the resort's chef; and Ric, Traci's brother-in-law. So all of the lives of the Saints (rich guests) and the Ain'ts (townies) are very integrated together beautifully. 

The tertiary characters are the resort and all of the supporting characters of which there is a lot!

Storyline:  4.0 stars 

This mystery-thriller-drama novel is about what is happening at the resort with so many odd things happening among the staff and customers. Traci wants to make things better at the hotel but is coming against a lot of roadblocks. So there is that mystery to solve. A secondary plot is about a child's drowning about 20 years ago when Shannon and Traci were lifeguards at the resort which is another mystery to solve It all comes together beautifully at the end. 

The main locations are the fictional Saint Cecilia resort and the surrounding community in Georgia, USA. 

Memorable/Informative:  3.5 stars

There wasn't anything memorable in particular, but it really was a nice, easy read!

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Very pretty. 

Book title: 4.0 stars 

So perfect!

DEFINITE recommend

EBOOK DETAILS

NetGalley ARC (ebook)

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

448 pages

St. Martin's Press

Release date of 05/07/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Mary Kay Andrews

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

NetGalley

Happy reading 📚! 

Dorothea 💜