New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads Mary Kay Andrews delivers her next blockbuster, Hello Summer. It’s a new season… Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, … is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks.
For small town scandals…
When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat–and she doesn’t exactly have warm feelings for Conley. Soon she is given the unenviable task of overseeing the local gossip column, “Hello, Summer.”
And big-time secrets.
Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman–a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets. As an old heartbreaker causes trouble and a new flame ignites, it soon looks like their sleepy beach town is the most scandalous hotspot of the summer.
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Mary Kay Andrews never fails to disappoint! This is another great read to add to her wonderful roster of titles. Family relationships, love, romance, intrigue all taking place in a small town. The characters are fully developed in real ways. Conley has packed up her life, left her job and broken up with her boyfriend for an incredible new job and experience. During her going away party she finds out that the job and new life adventure is gone. With no where to go she decides to head home to regroup and figure out what is next. To her G’mama who she loves and respects and her sister with whom she has quite the contentious relationship. They love each other, but have a truly difficult time getting along. Jealousy, frustration, competitiveness, etc all tend to get in their way. They are both in the “newspaper” business. Their family business is “The Beacon” , the local small paper G’mama owns and her sister runs. While there G’mama asked her to write for the paper. After witnessing a n accident involving a local congressman she starts digging. Her reporters heart and mind know there is something more sinister gong on. That’s it from me. Go get yourself a copy and join her while she investigates what happened and how deep it goes. Its a wonderful read. Great for the summer, during a pandemic or just if you need a wonderful book to sink your brain, teeth and heart into. You won’t regret it. I cannot wait for whatever comes next from her. Really a fun fabulous read. Enjoy!
This is Mary Kay Andrews at her finest! I have been a fan of her writing since she wrote her first books as Kathy Trochek . After all these years, I think her stories have only gotten stronger. Ms. Andrews know how to tap into the atmosphere of the places where her stories take place. Hello Summer takes place in Silver Bay, Fl. a fictional town on the west coast of Florida. Conley returns to home to Silver Bay after being a journalist in Atlanta when the new job she thinks she has in Washington, DC falls through. Her sister and grandmother still live in Silver Bay and own The Beacon, the towns’ weekly newspaper. Conley, although a journalist wants nothing to do with her hometown or the newspaper, but along the way, there is a scandal of epic proportions and Conley can’t help but get involved. What ensues is another wonderful story with drama, comedy ( love the g’mama ), family dysfunction and love. It is a perfect beach read, and in these strange times, I thank Ms. Andrews for taking me on a wonderful journey.
Mary Kay Andrews is a master storyteller. Hello, Summer takes us to Silver Bay….a small, southern town on the coast of Florida. Conley arrives back home to Silver Bay when the job she thought would take her to DC falls through. Instead, she finds herself living back with her grandmother and falling into her old role at odds with her sister, Grayson, who runs the family’s newspaper. Conley, an award-winning reporter herself, has no interest in staying long-term, working for her sister and writing for what she sees as a failing small town read until a major incident involving a local politician pulls her in. Conley and childhood friend and neighbor, Skelly, witness something that starts her on a chase for answers to the story of what really happened.
Andrews is like no other in immersing the reader into that small-town southern life. Her characters are so well written and while you feel the pace of the sleepy town that is almost a character itself, the book reads quickly. Surprises pop up here and there, keeping the story engaging and interesting. The only reason I knocked off a star was because I didn’t really love Conley. Her pushy, reporter ways were a turn-off many times but not something that was necessarily detrimental to this book. I would categorize Hello, Summer as another great work from Mary Kay Andrews and the perfect reminder as to why I keep going back to her with each new release. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good small-town mystery.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
I have to admit that Mary Kay Andrews is one of my guilty pleasures. She never disappoints. Always a fun and entertaining read. If I’m in a book slump, she always draws me out. And, you have to love an author who can fit in the word “besmirching”!
A bit of mystery, a bit of scandal, a bit of small town gossip, a bit of subtle humor and lots of small town drama. Of course, the characters are perfect for a small town in the south. Nothing else is necessary.
A great book to brighten up a day! (or your week, or your month!)
(Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advance copy in exchange for a review)
Conley has quit her job in Atlanta for a much more lucrative job in DC. Well, DC does not work out and she has to crawl back home and work for her sister at her family owned newspaper. She and a “good” friend run upon a wreck one evening. And boy…does this open up a can of worms!
When Conley arrives home, there is quite a bit of animosity between her and her sister. As you can imagine…a little regret, a little jealousy just help add fuel to the fire. Then the story breaks and these two have to get their act together!
No author nails southern characters like MKA! The best one in this bunch…no doubt….Rowena! I think I know quite a few Rowenas here in my little town. Plus Conley’s grandmother. She does not take any crap from anyone.
I enjoyed this story. It is in true MKA fashion. It is quirky, mysterious, a little family drama and of course just a drop of a love story!
Do not miss this wonderful beach read!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I am a Mary Kay Andrews fan. I love the beach settings, the realistic characters, and the plots that keep me turning page after page. Hello, Summer is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I was looking for a fun and easy to read book that would keep me entertained during a time when I am stuck at home more than I’d like to be.
The length of the book had my second guessing reading it. I am struggling right now to keep my attention on anything for long, but my attention was help for all 450 pages of Hello, Summer. I was invested in Conley and Gray’s sister relationship, in Skelly’s and Conley’s romance, in Lorraine and Winnie’s friendships, and most of all in the mystery behind the death of a beloved local congressman. Hello, Summer has everything. There is romance, mystery, drama, and family. What more can you ask for?
Whether on a beach or cuddle up on a cold winter night this book will have you dreaming of putting your toes in the sand.
A great mystery about an unemployed journalist, Conley, who returns to her hometown. She and her friend, Skelly, find a man burning to death in a car. She tries to solve the mystery of whether it was an accident or a murder. A great whodunit! I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Mary Kay Andrews has always been one of my favorite authors but she has outdone herself with Hello, Summer! Intrigue, adventure, suspense, love, happiness, sadness…..you will find it all in this wonderfully written book. Her characters are portrayed as if they were the next door neighbor. This is a definite summer read for everyone. Enjoy!
very niseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Hello, Summer is the summer offering from seasoned author Mary Kay Andrews. In this tale, investigative reporter Conley Hawkins appears to be on the brink of national success when the rug is pulled out from under her. The online publisher she had left her job at the Atlanta Journal Constitution loses funding and Conley loses her position before she ever leaves Atlanta for D.C. As she has packed and vacated her apartment and jobless, there is no place for Conley to head but her hometown of Silver Bay, Florida.
Her grandmother, Lorraine DuBignon Conley, is very happy to see Conley; her sister and editor of the family hometown weekly paper, Grayson Hawkins Willingham, not so much. Conley has spent no more than brief weekend visits home since their father, Chet Hawkins, passed away. Her G’mama Lorraine is in her mid 80s and beginning to show her age, as is her 70 something housekeeper companion, Winnie Churchwell. Both are thrilled to have Conley home. They find it very much to their advantage as she willingly moves them to the beach house, which Grayson had resisted.
On her second night home, Conley finds herself at the only night spot open, the VFW, and runs in to her childhood friend and boy next door, Sean Kelly, or Skelly as she had called him. As Conley had a bit too much to drink, Skelly offers to drive her home. At 3:00 a.m. they come upon a single car accident in which the driver has died and the car becomes a fireball. The accident victim is identified as U.S. House Representative C, Symmes Robinette. And thus the investigation begins.
This book is fast paced and layered, with so many possibilities it is hard to be patient as the story unfolds. The conflicts of sisters, friends, family, and criminals blend in such a way as to hold and guide the reader’s attention until the exciting climax.
My biggest hope is that Ms, Andrews plans to make this a series and the next investigation Conley and the newspaper staff unravel will be the cancer hotspot in neighboring Plattsville. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!!
This was my first book written by Mary Kay Andrews. I think I’ve been missing out. This story was fantastic.! Yes, it was kind of long, but I think that was needed so that the story could develop as well as it did. I did not feel that any page was unwarranted. The plot was so complicated and so well developed that the mystery just kept you going.
Some of the characters were quirky and some of them were rigid, but the blend was perfection. I loved how Ms. Andrews included the newspaper articles. It added another facet to the story. The plot included the always challenging family dynamics, small town idiosyncrasies, politics, mystery and a little romance to balance it all out. What a great mix!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I enjoyed this mystery with a little romance in it. I received this for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I’ve given it a 4.7* rating. This is not really for the under 18 readers. I really enjoy this author’s work and I wasn’t disappointed with this book either. There is a bit of action with this mystery along with a bit of up and down romance. I really liked this heroine along with the hero in this although I felt like giving them a good talking to a few times. This pulled me in fairly fast and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing what would happen next. I look forward to more of this author’s work.
Hello, Summer is one of the best books I have read in awhile. Conley Hawkins is leaving the AJC and headed to DC for a new Journalism post. Only at the very last minute, literally, that job is cancelled. With nothing to do Conley returns to her small hometown in Florida and is tricked into helping her older sister at their family owned newspaper. Silver Bay, her family and the newspaper are everything Conley doesn’t want. But adjustments are made. New journalism practices are employed and instead of just stating the facts and a polite social column, the Silver Bay Beacon begins some investigating journalism. Mary Kay Andrews writing matures with each book she writes. I definitely would recommend Hello, Summer.
This was my first Mary Kay Andrews book. I enjoyed it, although it seemed a bit long in parts. However, it had good characters, a mystery, small town drama, and family tension. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will seek out this author again.
I really loved this book. A long time MKA fan, it’s not summer without her newest. Much like Sunset Beach last year, this one has a lot of mystery and the clues are being put together by a journalist returning to her small home town in Florida. I really enjoyed all the characters and relationships and trying to piece together some clues. Absolutely great read to look forward to in May 2020. I received an ARC of this as a Goodreads win.
Mary Kay Andrew’s never disappoints.what a great read. Conley is taking off to a new job when she learns it has fallen thru. Her only option is to head home to her family in Silver Bay . Her grandmother talks her in to helping out at the family run small town newspaper. She isn’t thrilled to be there but hooks up with a old friend the first night. They come upon a fatal accident which leads to mystery, family drama and lots of twists. Very interesting storyline. I love the small town and the characters. I received a ARC from netgallery and the publisher and this is my honest review.
Mary Kay Andrews book is always an enjoyable read and this one did not disappoint. During these trying days, this book whisks you away to the Florida sun, add in a mysterious accident, family drama, old secrets and a little romance! Perfect getaway!
Conley Hawkins is on to bigger and better things, leaving her Atlanta newspaper job for a bigger one in DC, when she is thrown for a loop. She runs home to Silver Bay, where she grew up and rarely visits because of personal reasons. When she runs into an old friend her first night home, they come across an accident. A prominent resident is killed and this leads Conley and her family run and operated newspaper to uncover the truth, and hopefully, in turn, make the newspaper profitable.
I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of a small-town newspaper, the reporters responsibilities and the many hats they need to wear. So different from their much larger counterparts.
Thanks to the Ms Andrews, St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!
Mary Kay Andrews sure knows how to mix a cool drink of family angst, mystery, and love! Put all of these ingredients at the beach and you have the perfect concoction. This is a once you start you can’t put it down kind of book. It had me rooting for the small town as soon as we arrived. The descriptions make you want to be there eating and drinking while walking along the ocean. I’m ready to pack my bags and head to Silver Bay today!
Thank you for my requested copy of the ARC. This are truly my own thoughts and opinions.
Mary Kay Andrews does beach reads like nobody’s business, she does not disappoint for 2020. Not beachy per say but a great read. Set in small town coastal town, Conley’s big city job falls thru and she comes home to her family’s small town newspaper. Working for her sister is not where she she wanted to be.
The sister don’t see eye to eye so this could get interesting. Can they make their differences work? Enjoyable, Conley finds the big story can she convince her sister to let her run with it? Read it, you will enjoy it.
Every year I look forward to Mary Kay Andrews’ new release, and Hello, Summer did not disappoint! When her new job goes to hell in a hand-basket, Conley Hawkins returns home to Silver Bay, Florida, and has no idea what she’s in for. She witnesses a fatal accident on her first night back, that leaves this quaint little beach town up in arms. It is a great story about rekindling romances and mending family relationships. This book also contains lots of mystery and small town scandals throughout, that will have you guessing the entire time.