Review: Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews

Genre:
Fiction

Format:
E-ARC

Publisher:
St. Martin’s Press

Release Date
May 5, 2020







Synopsis from Goodreads:

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, 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.

My Review

Newspaper reporter, Conley Hawkins, is getting ready to leave her job in Atlanta for a brand new one in Washington, D.C. To say she’s excited about the new position is an understatement. However, things don’t always go as planned as her new company closes down before she ever gets to start her new job.

Left with no job and nowhere else to go, she returns to her hometown of Silver Bay, Florida. She’ll give her older sister some help with the family newspaper, which is sinking fast. Her sister isn’t all that thrilled to have Conley around, but that’s okay since Conley isn’t that thrilled to be there. For their grandmother’s sake, they put their differences aside and try to make things work.  Besides, it's only a temporary situation until Conley gets back on her feet.

One of Conley’s first assignments is to proofread the local “Hello, Summer” gossip column. The author of it doesn’t make it easy.

To add to Conley’s stress, she sees a car go up in flames and is shocked to later learn the identity of the victim. A very popular Silver Bay politician. Conley is determined to find out what caused this accident, especially since only one car had been involved. She stumbles upon a number of nasty town secrets and starts receiving her own death threats. What could possibly be going on in this small town that’s so dangerous?

This story is filled with drama, intrigue, secrets, mystery and a little romance, too. The characters are realistic and the plot is captivating. I couldn’t put it down.

Mary Kay Andrews has been a favorite of mine for awhile and this one did not disappoint. This would make a great book to take to the beach.  I could also see this book playing out on a movie or TV screen.

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.