Who else pounces on a new Mary Kay Andrews book the minute it comes out? My copy of Hello, Summer arrived a few days before Memorial Day Weekend, and it made me so excited to kick off the summer season. I’d devoured another beach read last MDW, and I figured a book titled “Hello, Summer” would be a shoo-in to invoke the easy, beachy, summertime vibes.
Um, no.
What’s Hello, Summer about?
Hello, Summer follows the time-honored trope of most Mary Kay Andrews novels: big-city reporter Conley returns home to her small town after her journalism career goes up in flames. She unhappily starts working with her sister on their local newspaper and stumbles onto what could be a major story about a shady Congressman.
Of course, following the story leads is dangerous and puts her in jeopardy. And, of course, there’s an attractive, local young man who helps her out as she investigates. And, of course, she feels the pull of family and her hometown that makes her question if she can go back to her “big city” life when the chance comes up.
Why I didn’t like Hello, Summer
Hello, Summer combines two things that I couldn’t give two hoots about: politics and investigative journalism. MKA novels are usually filled with a fair bit of drama, suspense, and the occasional spot of murder, and this is admittedly something I’ve come to enjoy about her work. It all adds more depth to the stereotypical beach read.
However, I’m used to all these weighty plot points being heavily cloaked in lazy days spent on the coast, delicious meals served on sunset-covered docks, and a little wooing from a handsome man out by the water. Y’know, typical beach read stuff.
There’s very little that’s beachy about Hello, Summer, except that the first few hundred pages are as dry as sand, filled with police report details, newspaper filing deadlines, lots of reporter-speak, and following up on case leads that aren’t terribly exciting (at least, not yet).
The beach makes some rare appearances, and while there’s some romance, it takes a serious backseat to everything else that’s going on — namely, main character Conley’s pitbull-like hold on going after her perfect news story, to the detriment of those around her and, eventually, herself.
Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wrong with career ambition and tenacity. However, Conley’s the embodiment of why I decided not to pursue a career in journalism; I found her pushy, callous, and downright dismissive of the feelings of others. A little humanity is finally wrung out of her at the end of the book, but until then, there’s not much making you care about her, despite the sentimental crumbs Andrews haphazardly tosses in about her backstory.
Why didn’t I DNF Hello, Summer?
HOWEVER…despite all this disappointment… did I read all 470 pages of Hello, Summer? Yes, I did. It was mainly with the hope that the book would get more….well, call me crazy, but summery.
That totally didn’t happen, but the story did start to get more juicy and less research-oriented after about 200 pages. There’s definitely some good intrigue there, what with a twisty-and-turny political family scandal and possible murder mystery.
Should you read Hello, Summer?
If you’re a Mary Kay Andrews fan, you’ll still want to read Hello, Summer. This women’s fiction novel retains her signature style, sass, and Southern charm, which drips from every page set in a sleepy, Florida panhandle town along the Gulf of Mexico. Andrews’ writing is always enjoyable, even if her story falls a bit flat. And, while I didn’t care much for Conley, there are plenty of other characters in the novel to entertain you.
And, if you enjoy the tediously detailed research methods of investigative journalism? This book is the homage to the profession you’ve been waiting for.
But, if you’re just looking for a nice, easy-breezy beach read with just a smidgeon of suspense, give this one a pass. I recommend MKA’s Summer Rental, The Newcomer, and The High Tide Club instead.
What’s the book-inspired recipe for Hello, Summer?
Although Hello, Summer didn’t give me the summery vibes I hoped it would, it did inspire a summery recipe! Check back in next week for my Citrus Breeze Ice Cream.
I received this complimentary copy of Hello, Summer from Tandem Literary in exchange for an honest review.
