By Mary Kay Andrews
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
448 Pages
A Mary Kay Andrews (MKA) novel is synonymous with summer and I look forward to them every year. Last year she made a departure from her usual chick-lit fare with The Newcomer. It was a fairly gritty mystery and the only thing that it had in common with most of her books was a romance and beach setting. I wasn’t a fan of that one.
My stomach dropped a bit with the dark prologue in The Homewreckers where a woman sets out on a stormy night for an adulterous assignation. Then chapter one started, the sun came back out, and the story morphed into what I’d been waiting for: a spunky heroine who faces seemingly insurmountable personal and professional odds who not only overcomes them, but finds love on the way. And this one is set in Savannah again. Yay!
Here’s the blurb: widowed Hattie Kavanaugh is a historic preservation contractor working for her father-in-law. At the start of the novel, she’s sunk her entire savings into a project that threatens to pull her under. Then Mo Lopez literally crashes into her life and convinces her to host a reality renovation show. Of course, nothing goes as planned. The only house she can afford is condemned and nearly beyond repair, not the mention attached to angry former owners. She’s forced to work with a semi-famous designer who has designs on her. The schedule is impossible, especially once they find a skeleton on the property. Not to mention a code enforcement officer who seems to have made it his life’s mission to fine her project at every turn.
With her trademark humor, MKA irons out each problem (although not without a fair share of angst) and our heroine comes out victorious. Plus there’s a pretty good mystery woven into the main plot. If you were disappointed with The Newcomer, you’ll appreciate that The Homewreckers is back to MKA’s signature style. If you liked the departure that The Newcomer took, you’ll appreciate that this one also involves a mystery. Personally, I loved the blend of the two. As always when I finish an MKA book, I wish I lived near Savannah. I’ll probably buy the hardback and make sure it’s packed when I hit the beach this summer.
I rated this one a solid 4 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the ARC copy of this book. I’ve left this review honestly and voluntarily.
Want to buy The Homewreckers?
Ann Dudzinski 