Review: The Homewreckers

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this as an ARC, and I will do an immediate re-read on this. I sincerely hope that the editors also re-read and do more research before printing and publication. There is a misrepresented quote in here that just burns my grits! This book deserves a thoughtful review, not just a squee-girl review. (which I am when it comes time to these sorts of books and this particular author) .

Upon re-reading this novel, I found that I didn't appreciate it as much as I did the first time I read it. Yes, this book IS a good beach read, but the mystery takes precedence over the main narrative of rehabbing this house and the romance. While in keeping with the rest of the more recent books by Mary Kay Andrews, I found that the mystery was a little too complicated (for me) and introduced us to too many secondary and tertiary characters.

It was a good beach read, with some good humor, a romance, an interesting in-depth look at buying and rehabbing old properties, DIY shows (or shows of that ilk), with a fine, highly complex mystery. It was just not as light as I expected from her other summer books for me.

*ARC supplied by St. Martin's Press, the author, and NetGalley. This books publishing date is set for  May 03, 2022

Description

"Summer begins with Mary Kay Andrews, in this delightful summer read about flipping houses, and finding true love.

Hattie Kavanaugh went to work restoring homes for Kavanaugh & Son Restorations at eighteen, married the boss’s son at twenty, and became a widow at twenty-five. Now, she’s passionate about her work, but that’s the only passion in her life. “Never love something that can’t love you back,” is advice her father-in-law gives her, but Hattie doesn’t follow it and falls head-over-heels for a money pit of a house. She’s determined to make it work, but disaster after disaster occurs, and Hattie’s dream might cost Kavanaugh & Son their livelihood. Hattie needs money, and fast.

When a slick Hollywood producer shows up in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia, she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: star in a beach house renovation reality show called The Homewreckers, cast against a male lead who may be a love interest, or may be the ultimate antagonist. Soon, there’s more at stake than bad pipes and dry rot: during the demolition, evidence comes to light that points to the mysterious disappearance of a young wife and mother years before.

With a burned out detective investigating the case, an arsonist on the loose, two men playing with her emotions, and layers upon layers of vintage wallpaper causing havoc, it's a question of who will flip, who will flop, and if Hattie will ever get her happily-ever-after."

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