***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
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.
The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews is a delightful cozy mystery, romance, and women’s fiction combination that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Hattie Kavanaugh has worked for Kavanaugh and Sons Restorations since she was 18 years old. At 20, she married the boss’s son, Hank, and sadly at 25 years old, she became a widow when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. She learned the trade of home renovation and decided to take the insurance money and rehabilitate a home in Savannah. However, the home she chose to flip is a money pit, and she lost money on the deal. When Josh, a producer from a home renovation show, discovers her, they make a deal for her to star in a show called the Homewreckers where she will renovate a small beach cottage with a celebrity designer, Trae.
The Homewreckers has everything I wanted in a book about a reality DIY show. I also very much enjoyed the mystery and couldn’t figure it out until the end. I liked that it was a cold case and one that did not happen recently. I also loved all the issues they had in fixing up the home and especially the behind-the-scenes moments of filming a DIY show. The romance was light, and more of a side plot and I was fine with that as well.
The settings of Savannah, Georgia, and Tybee Island were beautiful. I loved the idea of them saving a run-down beach house and I could easily visualize the before and after of the renovation. I also enjoyed the pacing of the book. So many things went wrong and it seemed like Hattie was always trying to fix something or solve something. It was a delightful ride!
I recommend The Homewreckers to anyone who loves cozy mysteries and women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Mary Kay Andrews
MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 novels (including Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.
Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.
She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.
I really liked the mash up of genres in this story. The mystery was interesting and the undercurrent of romance was perfect. Glad you loved it as well and the result of the reno was perfect. Wonderful review, Wendy.
[…] Book Review: The Homewreckers by Mary Kay AndrewsMonday: April Reading Wrap UpTuesday: Book Review: Wedding Season by Michelle MajorTuesday: Top Ten […]
I’ve never read anything by Andrews, despite one of my sisters often trying to convince me to change that. I’ve never been one for cozy mysteries but I do enjoy women’s fiction so that, combined with your review, makes me want to give this a try.
I don’t actually know why I had a completely different idea of this book!! But now it actually really draws my attention and I will gladly read it if a copy comes my way.
This sounds lovely. I’ve never read Mary Kay Andrew’s before though I’ve come across her books. I love the idea of a story centred on home renovation, and the fact that it has a mystery element is even more fun. Great review Wendy🙂🙂
I’m not big on that kind of TV show, but this book seems to have a little of all the good things I want in a fun read. I especially like that it is a cold case, a little removed from the actual crime. Great review, Wendy.
I love home renovation shows so this premise totally appeals to me! I’m glad it was a fun read. How heartbreaking she lost her husband so young though!
I really liked the mash up of genres in this story. The mystery was interesting and the undercurrent of romance was perfect. Glad you loved it as well and the result of the reno was perfect. Wonderful review, Wendy.
[…] Book Review: The Homewreckers by Mary Kay AndrewsMonday: April Reading Wrap UpTuesday: Book Review: Wedding Season by Michelle MajorTuesday: Top Ten […]
I’ve never read anything by Andrews, despite one of my sisters often trying to convince me to change that. I’ve never been one for cozy mysteries but I do enjoy women’s fiction so that, combined with your review, makes me want to give this a try.
I don’t actually know why I had a completely different idea of this book!! But now it actually really draws my attention and I will gladly read it if a copy comes my way.
Glad you’ve enjoyed it so much!
Elza Reads
A cozy mystery and a romance. That sounds like a great mashup.
A wonderful review Wendy! I’m glad you enjoyed The Homewreckers as much as I did.
It sure was a fun book!
Just reading your review has me wanting to do some renovations. This sounds like a great read.
Thank you! I know, I want to renovate a beach house now!
This sounds lovely. I’ve never read Mary Kay Andrew’s before though I’ve come across her books. I love the idea of a story centred on home renovation, and the fact that it has a mystery element is even more fun. Great review Wendy🙂🙂
Thank you, Mallika.
Great review, Wendy! I didn’t know she’s from St. Petersburg, FL! That’s not far from me!
Oh wow! She often writes about that part of the world.
I’m not big on that kind of TV show, but this book seems to have a little of all the good things I want in a fun read. I especially like that it is a cold case, a little removed from the actual crime. Great review, Wendy.
Yes, the mystery makes this book way more interesting.
A summer of flipping houses and finding love sounds like a good plan.
It sure was a lot of fun.
I love watching renovations so this sounds very appealing , especially with the addition of a mystery.
Thank you, Cathy!
I have heard great things about this, great review 💕
I need to request this audiobook from my library! It sounds good! I usually like MKA’s stuff. I don’t think I read her last release.
It’s a good one. I think the audio version would be even better.
It sounds wonderful! Great review, Wendy!
Thank you, Cindy!
I love home renovation shows so this premise totally appeals to me! I’m glad it was a fun read. How heartbreaking she lost her husband so young though!
It’s a fun book, Nick! I just can’t imagine losing a husband so young.
This sounds so fun, great review!
Thank you, Rae!
It definitely made me want to refurbish an old beach home but to live in not flip ❤️. I love this book too. Such a great mash up. Excellent review!
LOL! I agree, how can you sell that beautiful cottage!