REVIEW: The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews

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Synopsis

Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends-and the mix between the regulars and “the weekenders” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found.

So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens...in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything. (Via Goodreads)



Review

As a fan of Mary Kay Andrews' summer reads, I very much enjoyed The Weekenders. It is a light listen set on an exclusive North Carolina island retreat populated by upper-class southerners. Looking at other reviews of this book many people seem to be frustrated reading about the plights of this group of people. I understand why that might be the case for some people but personally, I enjoy the escapism of it.

What makes The Weekenders a bit different from other Andrews books is the initial set up, shortly after arriving on the island the dead body of Riley's husband is found at the marina. You might think this would indicate the beginnings of a mystery book but it is not. Yes, the question of how Wendell died/who killed him is pertinent throughout but I would certainly not classify this as a mystery. The question driving the plot sticks pretty firmly to the mess Wendell left behind for Riley and his daughter Maggy.

Maggy is definitely the worst part of the book, as a character she is ridiculously over the top and unrealistic. I guess Andrew's must just be assuming the reader would continue to excuse Maggy's behavior because of her father's death but I certainly could not. She was just such a little snot, so disrespectful and cruel to her mother yet Riley never did a thing to try and correct her behavior. This dynamic was the most frustrating part for me and is where I did start to lose patience while listening. Overall The Weekenders is a solid summer, beach read. If these wealthy southern stories are your thing this one will keep you entertained but likely not enthralled.


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