St. Martin´Griffin, New York 2021

Mary Kay Andrews is a routined writer of romcom novels and this, her latest so far, is hailed as the “perfect summer page-turner” which is definitely true. The novel may be popular literature, but Andrews is really interested in her characters and describes them full of empathy.

Here we meet Letty, who had to flee from New York, when her glamourous sister was murdered by her rich husband. As Letty fears for her and her niece`s life she seeks shelter in a family motel in a small beachtown in Florida. Most of the residents there are retirees and snowbirds and regard the “newcomer” with suspicion at the beginning.

The owner takes her in and looks after her and the child. She offers her a job, although she has no references. The owner´s son Joe is a police officer and soon finds out that Letty is wanted by the New Yorker police as murder suspect. Still, Joe trusts her and falls in love with her. All ends well, Letty even turns out to be a rich hairess according to her sister´s will.

So she is a material girl in a material world, but be it so, reading this story is great fun.