The Homewreckers
A Novel
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4.2 • 766 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Summer begins with Mary Kay Andrews, in this delightful summer read about flipping houses, and finding true love.
"Andrews (The Newcomer) sparkles in this fast-paced tale. Andrews’s fans will eat this up." —Publishers Weekly
"A fun story with twists and turns that will appeal to romantics and cold-case fans alike." —Kirkus
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Andrews (The Newcomer) sparkles in this fast-paced tale of a reluctant TV star, a driven producer, and a long-dormant mystery on the Georgia coast. Widowed contractor Hattie Kavanaugh is in the middle of a plumbing disaster at the historic Savannah house she's trying to flip when Mo Lopez, who creates reality shows for an HGTV-type network, stops by to pitch a show involving her project ("You're passionate. You're smart. You've got attitude.... And it doesn't hurt that you're damned attractive. The camera is going to love you," he tells her). At first, Hattie wants nothing to do with it, but she reconsiders due to her bleak financial situation. She then purchases another fixer-upper, this one on nearby Tybee Island, and as she gets going on the demo work, with Mo and his camera crew at her side, she discovers in a wall a wallet that belonged to Lanier Ragan, her high school English teacher who went missing 17 years earlier. As she uncovers more clues about Lanier, it seems someone might be willing to kill to keep the house's secrets. The author skillfully navigates the various threads—there's sexual tension between Hattie and a slew of suitors, and a twisty third act involving Lanier's fate. Andrews's fans will eat this up.
Customer Reviews
A summer fun book worth the read
This was a really nice, cute, easy read. I’m planning on staying on for another spin with this author.
Loved this
Homewreckers is Mary Kay Andrews' novel that combines an unexpected career turn with a hometown mystery and a new romance. Hattie, a talented house restorer, is not interested in reality television - not watching it, much less starring in it! But she is nothing if not practical, and she does need money, after a renovation goes wrong - really wrong. Will she fall for the seemingly shallow Trae's smooth advances, and what will happen with her friendship with the less exciting but more dependable friend, Mo? Will she find the perfect house to restore, and will the young widow perhaps restore her own life, too? This book is fun, suspenseful and would make a great movie and beach read. In fact, it is a great "anywhere, any time" read.
Summer reads
A breezy read that doesn’t disappoint.