Once I got several chapters Into this book I thought and hoped that what I thought was coming was and I was sooo glad to see it happen! I didn't exact the ladies to have quite the reaction to the big surprise, but I can see them being in a new friendship and that taking time. Overall I love this book, once again Susan Mallery has written a heart wearing feel good book! She never disappoints!

I'm always excited to see that Susan Mallery has a new book, and this was a great one. The setting is laid-back Malibu, but the dual romances in this story are anything but laid-back -- they are very complicated, which makes for an engaging read. Beth is newly divorced and owns a successful sandwich shop. She is loyal to her younger brother, Rick, a successful surgeon, and has watched and protected him since their childhoods with a single mom who was reckless and neglectful. Jana is a single mom to a little girl and an aspiring nurse who lives with her widowed brother, Teddy, and his three young children. So, two sister/brother pairs. Beth and Teddy fall in love, and Rick and Jana start dating too. Eventually, things get pretty complicated in a way that keeps you turning the pages. You really come to care about these characters and want everyone to get what they deserve.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Beach Vibes may take place in a beach setting but it's a heartbreaking story in many ways and not exactly what l'd call relaxing, though it's a fascinating study in family and what we would do if we were faced with a difficult decision - what's right for our friends or our family, if what's right for our friends is also what's right morally.
Beth is content enough following a divorce to run her charming surf sandwich shop, with backing from her beloved brother Rick. As Beth is a great person she also volunteers at a food bank where she is friends with Jana, who endeavors to be a nurse. When Beth runs into a billboard on the way to Costco that has her husband and his new fiancée on it (in fact he was proposing with it) she is committed to deeper friendships and being a little less lonely. As her friendship with Jana benefits from this commitment Beth strikes up a romance with Jana's brother Teddy, and finds that Jana is daring her brother, Rick. This all sounds like an early 90's sitcom and the type of somewhat mindless beach read that gives us all warm fuzzies so far, right? That quickly goes away when Beth discovers that Rick is cheating on Jana... and what happens next destroys everything she has built up in her relationships rather quickly. The rest of this read is tense but fascinating, and we still end with a very hopeful book about growth, but it does make you think of what you would do in Beth's shoes. I'd be remiss to leave out that Rick is the absolute worse type of sociopath, the type who chooses the dark side, but I wish it wasn't so as this would make this book even more thought provoking.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

Susan Mallery has once again proven her exceptional storytelling ability with her latest novel, “Beach Vibes”. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked, and I found it hard to put down. Susan Mallery has an incredible talent for weaving intricate plots, and this book is no exception.

The way she skillfully placed twists and turns throughout the story kept me captivated. Some moments genuinely took my breath away—my jaw dropped in surprise at some of the revelations! These unexpected developments not only added depth to the characters but also made the pacing of the book lightning-fast.

It's safe to say that “Beach Vibes” was a true 5-star page-turner, and I could hardly tear myself away from it. As always, Susan Mallery's writing is engaging and filled with relatable emotions that drew me in deeper with each chapter. I'm already looking forward to her next book!

Well another great read from Susan Mallery. Kate is the owner of a wonderful sandwich shop and it has become her life. Not ready to trust any man because of past hurts. Knowing she needs to put herself out there to just make friends she start volunteering at a local food bank and meets another young woman named Jana. They quickly connect and become besties. Jana finally takes a chance on a date but Kate finds out it’s her surgeon brother. Kate feels odd about this match. She wants to maintain her friendship with Jana. But when Kate finds out something bad about her brother it forces her to make a choice. One that puts her friendship with Jana at risk. Honestly I thought this was one of the best books by Susan Mallory and yes I sat up half the night to finish it.

"Beach Vibes" by Susan Mallery is her latest and newest novel of 2025. Definitely worth the read and I'm absolutely loving the new looking cover.

Friendship must stand the test of a massive betrayal- but is it possible?

This book is thoroughly implausible unless the reader willingly accepts that they need to be in it for the drama; there is drama in spades. Once that point can be accepted, then the reader can get past the “not happen in real life” qualities and enjoy the friendship that develops between two adult women, when friendships are so hard after a certain point in life.

Loved this story. The two strong willed women who met while volunteering and the friendship that builds through relationships with each others brothers and the drama and struggles that pulled me in. When the one cheats on Janna, it kept me wanting to push for their friendship to continue. Such a great story. Loved every part of it.

I absolutely loved this story. Family, friendships and success in life are all featured and discussed with honesty and at times, regret.
Love enters late in the story and it makes everything come together.
Thoughtful, emotional and wonderful.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was happy to be selected to receive Beach Vibes. I am a true lover of a good beachy read. The book was decent. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't the best I have ever read. At times I felt like it was not only predictable, it was all over the place. It dragged out in sections and in others things were just breezed over.

#BeachVibes #NetGalley.

Surf Sandwiches is located across the street from where people come to surf in Malibu. Beth bought the shop years ago and it is a huge success. She gives back to the community by working at the local food pantry; yes, there are people in Malibu not rich enough to feed themselves, just like elsewhere. There she meets Jana who mentors her and becomes her friend.

Neither of them are dating at the moment, but then Jana meets Rick and decides to take a chance. Her last dating experience was not good so this is a huge step for her. Beth's brother Rick, the shy and awkward surgeon brother turns out to be the date, but the two women don't know that yet. (This part did not feel right in reality, though it worked for the story. I can't imagine any one being attracted to a person and then dating that person without once mentioning the name of the person.)

Eventually the truth comes out and is a shock to the two women, though Rick thought it was funny. Protecting her brother from everything including
women anxious to marry a doctor is what Beth does and Jana does not take too kindly to the doubts being expressed. Then Beth meets Jana's brother Teddy.....

Kind of implausible, but worth reading. Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given.

I absolutely loved this. Friendships and family loyalty are sometimes rocky roads to traverse. I thought this story took a nice look at how sometimes those loyalties can bind you to death.

What I thought was going to be a light-hearted beach read was instead filled with family dynamics, tested friendships and unexpected love. The vibe that Beth portrays is a carefree sandwich shop owner but in actuality, she's a strong, independent woman who is seeking to advance her life and relationships.

Beth relishes her blooming friendship with Jana until her brother, Rick lands her in a pickle. While Rick is a successful doctor, Beth still sees him as the innocent brother she needs to protect while risking new relationships? Either way, she's sandwiched into an impossible situation.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #BeachVibes in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the story's twist and turns and felt empathy for Beth and the the shady situation Rick inspired.

good romance about beth and jana. They become friends and they both end up dating each other brothers. Its a closed door romance. Loved dex and Teddy. Her brother rick was a piece of work. Loved beth family and co workers.

Enjoyed this read from Susan Mallory. Well enveloped characters and a solid plot line. Her followers will enjoy

Story of two women who become friends and end up dating each other's brother. I didn't feel like this was Mallery's best effort, but still an interesting read.

Wonderfully complex story. Susan Mallery came up with a unique and interesting storyline. the story was interesting, and I couldn't put it down ! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC copy

Beach Vibes follows the journey of two women. One a single-mother, who is struggling with working, pursuing a job, and finding love. Another is a single 30s woman who is finding that love is harder to find than it looks. When fate brings these two woman together and love prospers in their families, emotions are challenged and family dynamics are uncovered. With a fast-paced storyline filled with friendship lost and loved, the reader is taken into a story that they can relate to. Susan Mallery doesn't disappoint in her latest book where love is around the corner but sometimes you have to fight for what you want.

Overall, Beach Vibes is fun, light-hearted tale that encourages readers to pursue love in many different forms. I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Beth lives an un celebrity like life in Malibu, divorced and living with her aunt. With part of her split in her former home, she takes over a sandwich shop (and those sandwiches sound delicious!)
Her brother Rick is a good deal of her focus. She has always taken care of him, despite him being a successful surgeon. She is blinded by his true personality.
She befriends Janna, while volunteering at a food bank. Janna begins dating her brother, and Beth is attracted to Janna's brother. It's messy, but do you choose your "blood family," when they aren't who you thought, or your new family of "choice."
Can Beth start to live her own life?
I liked this book so much. The author had good character development even with a few side characters and kids. I sort of missed them all once the book was finished.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#HarlequinTradePublishing #Harlequin #NetGalley #BeachRead #Malibu #BeachVibes #SusanMallery