I grabbed this one as soon as I saw Susan Mallery's name on it. The beachy cover also caught my eye. Mallery writes great books about relationships and families and I've enjoyed many of her books.

Description:
What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?

While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she's even prouder of her charismatic brother, Rick, who rose from foster care all the way through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Things takes a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days…and nights.

But when she catches Rick with another woman—like, with with—her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.

My Thoughts:
Poor Beth! She was certainly blindsided and shocked as the image of someone she trusted and believed it turned out to be so wrong. Beth impressed me thought with her strong sense of business and her loyalty to her friend - some things to admire about her. The romances were fun to watch develop and heartwrenching at times. This was a good story, though not my favorite by Mallery.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Not exactly a beach read as it's a bit dark but an interesting one as it's how a woman begins to realize that being the main cheerleader of her brother is putting her happyness at risk.
Consider that the brother is an entitled and toxic guy.
3.5 upped to
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC of #BeachVibes!

I went into Beach Vibes expecting, well… beach vibes. But despite the Malibu setting, this story could have taken place anywhere—there are maybe two or three actual beach scenes in the entire book. The title feels misleading, and honestly, "Narcissistic Sociopath Vibes" would have been a more accurate fit.

At its core this book is about Beth, an almost 40-year-old woman, finding herself post-divorce. Beth is navigating her new friendship with Jana, a romantic relationship with Jana's brother, Teddy,, and complicated family ties with her brother, Rick (who is dating Jana). However, a significant part of Beth’s journey revolves around her toxic and manipulative brother, Rick. She has spent her entire life feeling indebted to him after he saved her from a traumatic situation as a child, but she begins to realize how much she has been sacrificing for someone who is ultimately self-serving and destructive.

The book's description frames the story as Beth facing an impossible choice after catching Rick cheating on Jana. But that’s just one piece of a much larger, heavier story about family trauma, emotional manipulation, and learning about ones value. When Beth finds out that Rick is cheating she wants to trust her brother, but she also feels a duty to inform her friend. She is in a serious predicament, as she could not only lose Jana, but lose her relationship with Jana's brother, Teddy. Beth goes with her gut...but is it the right choice?

Unfortunately, the execution felt lacking, especially in the final chapters. The pacing dragged in places, and while Beth’s journey of self-discovery had potential, it often got bogged down in repetitive inner monologues and conversations.

I also want to note that I found a major issue with the way professional mental health care was portrayed. There were two unnecessary comments—one about inpatient care and another about therapy—that felt dismissive, especially considering how much the characters (Beth included) would have benefited from it. Mental health struggles are a huge part of this book, so the casual disregard for therapy felt off-putting and dated.

There were some bright spots—I liked the friendship between Beth and Jana, and Teddy was a decent love interest. But overall, this book wasn’t quite what I expected or hoped for. If you’re looking for a true "beach read" with fun, vacation vibes, this isn’t it. If you’re up for a heavier, character-driven story about breaking free from toxic family ties, it might be worth a try—but with tempered expectations.

There’s lots going on in this book. There’s family drama, friendship and of course romance. I did think it was a little slow moving. Things are not always how we perceive them and that’s certainly true in this book.
I don’t really think the title suits the book either.
It’s a good beach read

Beach Vibes
by Susan Mallery
Pub Date: March 18, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about love, secrets, betrayal and the family we’re born into—and the one we choose for ourselves, perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Mary Kay Andrews.

What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?

I was drawn into this book from the start by the excellent writing and likeable (most of them) characters.
It’s a rather simple story but it’s juicy and fun with several big reveals. I always love Susan Mallery books; she’s a great in between books author for me. The title didn't really match the plot but it is a good book.

BEACH VIBES – Susan Mallery
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-40253-0
March 18, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Malibu, California – Present Day

Beth runs a popular sandwich shop near the beach, and while she wishes she had a guy in her life, she is otherwise happy. She meets Jana while both are volunteering at a local food bank. Jana is a single mom working at a medical office and trying to get into the nursing program at UCLA. They spend time after their stint at the food bank talking while eating the sandwiches Beth brings from her shop. Beth knows that Jana has a young daughter and lives with her widower brother, Teddy, and his three children. Jana soon tells Beth about meeting a doctor and going on dates with him. What Beth doesn’t know is that the doctor is Beth’s younger brother, Rick.

Beth and Rick had a tumultuous childhood when their single mother abandoned them in foster care. They eventually landed with their Aunt Agatha and her husband, providing stability. Beth sacrificed a lot for Rick because he saved her from being raped while in foster care. She even gave him the savings she had planned to use for culinary school so he could attend medical school. Rick is now a successful doctor with Beth doting on him. She learns from him that he is dating a woman who may have a checkered past. Let’s just say he doesn’t paint the woman in a good light. He then suggests they meet. It is at that meeting that the two women learn how they are now connected. Unfortunately, by this time, Beth met Teddy, and she’s attracted to him, and they start dating. Rick isn’t happy she is dating his current girlfriend’s brother. Then Beth discovers her brother is cheating on Jana.

I guess one can describe BEACH VIBES as having a bit of a soapy feel. Beth is divorced and learns early on in this tale that her ex is engaged. She feels her former friends abandoned her after they “chose” her ex during the divorce, though Beth didn’t do anything wrong. That is why her new friendship with Jana is dear to her. Someone who doesn’t judge her by the man she is married to. Jana doesn’t talk much about her daughter’s father but talks a lot about her brother’s bravery after suddenly losing his wife. Teddy and Jana are supportive of each other and Beth probably feels the same way about her relationship with her brother Rick. After learning that Jana is dating Rick (shame on him for setting up the surprise), Beth feels a little awkward at first. Her brother is dating the woman who has become her best friend!

Meanwhile, dates with Teddy are a wonderful distraction and Beth ignores Rick’s grumbling about the matter. After learning about Rick’s cheating, she confronts him and demands that he break off his affair. He tells Beth that Jana is more important than the other woman, so when he tells her that the relationship is over, Beth believes him. But the fact that she didn’t tell Jana (or Teddy) hangs over her head.

Jana was wild as a young woman but having her daughter changed her. As a single mother, she is grateful for the help from Teddy and also from Dex, her brother’s best friend who is like a second father to all the kids. Meeting Rick and having him ask her out was a shock. Her last relationship ended when the guy slapped her daughter. Jana will do whatever it takes to protect her child. A blessing in her life is Beth, who has proven to be a good friend. While it is a bit awkward that she is dating Beth’s brother, the relationship is good. Readers sense that Rick’s infidelity will soon raise its ugly head.

BEACH VIBES is an enjoyable and intriguing tale that pulls you into the lives of the characters. If you’re looking for your next beach book to take you away to a place where you can read about other people’s problems, then grab a copy.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Not exactly the "beach vibes" I was hoping for. The chemistry with one of the couples was so off. Not only that, but the brother was such an unlikeable narcissist. I think it's hard to to like a book with this main premise. Thank you, NetGalley.

The writing is very good, and I care about these characters. That's the problem. I am struggling with knowing that bad things are going to happen to these people. I had to work on it a little at a time.

Another great beach read by Susan Mallery. I enjoyed the relationship building and blended family storyline. The setting is perfectly Malibu and took me to the beach. The conflict was believable and made me want to slap the guy. I wish there would have been more spotlight given to the Dex and Jana relationship before the story ended. Was a quick read that paired well with a latte on the beach!

Thank you NetGalley and Susan Mallery for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for the advanced reader's copy of Beach Vibes by Susan Mallory.

This novel was not a light and fluffy beach read as initially expected. This novel definitely deals with heavier topics like grief and loss.

I initially found the idea of two sets of siblings dating as weird. But the author manages to make it come across as happening organically but certainly not without it's issues. I did enjoy this novel as we watch the 4 characters navigate dealing with their own baggage as well as the dynamics of their intertangled relationships with each other.

Ultimately it does have a somewhat happy ending but readers should definitely look for triggers warnings if they are in a season where reading about infidelity, grief, loss of a parent or spouse is troubling.

BEACH VIBES
SUSAN MALLORY
ON SALE: MARCH 18/25

Beth & Rick are siblings who both had very different upbringings. After their “ fly by the seat of her pants” mother dies in a car accident, they are sent to different foster homes until their mother’s sister finds them and raises them.

Now recently divorced, Beth is very over protective to her younger brother who is now a surgeon. Beth owns a sandwich shop in Malibu and volunteers in a Thrift Shop where she meets Jana.

Jana doesn’t know Beth is Rick’s sister as she starts dating Rick, whom she met in the medical building she works in. It gets more complicated when Beth starts dating Teddy, Jana’s brother. When Beth sees her brother is a romantic embrace with another woman, she confronts him, only to find out Jana is being cheated on, she is the other woman. Now Beth is caught between her best friend and her brother, but by not telling Jana the truth, where does that leave her and Teddy?

Susan Mallery spins a complicated love tale complete with the vistas of Malibu and its famous beach.

@htpbooks

Beth is totally over her ex, or at least she thought she was until she saw his giant proposal billboard on the way to Costco. After the initial shock wears off she realizes that she is just unhappy with how she is feeling unfulfilled lately. Vowing to make changes to lead a better existence has her sliding out of her comfort zone. She didn’t have the greatest childhood and it has always just been her and her brother against the world. She feels a responsibility of taking care of him, whether he wants her to or not. But before changing too much she has to make sure her brother finds his perfect half. Older sisters get a meddle pass right?

Jana is a single mother working hard to make a life for her and her daughter. After a recent relationship turned sour, she isn’t looking to date until her daughter is older. A flirtation with a doctor suggests she might be able to dip her toes in the dating pool again. Their relationship moves quickly but comfortably and when he wants her to meet his sister she hedges but agrees. That’s when it all hits the fan. But that hiccup is only the beginning of a well woven mess that shows what people are truly made of.

More than a love story, Beach Vibes is a story about new friends, siblings, second chances at love and even gaslighting. The storyline flows through main and secondary characters with ease and makes you feel like you’ve spent many a morning sitting on the deck drinking coffee together.

There were some parts I really enjoyed - the setting, the FMC and her growth as well as being able to connect to her and the sandwich shop is great. She's starting over and has her own business. I'm here for independence.

But there were some parts that I really struggled to read - the FMCs brother dating her friend but it's never shared even though it's obvious, how he's not the best guy, and the question of family loyalty is kind of an ehhh topic for me.

I was definitely expecting something else out of this story. Parts were totally for me and others fell flat and I didn't jive with it all. I think a different Susan Mallery book is for me!

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC of this book.

Beth owns a sandwich shop at the beach. Her brother is a doctor and she’s extremely proud of him. She would do anything for him. Jana is her new best friend and when Rick starts dating Jana she thinks that things can’t get any better. Then she meets Jana’s brother and sparks fly. Things are going great until she catches her brother cheating on her bestie. What to do? Betray her brother or lose her new best friend when she finds out?
This book started out slowly and picked up but I still want to know who doesn’t tell their best friend the name of the man she’s dating? Also, I would not classify this book as a beach read.

Thanks to Canary Street Press for an advanced copy of Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery. I love Susan Mallery books, and Beach Vibes was a great contemporary romance with a side of family drama.

While the setting is in Malibu, it isn't your typical beach romance. Beth and Rick are siblings. Beth is recently divorced and owns a popular sandwich shop. She meets Jana volunteering and they start to become friends. Jana and her daughter live with her brother - Teddy, a widow and his 3 kids. Jana meets Rick at work and they start dating, but it isn't until Beth realizes her brother and new friend are dating where things get complicated. And add in sparks between Beth and Teddy...

This was your classic Susan Mallery with romance, family drama, strong women and mostly great characters. I liked Beth and Teddy. Rick was the absolute worst. I liked seeing Beth gain her confidence and Jana realize her goals.

If you're looking for a slightly more family drama romance, you'll enjoy Beach Vibes.

This latest novel by Susan Mallery is not at all what I expected based on the title and cover. But this is a classic case of not judging a book by its cover. Rather than a lighthearted beach read, this is more in the women's fiction category with some serious family drama happening. I don't want to give away too much, but Rick is definitely not the man that Beth thought her brother was! Overall, a good read but not as lighthearted as I was expecting.

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery is set in Malibu.
The story is about family friendship and betrayal. Beth is divorced and owns and runs a sandwich shop close to the beach. Jana is a single mother, working at a medical center and going to school. They meet volunteering at a food back and become fast friends. They end up dating each other’s brothers.
Then betrayal happens and each person’s past comes up and the story gets complicated. To whom to be loyal?
I did enjoy the story but felt being more open with each other and talking would have kept the angst down. -- I enjoyed the story and have read many of Ms. Mallery’s books. Recommended thanks for the advanced copy

I received an ARC of Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery from Netgalley.

The main characters of this book are Beth, who is recently divorced, owns a sandwich shop on the beach and Jana, who is working while going to school to become a nurse. They both met while volunteering at the local food pantry in Malibu.

What eventually happens is that Jana begins dating Beth's brother Rick, who is a successful surgeon, and Beth ends up dating Jana's brother's Teddy. The complications are Beth and Rick's childhood, and how they were both raised. Same can be said for Teddy's and Jana's past.

The resulting factor of how Rick was treated in his early years certainly drives what becomes a disturbing revelation for Beth. I almost feel like there should be a trigger warning for people that have dealt with narcissism in their family. This story doesn't end like you think it would, and the title caught me off guard. There was a bit of redundancy towards the end and I felt that there was an opportunity to make Beth a stronger person.

I did enjoy this book and would recommend.

Susan Mallery is a great author with lots of light reading books. Beach Vibes is her latest novel and I really enjoyed it. Lots of twists and turns and definitely not predictable.

Beth has recently gone through a divorce. She's not sad the relationship is over but she lost some friends in the divorce and she needs to find new ways to keep herself busy. She needs to find some ways to make new friends and maybe find love again. At least Beth is happy with her career. She's been the owner of Surf Sandwiches since her Aunt and Uncle wanted to retire. She bought them out and they agreed to help her brother through college to become a doctor. He's always been the ones with the brains and she's not college material - at least that's what her brother always said.

While volunteering at the food bank Beth meets Jana. She's a single mom trying to work part time at the medical centre, go to school and take care of her daughter. It's a lot of work but she lives with her single dad brother and his best friend helps out a lot too. Beth and Jana bond over their food bank shifts and start having quick dinner together after volunteering.

Unbeknownst to the other Jana works at the same office as Beth's brother and he's been asking her out for a while now. When Beth meets Jana's brother it feels like love at first sight. But can Jana and Beth's friendship withstand them dating each other's brothers. Both girls fiercely love their brothers and this could go great or very bad.

This whole love square (???) takes place in a beach town with many scenes at the beach watching the surfers. Beth's sandwiches sound amazing and might inspire some new ideas for dinner.

This book was definitely different than other Susan Mallery books that I’ve read, such as Fool’s Gold series and Happily Inc series.
A story about finding love and friendship a bit later in life. The characters were realistic and I enjoyed the dialogue. However, I felt there were times during “inner monologues” there were boring parts that weren’t needed. I enjoyed the humor, supportiveness, the kids were cute. Overall liked how it went. Happy ever after!
Thank you!