Beach Vibes is a life-affirming and captivating read that masterfully explores the complexities of family, romance, betrayal, and personal growth, inspiring you to reflect on your own life journey and the transformative power of love and self-discovery. Beth's selfless devotion to her charismatic brother, Rick, has been the cornerstone of her life, but after her divorce and years of sacrifice, she's finally discovering her own identity, pursuing her passion for running Surf Sandwiches, and nurturing new friendships, including a profound bond with Jana, a nursing student she meets while volunteering at a food bank. As Beth falls deeply in love with Teddy, Jana's brother, and Jana and Rick's relationship blossoms, everything seems to be falling into place. However, when Beth discovers Rick's infidelity, she's torn between exposing the truth and protecting her brother, forcing her to confront the ultimate question: what does it truly mean to love and be loyal? What resonated with me most about this book was its thoughtful and nuanced portrayal of complex family dynamics, and how it shows that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope for healing and redemption. Beth's inner turmoil, as she grapples with the delicate balance between love, loyalty, and self-respect, is both deeply relatable and profoundly inspiring. While the California beach setting is vividly described, I wished it had played a more integral role in the characters' daily lives. Although Beth's journey is deeply empowering, I struggled to connect with Rick's character, as his actions often felt extreme and hurtful. Nevertheless, this book is a powerful exploration of the human experience, delving into the intricacies of relationships, grief, resilience, and healing, and offering a poignant reminder that love, heartbreak, and self-discovery are all intertwined. As the tension builds in the second half, you'll find yourself fully invested in the characters' lives, and although the journey is intense, the conclusion will leave you feeling hopeful, uplifted, and inspired to embrace the transformative power of love and self-discovery. If you're drawn to stories that celebrate the human capacity for growth, forgiveness, and redemption, then this book is an absolute must-read.

In masterful fashion, Mallery exposes the complicated relationships within families and how we sometimes see what we want to see. While Rick centers the story (rat-bastard) it is really about Jana and Beth and learning to trust your gut while remaining open to possibilities.
4.5 stars

DNFed @ 25%

This isn’t my cup of tea at all, I’m sorry. I love both Beth and Jana who are both generous women who deserve the world but this made me so uncomfortable. They’re friends, but the second Beth realises Jana is dating her brother Rick she starts doubting her and her motivations. I thought I was in for a beautiful female friendship tale and this was so disappointing. Rick is so off-putting too as we see him lying and cheating. It’s very hard to root for those characters after certain scenes. And lastly, content warning for domestic violence towards a child (in the past but still).

This was way too much for me. It was my first Susan Mallery and I know she’s beloved, I’ll just have to trust that her catalogue is more uplifting than this.

I read the book and listened to the audiobook. The audiobook was a little confusing because of all the different characters and just one narrator. Overall it was a cute book

What a great story from Susan Mallery in this stand alone book. I love her books and this one did not disappoint. The characters in this book are well developed and you find yourself loving and cheering for some and absolutely hating others. It has some intense parts which keep you thinking. It is a great story of family relationships, different personalities, loyalty, betrayal and love. Once you start reading it you will be unable to put it down!

This is a book whose emotional tale ebbs and flows like the waves on a beach. It is a thought provoking story about friendship, loyalty, trust, and family. Beth has to face some hard truths during the story and make decisions about what makes her happy, who she wants to be, and what family really means. Jana is struggling to balance work, college, a relationship, and single motherhood. Beth's brother Rick has hidden depths to his character that come out and affect everyone. Teddy shares his house with his sister Jana and his three children. He has his friendship with his best friend Dex, a successful business, but has been a widower for five years and starts to realize he is lonely. Dex is quietly in the background supporting Teddy and Jana. His help is needed when deception, secrets, and loyalty are put to the test. This is a powerful story that has you wondering what would you do for your family and your friends.

Beach Vibes was a solid read, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The premise is engaging—Beth’s dilemma of catching her brother, Rick, cheating on her best friend Jana, while being caught between loyalty and love, created a lot of emotional tension. I could relate to the moral dilemma Beth faced, and her loyalty to both her family and her best friend felt real.

Beth’s life in Malibu, running her beach shop, was a nice touch, creating a fun, relaxed backdrop for the more serious emotional and moral conflicts she faces. The contrast between her laid-back business and the drama with Rick and Jana worked well, though I sometimes felt like the narrative didn’t dig deeply enough into Beth’s internal conflict. She felt somewhat passive at times, especially when it came to her relationship with her brother, which made it harder to fully connect with her on a deeper level.

The romance between Beth and Jana’s brother was sweet, but honestly, it felt a bit predictable and didn’t bring as much spark to the story as I was hoping. I didn’t feel the chemistry was fully developed, which made the love triangle part of the story less compelling than it could have been.

Overall, Beach Vibes is a good read, but not one that really stood out. The family dynamics and the moral questions Beth has to navigate were interesting, but the pacing and character development left me wanting a bit more. If you're looking for a light, easy read with some drama, it’s worth picking up.

Beach Vibes is not your typical beach read as you might think. It is much deeper than that. This is a story of love, loss, family and all the complications that can come from it all. I enjoyed most of the characters and how Susan Mallery developed the characters. I did not like Rick though. Pick this up just in time for spring break!

Thank you Net Galley, Susan Mallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
Beach Vibes is expected to be released March 18, 2025.

Susan Mallery has written another great read! Get this one for your Spring Break beach read. Susan Mallery always writes a great untraditional family dynamic. Her characters are relatable and genuine which makes it so easy to become truly invested. Mallery has done a great job of exploring the bonds of family and how it sometimes blinds us from seeing who those people really are.
Beth a newly divorced business owner is longing for a social life outside of her employees and customers, she would love to get back into the dating and nights out with friends. Her current dinner dates are her brother Rick and Aunt Agatha. Beth soon meets Jana while volunteering at the food bank and they begin spending time together, but Beth does not realizes that her new friend is also her brothers new girlfriend. Once Jana and Beth figure out they have a common link to Rick things get interesting and secrets begin to unfold. Beth´s loyalty will be tested, will she choose her family or her best friend?

(3.5 rounded up)
Beach Vibes is a character driven story of family, friendship, and the complexities, sacrifices, and betrayals that come with relationships. A journey of self discovery, loss, trust, loyalty, and learning that things aren’t always what they seem. Two single women, who become good friends while volunteering at the local food bank, end up dating each other's brother, not knowing it at first. Relationships are hard and sometimes complicated, so dating people in your inner circle could lead to a sticky complicated mess. What could possibly go wrong?

I enjoyed the family dynamics, most of the characters, especially the kids, and the character growth from the beginning to end. The plot wasn’t complex or too deep, making it an easy read, which would make for a good “beach read” but it was also a good representation that life isn't always perfect and family isn't always loving.

The story is set on a beach in Malibu, and although I think the cover if colorful and eye catching, the cover and title don’t represent the story inside, except for the MC owning the Surf Sandwich Shop near the beach. Being my first “beach read” in 2025, I was hoping for warm, summer, "beach vibes" in the plot.

The audiobook helped keep the story entertaining. The narrator, Tanya Eby, did an impressive job with the multiple character voices, and bringing the characters and story to life. From pacing, to dialect and inflection, Eby created an easy to listen and follow along with experience. She delivered a flawless performance from start to finish.

Thank you @htpbooks, @htp_hive, @harlequinaudio, @canarystreetpress, and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

An emotional journey of love, loss and going with your heart! Mallery is adept at weaving a character into an attention grabbing, easy to like individual while setting the stage to develop the core plot to allow her reader to co-exist in their world. Descriptive prose made it easy to like Beth and her business life while joining her on her journey to help others and broaden her circle with the new friend she meets while volunteering. Jana has a heartwarming family backdrop to guide her as she builds a better life for she and her young daughter. She doesn't always trust her instincts after past mistakes, but hopes for a brighter future with each undertaking. I enjoyed their friendship and the twists and turns it took as things didn't add up to what they were expecting, but the depth of their caring enables them through.

I enjoyed this book as a whole and felt like there was a delightful story told and enjoyed, but there was also a void left in giving a resolution. I feel like at some point there should have been something further between Beth and her brother and fallout if there was going to be any from her continued connection with him. I definitely walked away lacking a satisfactory conclusion to all of the emotions.

This is definitely more than a "beach read", it takes place near the beach is about as close at it gets. It is a story of friendship, family, and finding second chances. What does it mean to be loyal to family if it costs friendship? Realistic issues addressed in the story with a quick wrap up ending. This author always delivers!

Susan Mallery can always be depended on to write a breezy, fun novel. And in today’s world, there are plenty of readers who want just this escape. She does not disappoint in her new book, Beach Vibes. While they tend to be formulaic, I’m willing to give her a pass. Beth, recently divorced, and a new business owner, finds herself enmeshed in domestic drama when she finds her brother cheating on her best friend. A story of secrets and betrayal. Recommended for public libraries

As with all of Susan's books, I could not put this down! After her divorce, Beth is trying to figure out who she is. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book even though she had to go some hard things by way of her brother. This is not your typical chick lit, there is substance to it! So good!

The author, cover, description and title had me so excited to read this. Of all the Susan Mallery books I have read, this one was a little disappointing. I went in thinking it would be more beachy and less on the childish drama side. I did enjoy the sibling bonds and the friendship between Jana and Beth. I do appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

A book about where loyalties lie. Every character in this book has been dealt a raw deal. They've become productive members of society and trying to figure out their next steps in relationships and in life. I know Susan Mallery is a prolific author, and I was looking forward to reading her newest book, an ARC given to me in exchange for an honest review.

While the premise of the book sounded fun and beachy, a friendship book that I could relate to, I found it overly simplistic, a bit cheesy, and very repetitive. Same story every chapter, reiterating the same points. It wore on me and became tiresome. I could not enjoy the book because it just needed to move on. It seemed like it was trying too hard to be introspective, and it wrecked the flow and realism of the characters. Bummer.

The book turned out to be a great read. When I first started this book it was slow and I thought it might end up being a did not finish. But I love Susan Mallery books so I pushed through and was awarded for that. It was a great book about 2 Women (Beth & Jana)that befriend each other and have a lot in common, 1 of them being they both have brothers (1 a Dr, 1 a massage therapist). Jana starts dating Rick(Dr)who she is surprised to find out is Beth's brother. Through the whole book the way Rick treated her, I thought I would never put up with that and I immediately did not like him. Why isn't she kicking him to the curb. Ahh he's a narcissist and she just doesn't realize it. Beth starts dating Jana's brother and feels all the sparks and magic she never knew existed. Rick messes everything up and there are so many interesting details that come out of that and a surprising twist. I was so glad I kept going and wished it would have gone on longer.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

Great storyline, where the author immediately grabs you in, and you need to know how it ends. Felt very character driven, with the complexities of all the characters being the main focus of the storyline. The ending was suspected, but also felt very rushed. All in all, a great beach read, that leaves you with a good story to recommend to others.

The title is a little bit deceitful with this book. It is not a relaxing beach read in any way. Beth is divorced but when she sees her ex-husband proposing on a billboard, she rethinks her own life and her relationships with friends and family. It is a very deep book that juggles a lot of challenging topics and questions about life and family. I thought it was thought-provoking and I enjoyed it.

Exactly what you expect from a Susan Mallery novel. Formulaic romance. Girl meets boy, or in this case 2 girlfriends date each other's brothers, conflict ensues, estrangement, happy ending. All set among the backdrop of a California sandwich shop. No surprises here, just relax and enjoy the waves.