What would you do if you caught a family member cheating on their significant other? Would you spill the beans or keep your mouth shut? Susan Mallory asks these questions and more in her latest read Beach Vibes. Set in the sunny beachside community of Malibu, love, betrayal and family dynamics come in to play when a young lady learns her brother is cheating on his fiance. Who happens to be the sister of her boyfriend.

A touching story about love, secrets, betrayal and family dynamics.

This story puts relationships, friendships and family loyalty to the test. A sister is left with the dilemma of choosing her brother over her friend and the man she loves.

Beth becomes friends with Jana. Then Jana meets Beth's brother Rick and starts dating him. And to add more sparks Beth falls for Jana's brother Teddy.

But when Beth discovers that her brother is cheating on her best friend what will she do?

Beach Vibes was my first read by Susan Mallery and I can't wait to check out some of her previous books now.
I needed a book to fill the empty void that was no Elin Hilderbrand this year and Beach Vibes did just that for me.
If you're a fan of Elin and missing summers on Nantucket, you need to check out Beach Vibes.

Beach Vibes transports readers to the beautiful beachside community of Malibu where we meet the main character Beth and her successful sandwich shop, Surf Sandwiches. While the story has plenty of beachy vibes, it's ultimately about relationships, both friendships, romantic and family, and what happens when there is betrayal and secrets.

I thought it was a good book and well-written. The characters had a lot of depth and personality, and while the title makes it sounds like it's going to be a light read, it definitely has a lot more depth than I thought it would.

A good book for sure.

Thank you HTP Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What would you do if your brother started dating your friend, and then you find him cheating on that friend? Do you tell, will your friendship survive? This is the situation Beth finds herself in. Pick brother or friend? Family loyalty is tested in this romcom.
I wanted to love the book, but unfortunately it was not one of Mallery’s best.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Beth and Jana. They are friends. They both volunteer at the food bank. Beth owns a sub shop. Jana is a student at a community college and a mother. This story is about them learning about dating, trusting your date, and falling in love. They get cheated on, lied to and broken up with. But they learn what it means to fall in love with your soul mate.

It was cute, albeit forgettable. I don't regret reading this but I won't re-read it either. Definitely not worth more than 3 stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beach Vibes
By: Susan Mallery
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Pub Date: 3/18/25
Satin Malibu, California Beth runs a sandwich shop that she bought from her uncle. Her brother Rick is a surgeon who she gave up everything to get through medical school. But everything changes when Beth finds out that Rick is dating her best friend Jana. While she is dating Jana's brother Teddy. Only things are going to get messy when Beth finds out that Rick isn’t the person or brother she thought he was.
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I love love LOVED this book and just could not put it down. I’m typically more of a romance person so this book was slightly outside of my “typical” romance reads, and I absolutely devoured it!

Set against the sun-drenched beauty of Malibu, Beach Vibes is more than a romantic escape—it’s an emotional and layered story about love, loss, friendship, and starting over. Susan Mallery has a way of pulling you right into her characters’ lives, making their experiences feel personal and real.

This was one of the quickest reads I’ve ever had—I finished it in just two days because I simply couldn’t put it down. I felt all of the emotions - anger, irritation, happiness, heartbreak, you name it and I felt it! The pacing is smooth, the emotions are authentic, and the characters are flawed in all the best ways. While romance plays an important role, the heart of the story lies in healing from the past, rebuilding trust, and the kind of friendships that anchor you when life gets messy.

PERFECT for fans of heartfelt women’s fiction with just the right touch of romance and real-life emotion.

This is a light story set in Malibu. It’s about new love and friendship. What is more important, family ties or commitment to new relationships whether friends or lovers?

The drama starts late in the book as it feels it was a long introduction to the book blurb. It did keep my interest as I Read it pretty fast but it is not earth shattering.

I’m going to be very up front with you. This review is going to contain spoilers because I don’t think I could write it without them. Also, I was very disappointed at the inclusion of a Harry Potter reference in a book published in 2025. It’s made me question whether or not to continue reading this author and kept me from bumping up my rating, which I would normally do when a book is a “half-star” between ratings for me.

Ok, now into the story. We know cheating happens, because it’s included in the synopsis, so that may have colored my first impressions of Rick, but he was just smarmy the entire way through the book. He has absolutely no redeeming qualities, and it’s the way that he treats Beth that really pissed me off.

Jana is actually the hero of the story for me. I feel like most of the book focuses on Beth and we only get shorter insights from Jana’s POV, but she is the character that I most connected with and most championed. She had integrity, compassion, and a great sense of self. Yes, she did beat herself up over her past, but she didn’t allow it to hold her back and she worked hard to go after what she wanted, on her own. She reacted to the situations in the story rationally.

The other characters who are flawless are Dex and Kai . They are fantastic friends and great sounding boards.

Ok, onto the last two characters that I will be discussing. Of the two, Teddy is the least problematic, but still has a few things that irritated me. First, two instant loves in his life? In my experience, that seems a little unbelievable. Secondly, yes, Beth did not initially tell him (or Jana) about Galaxy, but he readily admits that he would have done the same if the positions were reversed. His refusal to initially forgive her, long after Jana already had, is just really hypocritical.

And finally we come to Beth. I had a lot of problems with Beth. Yes, she had a rough childhood and wanted to protect her brother, but she never grew up. She let her brother gaslight and abuse her generosity, and she never called him on it because he struggled as a kid. And her initial reaction to the idea of her brother dating a single mother was repulsive, no matter whether she was a receptionist or a medical biller. That to me, was worse than her not telling Jana about Galaxy and what she’d seen (she also should have said something to Galaxy in my opinion). I understand that she was afraid of losing her relationship with Teddy as well as her friendship with Jana, but friends don’t treat each other that way.

There were parts of this story that I did really enjoy. The kids were awesome, as was Beth’s aunt. I liked that Beth finally started doing things for herself once she woke up to what Rick was doing. And I 100% predicted and support Jana’s new relationship at the end of the book. In fact, everything that happened at the end was great.

While this book was not necessarily for me, I have enjoyed other books by this author in the past.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC through HTP Book Tours and NetGalley in exchange for a spotlight post and review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A great beach town read with just the right mix of sunshine and drama. The relationships are messy, real, and emotionally layered. The characters had such strong development. I really grew to care about them and didn’t want the book to end. Perfect if you enjoy character-driven stories with heart, growth, and a bit of scandal.

Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches is owned by Beth and she is so proud of it but even more proud of her brother Rick who is a charming surgeon who raised himself up from foster care. She makes sandwiches while he saves countless lives. Life is funny-it can turn at a moment. All of a sudden it turns happy after she finds out that Rick is dating her good friend Jana. Jana’s handsome brother then adds radiance to Beth’s life day and night.

In one terrible moment Beth’s life is shattered after she catches Rick with another woman realizing her dreams of an amazing family future may end. Either she risks the love of her life and best friend by keeping her brother’s secret or does she betray him.

Susan Mallery brings to you in her new novel of romance love, loss and the bonds of family. There is a struggle between throughout. Is the bonds of family stronger than the loss of love and a great friendship? She pushes that to the limit. You’re tore between the two. Hoping for one side and realizing the defeat. I even shed a few tears at one point. It was such a good read! Romantic with happiness and sadness all in one with a beachy vibe to it like the title. Definitely a book you want to escape in. Great book to read on vacation or anywhere. She’ll bring the beach to you! A must read of hers you won’t want to miss! Don’t pass this one by!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers in letting me read this book and allowing me to leave an honest review.

I did not connect with this story. It had a very slow beginning and I had a difficult time investing in the characters. The setting was really fun and had potential for a great book, but it took too long for the plot to develop and I lost interest.

Beth runs a successful sandwich shop on the Malibu beachfront. She gave up her dreams of further education to support her brother Rick who is now a surgeon. She befriends Jana, a young single mom, who shares her shift at the local food bank. Jana starts dating Rick and Beth becomes involved with Jana’s handsome brother. There is one major twist but overall the story is too predictable. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm a huge Susan Mallery fan and know that her books leave me feeling happy. This one was just a bit off for me from the start. I didn't enjoy it in the same cozy way as I usually do her stories and I can't quite put my finger on why. It was a so/so book for me and it won't stop me from reading all of her future books!

Beth always took care of her little brother, Rick. Putting aside any plans of attending culinary school, she gave him her savings toward his medical school aspirations. Now he's a surgeon and Beth is newly divorced and living with her aunt, whom they found after their mother's death, and going through the foster system.

Beth has to 'reboot' her life. She discovered all her friends were 'their' friends and her ex-husband kept them all. Determined to remake herself, she signs up to help out at a food distribution center on days off from the successful sandwich shop she owns. When she meets Jana there, they become friends. Jana is a single mom, working on a nursing degree as well as working at a busy doctor's office. Rick meets Jana and begins dating her, though neither woman realizes it. Beth is upset that Rick knew and thought it a joke to get them together. The women work through that and Jana even takes Beth home to meet her family. Jana and her daughter live with Jana's brother and children. His wife died quickly and unexpectedly from cancer and Jana is as protective of Teddy as Beth is of Rick. Beth forms a connection with Teddy and his children but when it's discovered Rick is also dating another woman, Beth is beside herself, fearing that she will lose not only her friend but her possible romance.

The two women have to reconstruct their relationship and tempers flare as they each become protective of their brothers.

This book is tough to put down and will be a great beach read. Recommended for fans of 'relationship' reads

Amazing book. Loved this book, has a wonderful storyline and amazing characters. I love the beach. This book has me hooked right away.

Beth and Jana, though a decade apart in age, become fast friends while working at a local food bank in Malibu and encountering some similar life and love situations. As their lives become more entwined, their friendship is tested when one's loyalty to family seems to overcome that bond. But is that loyalty misplaced, and can their friendship endure? Beach Vibes is a truly intense, page-turning tale of family, friendship, life, and love that is very highly recommended! Five stars, indeed!

Beach Vibes is a story that delivers on the promise of its name. It’s a story that is perfect for beach reading season, with a focus on friendship and romance, and which has a surprising amount of substance to it as well. A great choice for an afternoon spent at the beach.

Thank you Susan Mallery, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.