Recently, I read Susan Mallery’s *Beach Vibes*, what a fun book! It’s a story of a sunny Malibu and Beth who also runs a cute beach shop Surf Sandwiches. It is so sweet to see how proud she is of her brother, Rick, on his way to being a surgeon.

But when Beth finds out Rick is seeing her new best friend, Jana, things get messy. After witnessing Rick in a surprising situation, Beth has to make a tough decision: Should she protect her brother or be herself, and perhaps even that would lead her to ruin her friendship and a chance to be with Jana's brother?

Mallery’s writing is super engaging and the characters could be anyone you know. Although I could see some of the plot twists coming, a combination of humor, drama, and romance kept me interested. A great read if you’re looking for something lighthearted and touching over summer, *Beach Vibes* is a definite recommend!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Fun read with beachy vibes. I was hoping for a little more Malibu based on the description, but it was still cute. I liked the premise of the story but found the main antagonist to be just a little too unbelievable. The dialogue was a little bit too much in circles, but overall the book was still enjoyable.

I really enjoyed following Beth on her journey with love, family and friends. I did feel the wording was a bit heavy and hard to follow at times, this wasn’t a quick and easy read because if that. The characters were not the most likable I’ve read. I did enjoy the struggle and tension of family dynamics and morals. I loved that Beth ended up having romance with her friend’s brother aside from the other plot lines. It was an enjoyable read!

I really liked this read.
The family dynamics was awesome and they made me keep turning the pages.
Awesome characters with a good plot. I finished in one day. I'm still thinking about these characters.
I know what it's like to be cheated on. It's not a good feeling.

Not quite as light as some of the other's titles, but I enjoyed the characters. The main character made mistakes, but the reader could always understand why she did what she did. There still was a happy ending.

Another hit by Susan Mallery. I love all of her books and this is no different. She makes you feel like you know the character and are friends with them. He style is comforting. Highly recommend.

Beautiful Malibu is the setting for family drama, secrets, and falling in love in Susan Mallery’s highly anticipated new release, “Beach Vibes.” Just the title has me wishing for sunny days, warm breezes, and my dream vacation to California. I adore all of the characters and the relationships they have with one another. As we got to know them, it was apparent that not everyone was who we thought they really were.

Beth owned a popular sandwich shop, lived with her very youthful Aunt Agatha, and had a younger brother Rick, who was a successful surgeon. She still catered to him and he took advantage of her any way he could! Beth’s closest friend was Jana, a single mother, who she met while volunteering at the local food pantry. Jana came with a precocious daughter, a dreamy looking brother, Teddy, his three children and his best friend, Dex. It didn’t take long for our new friends to fall in love, break up, deal with betrayal, and realize that love is sometimes right there in front of you.

Beth was devoted to her brother and had always taken care of him but keeping his secret was the hardest thing she had ever done. I wanted Beth to have the happily ever after she deserved but I was afraid that her brother’s shocking behavior would be too much for her to handle. Jana was also caught in the middle of this family drama and was torn between siding with her brother and never speaking to Beth again, or accepting her apology and continuing their friendship. Love and forgiveness are the foundation of any successful relationship and I am sure everyone involved will realize that life was much better together, than apart!!

Beth is divorced and lives with her aunt. She runs her own business Surf Sandwiches. She spends a lot of time and energy supporting her brother Rick. Beth meets a friend Jana while serving at a soup kitchen, and then Rick starts dating Jana. But what will Beth do when she realizes her brother is cheating on Jana? And will she risk her new relationship with Jana's brother? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The cover for this one is super cute, but Beth was just a boring main character. I tried my hardest to stick this one out, but overall it was a super slow start. With a very boring fmc.

This book was very entertaining!! The characters were all very well developed and personable which makes for enjoyable reading!! I would have loved for there to be some type of epilogue to tie everything up (especially with Rick) but that's ok, I can imagine what the epilogue would be.

This was such a fun read and a little of a twist. A little more drama compared to Mallory’s usual reads.

Beth owns and runs Surf Sandwiches and loves serving people. She is also proud of her brother, Rick, who became a surgeon after suffering a miserable childhood. She is used to protecting him. Beth, recently divorced, is lonely and glad she found Jana at her volunteer job. They become fast friends, and she ends up dating Rick. After meeting Jana’s brother Teddy, they begin dating. Problems arise when Beth sees Rick with another woman. If she is honest with Jana and Teddy, she fears her relationship with them will be destroyed. I liked how Beth began to see how her brother manipulated her. It was fun watching Jana, Teddy, and Beth interact with Jana’s daughter and Terry’s three children. Great book about realistically looking at life and being able to change your life.

I’m hit or miss with this author. The story started out very interesting, then it took a turn. I enjoyed the first half significantly more than the second half.
Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending this book for review consideration.

This was not my favorite Susan Mallery novel, but I was honored that I was asked to read an advanced copy of the book for my honest review.

The storyline of this novel and the title are a bit misleading. While it seems like a light-airy read about a beach setting, do not be fooled... it is not that. This book is consumed with twists and turns and family dynamics.

The storyline is easy to pick up from the get-go, but the novel takes you on an adventure through their life experiences but the storyline was pretty transparent as the novel continued.

Susan Mallery does it again! This book was a good reminder of siblings who stick together and has each others’ back – only to learn it was one sided. The raw emotions of do i? and why didn’t I see that? Are so real. I really enjoyed the characters and them coming together and sticking it out. Family has spats, friends have spats and they work through them and showing that time and space is needed sometimes for thoughts and healing, and its okay to have those boundaries. Thank you for the ARC Net Galley #BeachVibes #SusanMallery #NetGalley

I just hated to see this story end, I wanted it to last much longer! Beth is proud of her thriving business, a sandwich shop. She is also proud of her brother Rick, who is a surgeon. Following a bad divorce Beth does not really have a social life and does volunteer work at a food bank. She meets Jana, who becomes her best friend. Rick is dating Jana and Beth is smitten with Jana’s brother. While out, Beth sees Rick with another woman and does know immediately what she should do. This story is cilled with love, betrayal, loyalty and humor.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another wonderful read by susan mallery!! She always makes you want to continue reading to find out more. Another five star read

Wow, just wow. Susan Mallery delivers another hit with Beach Vibes (releasing March 2025)! This book had me hooked from page one, blending heartfelt emotion, wit, and high-stakes drama into an unputdownable read.

Beth’s journey is both relatable and heart-wrenching. I adored her passion for her Malibu sandwich shop, Surf Sandwiches, and the bond she shares with her brother, Rick. But when her seemingly perfect world shatters after discovering Rick’s betrayal, I was right there with her, feeling her pain and conflict. The way Mallery explores themes of family loyalty, love, and morality is simply masterful.

Beth’s growing romance with Jana’s swoon-worthy brother added just the right touch of sweetness, making the stakes even higher when everything started unraveling. The story’s twists kept me guessing, and I was completely invested in how Beth would reconcile her loyalty to her brother with her desire to protect the people she loves.

If you’re looking for a beach read with depth, humor, and characters you can’t stop rooting for, Beach Vibes is a must-read.

Beach Vibes revolves around Beth, a committed proprietor of a sandwich establishment in Malibu, who navigates intricate familial relationships and friendships. She holds a deep sense of pride for her brother, Rick, a flourishing surgeon who has triumphed over a difficult upbringing spent in the foster care system. Their connection is profound, with Beth having forfeited her own aspirations to aid Rick throughout his medical journey. The narrative progresses when Beth forms a friendship with Jana, a single mother and aspiring nurse, who begins a romantic relationship with Rick, infusing Beth's life with excitement and camaraderie. However, this seemingly idyllic arrangement deteriorates when Beth uncovers Rick's infidelity with Jana, compelling her to grapple with a moral quandary between her allegiance to her brother and her commitment to her friend.

The plot delves into the emotional upheaval stemming from Beth's dilemma. Torn between her protective instincts toward Rick and her developing friendship with Jana, Beth confronts the formidable decision of whether to disclose Rick's betrayal, a revelation that could jeopardize her relationships with both her brother and Jana. This internal conflict invites readers into a compelling examination of familial loyalty juxtaposed with ethical accountability, illuminating the difficulties of sustaining connections when confronted with treachery. The characters are intricately developed, each possessing unique traits that amplify the narrative tension, particularly Rick, who is portrayed as a sociopathic individual whose behavior reverberates through those in his orbit.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Malibu's coastal culture, Beach Vibes transcends mere entertainment; it probes the complexities of human connections and the challenging decisions individuals must confront. While the storyline presents certain implausibilities, especially concerning the initial romantic entanglements, it effectively encapsulates the essence of friendship, love, and the significance of making judicious choices during crises. Ultimately, the narrative underscores personal development, leaving readers with an uplifting sense of hope despite the adversities faced by the characters.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beach Vibes is a good story about family dynamics.
Beth and Rich are brother and sister who were orphaned at a young age and didn’t know their mother had estranged sister who eventually found out that they were living in foster care because their mother had passed away. Aunt Agatha and her now deceased husband had taken them in a cared for them even offering Beth the purchase of their sandwich shop while Rick pursued his dream of becoming a surgeon. Rick who isn’t married turns out to be quite the ladies man and Beth finds herself divorced and all her old friend groups end up staying friends with her x husband and she decides that she’s friendless and lonely.
Jana is unmarried mother and lives with her brother Teddy and his 3 children. Teddys wife died suddenly leaving him alone to care for 3 children.
Beth and Jana meet at a local food bank and the two become friends and when Beth meets Jana’s brother Teddy sparks fly the same time Jana happens to meet a successful surgeon who just happens to be Beth’s brother. Rick ultimately is someone neither Jana or Beth realize that his betrayal almost destroyed the relationship between all of them. I enjoyed the dynamics of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.