Beth Nield and her brother Rick were raised in foster care until they were rescued by their Aunt Agatha. Beth is proud of her brother, who is now a successful surgeon, but he is naive when it comes to women and Beth is always there to give advice and help. When they were children, Rick did something to save Beth and she feels it is her responsibility to protect him. Beth runs a successful Sandwich Shop, Surf Sandwiches, on Malibu beach. She is divorced and lives with her Aunt. Once a week, she volunteers at the food bank and has become friends with one of the other volunteers, Jana Mead, who is also a part time medical billing clerk. When Rick introduces Jana to Beth as his new girlfriend, she is surprised. Things become complicated when Beth meets Jana's widowed brother, Teddy, and they hit it off. They begin dating and Rick wants her to break it off. She doesn't know why, but refuses. When she catches Rick cheating on Jana, it puts her in a tough spot, but he is her brother, she has to believe him, doesn't she?

I really liked Beth. She had been raised under difficult situations until her aunt came along. She was so protective of her younger brother and wouldn't let anything hurt him. Unfortunately this spoils Rick and blinds Beth to any of his faults. Jana is another wonderful character. She has a daughter that she has raised as a single mother, but with help from Teddy. Teddy has two children and Jana helps with them. She is thoughtful, caring, loyal, hardworking and a wonderful mother and aunt. I really liked the friendship that Beth and Jana developed. I like plots where women support women. The three kids are all adorable. Raised with good values, they are polite and respectful, but also a little precocious and ask questions and make statements that caused a few uncomfortable feelings. Teddy also has a best friend, Max, who helps him with the kids and acts as a sounding board for Jana. All these characters work together in life to make themselves comfortable and successful. I didn't like all the characters at the end and you will have to read this one to find out why. This is a wonderful book full of family relationships, love, friendship, personal growth and some romance. There is drama, but that adds to the character development. I really enjoyed this story in both the ebook and audiobook format. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good family story, one with friendship, some turmoil, cute kids, and romance.

This was a light romantic story that Mallery seems to always provide so well as an author. If you are looking for a good beach read this Spring, this is the one for you.

The gorgeous cover originally caught my eye, and the story inside did not disappoint! This is the ultimate family drama. It started a little slow but then definitely picked up. I do think the cover and title are a little misleading. While this is a great book, it doesn't really give beach vibes. I wouldn't recommend this as a summer read by the ocean. This is a heavier, more dramatic read, but the cover kind of makes it look like a romcom.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Susan Mallery’s newest novel, Beach Vibes. Beth is newly divorced, living with her outgoing aunt who gets more action than she does, and juggling the demands of owning a popular sandwich shop. Beth isn’t looking for love but she’s rooting for her brother Rick to find his person. When he introduces her to his new girlfriend and it’s Beth’s new friend Jana, part of her is thrilled and part of her is worried….. with good reason.

Things get complicated when Rick shows his true colors to Jana and Beth in different but equally devastating ways. Jana is a single mom working hard to earn a nursing degree, and Rick is a respected surgeon. What could have been a perfect match turns out to be anything but, straining Beth and Jana’s friendship and potentially destroying Beth’s chance real happiness.

Beach Vibes is a devour-in-one-sitting book that should be at the top of everyone’s summer must-read list.

This women's fiction novel by Susan Mallery showcases friendship and family and how complicated love and relationships can be. While perhaps not as typical as some of the author's work, I enjoyed how the story developed and recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Not just a fun little beach read, but one full of secrets and bad decisions. And what a fun book it was.

Perfect pick for my recent holiday!
This is more than a romance. It’s a story about loyalty and love for family and friends. Of course I enjoyed the beach town setting. I also enjoyed Beth and Jana’s friendship journey. It was a fast and enjoyable read. Perfect for the beach.

I almost stopped reading this one in the first half as it seemed to be just a sappy boring romance. However I stayed with it and ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. It ended being a lesson in friendship and family although I'm still scratching my head over the misleading title, the story having little to do with anything beachy. Susan Mallery has penned some great books, many of which I would recommend over this one. My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an advanced copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

LOVE! I was interested in the book by its cover and title, and had no idea what it was about when I started reading. The dual perspective writing was perfect for this book, usually I’m not a huge fan of it, but in this case it worked really well. I liked that it wasn’t the same situations told by separate storylines.
This was an easy read and had multiple plot twists, even if I could guess where the story was going at one point I was still surprised by the outcome.
I definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a more adult “beach read”, meaning the characters have lived flawed lives and are in their 30s.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were extremely well developed and to see how they progressed through the book was very interesting. Beth owns a successful sandwich shop and is in the process of getting a divorce. She lives with her aunt and is very proud of her brother, Rick, who is a surgeon. Beth has come to realize that she doesn’t have much of a life beyond her marriage. She meets Jana, a single mom, at the food bank where they volunteer, and they become fast friends. Unbeknownst to Beth, Jana meets Rick and the two begin dating. Beth meets Jana’s widower brother, and they begin dating. While things appear to be perfect, Beth discovers something that can ruin all their relationships.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

2.5 actually which was a surprise. Susan Mallery is typically an easy, predictable hit for me and so I went in blind. First, the title is misleading. Second, while I loved Beth's character arc and Jana's relationship with her family, the rest was a complete miss for me. Unfortunately, the vibe was off from the beginning with this one for me. Other than a surfer side character and it taking place in Malibu, there wasn't nothing beachy about it and it was more women's fiction with relationships, than a summer romance beach read.

I'll continue to read Mallory's books of course, we can't hit a home run every time.

I received an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

More Than a Beach Read! Lola Finding Yourself in the Sand!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of Beach Vibes!

Susan Mallery once again delivers her signature blend of heart, humor, and healing in Beach Vibes—a story that brings sunshine, sand, and second chances to life. Set in a picturesque coastal town, the novel weaves together the lives of women navigating love, friendship, and personal transformation.

At its core, Beach Vibes is a story about starting over. Mallery’s characters are layered and relatable, each carrying their own emotional baggage while learning to let go, trust again, and embrace joy. The beach setting adds a cozy, almost therapeutic backdrop to their journey, reminding readers that sometimes, the best way to heal is to escape—to nature, to friendship, to love.

True to Mallery’s style, the dialogue sparkles with wit, and the relationships—romantic and platonic—are the heart of the novel. There’s plenty of warmth and charm, but also enough emotional depth to keep it from becoming just another feel-good beach read.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy stories about fresh starts, female friendships, and emotional growth. If you’re looking for something that makes you feel hopeful and a little sun-kissed, Beach Vibes delivers.

4.5/5 — Light and lovely with just enough depth to linger after the final page.

Well done!

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery is another great romance. This one delves into relationships between siblings and friends along with romantic interests.

Sometimes, I really think that I need to read about books before I well, read them. The cheating trope is not one that I ever enjoy reading, and I usually tend to avoid at all costs. I also will say that Beach Vibes is a bit off the chart for this one - Beach Vibes makes me think of something lighthearted and easy but what this actually consisted of what ALL of the red flags, so much betrayal, and so many questionable choices and decisions!

What worked for me: The vibes! The beachy small town with the absolutely adorable and successful sandwich shop? SO CUTE! The whole theme of the anguish between loyalty to family and doing the right thing - it really had me thinking and wondering about it all. I also really loved how Beth grew and changed and understood her own mistakes in everything. I also absolutely loved her strong sense of who she was as a businesswoman - she owned that title and wore it proudly and I loved every moment of that.

What didn't work for me: Rick - Rick is VILE and a walking red flag. Zero remorse for cheating because he grew up in Foster Care? So freaking what? That doesn't mean you get a free pass at being a loser - I don't care if you're training to be a surgeon or anything else - his lack of remorse and his thinking it was all a huge joke was absolutely vile. Beth learning this kind of hurt, she had obviously greatly respected her brother before and just the fact that he'd do something like this so easily....eww! Also the romance as a whole just didn't work for me - it all felt so misleading and weird and just out of the blue they were in love? So strange.

I'd recommend this one for the messy family drama that happens to occur on a beach... but if you're just looking for a light beach read I'd highly suggest you look elsewhere!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun book to read. You go through a lot of emotions reading this book. Beth sees her brother in a different light by the time this book is done. Beth also gains more family and good friends. It takes a long time for Jana to see what the rest of us already know. So pick up this great beach read and enjoy this emotional rollercoaster.

Susan Mallery’s Beach Vibes is a compelling story about family relationships, navigating pitfalls, and learning to admit when we're wrong as well as ask for (and extend) forgiveness. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous going in because I tend to avoid plots involving cheating, but I’m so glad I gave this book a chance. While infidelity plays a small part in the story, it’s not the heart of the novel. Instead, I feel Beach Vibes will appeal to readers who like relatable drama, want to root for happily ever after, and enjoy a quick read with a satisfying conclusion.

The characterization is absolutely brilliant. Mallery has a gift for creating characters who feel like real people, each with their own flaws, struggles, and hopes. Beth was especially relatable. Her love for her brother Rick, her loyalty to her best friend Jana, and her growing feelings for Jana’s brother created such a compelling, high-stakes dynamic. My heart ached for her as she tried to navigate the impossible choices she faced.

The Malibu backdrop as a place where ordinary folks live was interesting, and Beth’s charming shop, Surf Sandwiches, added a cozy, summery vibe that balanced out the emotional tension in the story. It made me want to grab a sub, hit the beach, and soak in the California sunshine.

For audiobook fans, I highly recommend going the audio route if you can! The narration brought even more life to the characters and made the emotional beats hit even harder.

Beach Vibes is a witty, heartfelt, and beautifully crafted story that will stay with you. I was kinda bummed when I got to the end. Whether you’re a longtime Susan Mallery fan or new to her work, this one’s a must-read.

Highly recommend!

I did receive a complimentary ARC from the publisher, but I ended up listening to the audio as well on Spotify. All opinions shared here are my own.

Another wonderful women’s contemporary fiction by Susan Mallery! Beautiful writing all over about friendship, second chances at love for strong independent women. Beth and Jenna are well developed characters and I love how their stories were written and intertwined together in this book. It was fast read and I highly recommend!

I thought this was going to be a fluffy, beachy, vacation read. It was not. This book, while being light, did have substance to it.

I liked the way this story unfolded. I was able to get to know Beth and Jana as friends and then the other characters were introduced. While I didn't overly love any of the characters I couldn't stand Beth's brother from the very beginning. This shows the writing capability of the author to set a reader on edge with a character from the first they are introduced to them.

I liked the flow of the story and the pacing overall. There seemed to be repetition that could have been eliminated without hurting the story. The characters had depth and the story sparked thoughts of "what would I do in Beth's shoes?"

I think this would be a great book club book or a book to do a buddy read. Lots of things to discuss about this book. I enjoyed reading this bookmand would definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

What an amazing story about doing so much for one person, yet that person really doesn't appreciate it at all, and puts you in a bad position and doesn't care! Wow, Susan delivered an amazing story right here! 5 stars!
Beth is divorced, but happy running her sandwich shop, and volunteering one day a week, where she meets Jana, and the two connect and share dinner once a week after their shift. Beth thinks she's good with where her life is at right now, until she spots something that makes her question everything. Let's just say Beth goes through some tough eye opening things, that will challenge her loyalty, and possibly miss out on the best thing to happen to her in a long time!
This book is perfect to read by the pool or on the beach, you will love the story as there is never a lull, always something holding your attention! Love Susan's books, and you will love this one too!

I loved the ending of this story. Some of the characters were not easy to like or understand and I felt nothing for them. The story moves very slowly, but I am glad I stuck with it as the best of the story was saved for the last part of the book.