Beth is the proud owner of a Malibu sandwich shop and the even prouder younger sister of Rick, her successful, albeit seemingly awkward, older brother and surgeon. Post-divorce, Beth is looking to rebuild her life and her friendships, which seems to be off to a good start when she hits it off with Jana, a single mom to one little girl, at the food pantry where they both volunteer. Things become more complicated when Jana starts dating Rick, Beth finds herself falling for Jana's brother, Teddy, and then Beth's loyalties are tested when she discovers her brother isn't who she always thought he was.

THE VERDICT: 2.5 stars (rounded down)

This one was not for me! I was hoping for light, romantic women's fiction, and this was more twisty than the cover let me believe (I probably should have read the blurb).

WHAT I LOVED:
- Watching Jana and Teddy interact with their children!
- The struggle Beth went through and how each character had to reconcile and separate their morals and values from their family relationships and loyalties.

WHAT WAS A MISS:
- Most of this book was honestly a miss for me. Right off the bat, the title felt misleading, and while, yes, I guess the book technically took place in Malibu, there weren't many beach vibes to be had.
- The cheating!! I guess I should have known about this based on the blurb, but I always go into books blind, and this time, I probably should not have.
- Rick was just so so terrible! Like unbelievably terrible! He had zero remorse and felt more like a movie villain than a real person with depth. I think I originally had thought that Rick was potentially on the spectrum and had trouble in social situations, not that he was an objectively terrible human being, so that was hard for me to reconcile once the truth came out.
- The romances were not believable - maybe because we were trying to watch both Jana and Beth's relationships blossom simultaneously?

Thank you to Harlequin Audio, Harlequin and NetGalley for the ALC and eARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

3.5/5

Beth and Rick are siblings, foster care kids until they were saved by their Aunt. Beth is the oldest and feels responsible for her younger brother and puts his needs and wants first. She is a successful small business owner, Rick is a surgeon. He’s also a liar and manipulator. Janna is a single mom, trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter.

I requested this book solely on the author’s name and cover vibes, so the mid-book twist (given away in the book description), evolved more naturally for me. Other than Rick, the characters were likeable, although I felt frustrated with Beth’s decisions. It was nice to see Beth grow and take accountability for her actions. Janna is naive when it comes to men, believing all and questioning nothing. This is definitely a beach read, but not as many beach vibes as I expected.

After this long, cold winter, I was sorely in need of a beach book. Romance, family drama and beautiful scenery, I was all in. This was a quick read allowed me a fun distraction and mini vacation.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Susan Mallery is at her addictive best with her latest uplifting, enjoyable and captivating new page-turner, Beach Vibes.

Beth couldn’t be prouder of her brother, Rick. Having survived through foster care, Rick has not let anything get in his way of his surgical residency and is now thriving. While Rick saves lives, Beth is busy making subs at her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches – and she couldn’t be happier. When she discovers that Rick has started dating her new best friend Jana, Beth is totally thrilled – especially as Jana has a handsome brother with whom Beth has made a connection! Everything seems to be coming up roses for Beth – until the rug is well and truly pulled out from under her feet in ways she never expected…

Beth catches her brother with another woman – who is definitely not Jana! As her vision of a future where they were all going to be one big happy family evaporates, Beth wonders what on earth she is going to do. Caught between a rock and a hard place, if she tells Jana about her brother’s secret, she’ll be betraying Rick – but if she keeps mum about his affair, she’ll be hurting her best friend’s feelings. And then there’s Jana’s brother whom Beth has grown to love.

Whatever choice she makes, someone’s going to get hurt. Can Beth navigate the choppy waters ahead and find a way to keep everyone happy? Or will she end up swimming against the tide and lose everything in one fell swoop?

I have loved every single Susan Mallery book I ever read – and Beach Vibes is definitely no exception. Written with all her trademark warmth, humor and charm, Beach Vibes is a book readers will want to dive into as it brilliantly captures the joys, frustrations and highs and lows of relationships in all their complicated glory.

An entertaining novel that will keep readers glued to their sun loungers this summer, Beach Vibes is another first-class tale from the always fabulous Susan Mallery!

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery
Contemporary women’s fiction, romance. Chick lit. Two intertwined FMC as friends.
Beth Nield owns a successful sandwich shop in Malibu. After seeing a billboard of her ex proposing to his new girlfriend, Beth realizes she’s been stuck emotionally and needs to make some changes. In particular, she needs a friend.
Jana Mead is a single mother and medical billing clerk. She moved into her brother’s home with his three children after his wife died. Every Thursday afternoon, a life long friend takes all four children out, and Jana volunteers at the local food bank.
Jana and Beth have formed a tentative friendship from working at the food bank on the same afternoon each week. The more time they spend together, the more they find in common. The most surprising, they are dating each other’s brothers. But trouble may be brewing when Beth finds her brother with another woman. He’s cheating on her friend. How can she not tell Jana? Or her brother?

Friendships and romance both have cycles. Some people are lucky to have life long support with either family or friends. This novel is a romance and includes friendships as core needs.
The story is emotional and touching and caused a few tears. The author writes romance so at its core, a happy ending is guaranteed. It is a little bittersweet.
Ultimately I loved this story and admire both Beth and Jana for reaching for their happiness.

The ebook version includes Reader Discussion Questions.
I was gifted a copy of this from NetGalley.

Beth divorced a year ago. She runs a sandwich shop and lives with her 80 year old aunt. She sees a billboard of her ex husband proposing to his new girlfriend and it causes her to realize she hasn’t been living her life. She makes friends with Jana. They both volunteer yay a food pantry. Beth doesn’t know it but Jana has just started dating her brother. Beth thinks her brother is bad with women and always gets taken advantage of. She is older and has always looked out for him. Jana and Beth have their first fight when Beth finds out they are dating. Beth is worried Jana is using him for his money. Once Beth realizes that Jana isn’t like that they make up. Beth is just being over protective. Jana decides Beth and Rick need to meet her child and the rest of the family. Jana lives with her brother and his three children. Beth meets Jana’s brother and is immediately smitten. She hasn’t dated since the divorce. Jana’s brother teddy hasn’t dated since his wife died five years prior. The following day he goes to her sandwich shop to ask her out. They begin dating and when Rick finds out he gets angry with Beth.
Later Beth finds out that Rick is cheating on Jana but decides not to tell Jana or Teddy because Rick promises her he is ending it.

I never trusted Rick from the beginning. I had issues with him when he left out all the details or gave the wrong details to Beth about Jana. Also the way he told Beth she wasn’t smart enough for college. Also when Aunt Agatha thought he was taking advantage of Beth. And she also said Rick was more aware and socially aware than Beth gave him credit for.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I felt the pacing was good and there was really good character development. I’m not sure the title works for the book. This book is way more about family dynamics. Also I was confused the way the book would switch from Beth to Jana’s narrative throughout. I felt like it they could have been separate chapters but that’s just me.

Thanks to NetGalley and harlequin trade for the providing me with this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Beach Vibes” is the great read to get you ready for the summer season! Susan Mallery, once again, does a wonderful read with complex characters and unexpected twists.

Set in Malibu, Beth runs a successful sandwich shop after having a challenging childhood. Beth is a kind soul that impacts the people around her but has a broken heart from her recent divorce. Jana is a single mom that is working hard to reach her goals with an adorable daughter. Beth and Jana became friends through volunteering together. In a chance meeting, Jana meets Beth’s brother, the surgeon, and they start to date. But in true Susan Mallery style, everything is not a perfect as it seems.

This book should be in your beach bag for spring break this year! Just out this week. Head over to your local bookstore and pick it up! Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for this advance copy.

Susan Mallery’s Beach Vibes is a unique story in that it weaves two sets of siblings who are close, together into a tight web. While her characters aren’t intensely three dimensional, they are (mostly) likeable and you find yourself rooting for some more than others. The story is an easy read and perfect for the beach!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story about making new friends, finding love again and getting to know your siblings better.
The setting is in Malibu….what a beautiful spot!
So…..what will happen when you are friends with someone who becomes involved with your brother?????
Beach Vibes is full of complex characters with personal issues they have to overcome.
Get ready to go on a roller coaster of a journey!
Perfect beach read to add to your summer reading list.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beach Vibes has a light hearted vibes cover but is filled with family drama. Nothing too intense and all makes for some juicy story lines. I really enjoyed this book and would read more by this author. It was a great first book by her for me and I hope to tackle her back list. Beach Vibes is perfect for some summer pool/beach reading. This book would also be a wonderful book club or buddy read since there is so much to discuss.

Another fantastic read by Susan Mallery.
I read everything by this author because every story is unique and amazing.
This one is full of some family drama and poor. Beth has big decisions to make. If she makes the wrong decision, it could cost her not only her brother but her best friend.
This is definitely a must read. It’s titled summer vibes, but why can’t we read it in the spring?
Definitely a five stars for me.

Beth and her brother, Rick, were raised in foster care. Rick is now a surgeon and Beth owns her own business. Beth becomes even happier when she learns Rick is now dating her best friend, Jana. Life seems to be going just right. Then Beth discovers a secret about Rick. Does she tell?

This is 3 and 1/2 stars rounded up, basically because I felt the conversations were a bit stilted. This is not my favorite Susan Mallery book. But it is a quick read, perfect for a trip to the beach.

I did enjoy Beth…up to a point. She is a bit beaten down by certain people in her life. But she comes into her own. Then there is Rick…you will have to read this find out…but boy did I want to beat him up!

Need a good tale with a huge family betrayal…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Beth finally found a friend in Jana. How weird it was when she found out Jana was dating her brother. The story starts to unravel after that. What would you do if you found out your brother wasn’t who you thought he was? Do you protect him or do you tell the truth?
This was an excellent read that kept me glued from start to finish

All the feels are within the pages of this wonderful story! Beth, a recent divorcee, owns a sandwich shop on the beach and needs a friend. Jana, a single mom, works in a medical office but aspires to do more with her life. When the two meet doing volunteer work together, there is an instant bond and a firm friendship begins. The story gets complicated when Jana starts dating Rick, Beth’s brother, and Beth is infatuated with Teddy, Jana’s brother. Sparks fly between both couples as the infatuation quickly turns to romance. The dilemma is that Beth knows that Rick is two-timing Jana and doesn’t know how to tell her without creating a rift in their friendship and in her relationship with Teddy. This story is one about finding love but it is mostly about loyalty, friendship, loss and finding a way to forgive in an impossible situation. It’s about moving forward, grabbing hold of dreams and reaching beyond what you think you are capable of. There are so many different layers to the story. I particularly enjoyed Beth’s mentor relationship with one of her employees Kai. Beth, who had never been encouraged to do more than run the sandwich shop, is a great mentor for Kai and ends up being a good example for him to attend college classes. The children in the story stole the show and my heart, including Jana’s young daughter Linnie and Teddy’s three motherless children. I enjoyed how the author wove a really tangled story and then showed us a masterfully written conclusion that brought all of the loose threads together. The characters are believable and relatable and I even found myself giving advice to them and wishing hard for Rick to get his well-deserved comeuppance. The plot is absorbing, well-paced and well crafted with the author’s signature humor and emotional depth. With the complex family dynamics and the appealing characters, this book was a real winner for me from beginning to end!
Disclaimer
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own honest opinions.

I received an ARC of Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery from NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book. Its a story about choosing between siblings and friends who have become like family. Beth and Rick are brother and sister. When Rick starts dating Jana, Beth catches Rick with another girl and has to decide which family she should stand up for most. What complicates the situation is Beth starts dating Jana's brother Teddy and the family complications get ever bigger. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book by Susan Mallery, but I did struggle with the character of Beth. Jana was a much more enjoyable character to get to know. It is an interesting look into the idea of family over friends. I liked the interwoven relationships and the consequences that come with those things. Overall a good read!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Having read Susan’s The Christmas Wedding Guest, The Vineyard at Painted Moon and The Stepsisters, I was very happy to receive an invitation to the blog tour of her Beach Vibes. And again, Susan does an excellent job in sucking you in, directly from page one. Beth sees her world crumbling down, when she catches her brother cheating on her best friend. Should she tell her friend? Or should she keep her mouth shut and not betray her brother? Torn between two evils, Susan takes you with her on an impossible choice.

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

When the email from the publisher arrived it was cold and gray and generally dreary. There was no way I could resist a warm beachy looking cover! Luckily, I've had pretty good luck with this author and the blurb did appeal to me.

I liked this one but it wasn't the most standout read to me. I really liked Jana. She's a determined woman who has made some mistakes but is turning her life around. She has a supportive and warm relationship with her brother and his kids as well as her own daughter. She has her pride but doesn't sabotage herself unnecessarily. I didn't warm up to Beth as much. She's very stuck in life and can get very repetitive with her concerns and issues. Also, her relationship with her brother Rick and her giant blind spot when it came to him got a bit annoying. The character development was a bit shallow and there were times when all the dialogue felt a bit much.

It took me about 10% to get into the story but once I did I pretty much flew through it. What's described in the blurb doesn't really fit what the bulk of the book is about. This is a story more about developing friendships as an adult, dealing with consequences and changing how you see someone you grew up with. While it won't make my favorites list I did enjoy it and look forward to reading more from this author.

In Mallery's latest hit "Beach Vibes" We meet Beth who does not trust much since her divorce. She meets Jana at a volunteer activity and they hit it off and start meeting weekly after their shift. Beth's brother Rick is an attractive and successful surgeon.

When Jana meets Rick and starts telling Beth about him, she doesn't connect the dots.
Beth meets Jana's brother Teddy and they had an instant connection as well.

The story is a little more complicated as it is multi-layered.

I loved the way this was written, the complicated relationships. Mallery has a wonderful way of weaving her characters and their endings.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy

"Beach Vibes" by Susan Mallery is an absolute masterpiece that intricately weaves family, secrets, and love in the most captivating way. This book is an emotional roller coaster that took me on a journey filled with heartfelt moments and surprising twists.

From the very first page, I was drawn into a coastal town setting that Susan Mallory vividly brings to life. The characters are so well-developed, each with their own secrets and unique personalities that add depth to the story. I especially loved how the author explores the complexities of family relationships, making them both relatable and thought-provoking.

The love stories at the center of "Beach Vibes" is incredibly moving and beautifully written. Mallory has a knack for capturing the nuances of romantic relationships, blending passion and tenderness seamlessly. It’s a story that pulls you in and makes you root for the characters as they navigate through their personal struggles and find their way to happiness.

What impressed me the most was how Susan Mallory masterfully intertwined the themes of family, secrets, and love without one overshadowing the other. Her storytelling is compelling and evocative, keeping me engaged and turning pages late into the night.

Overall, "Beach Vibes" is a must-read that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a book that offers both heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments. It’s a perfect blend of emotion, drama, and romance, earning a well-deserved 5-star rating from me.

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery delivered a women’s fiction romance about finding oneself. Romance, family, and brilliant advice from a surfer dude await you in this heartwarming beach read.

Mallery always offers stories that pull me in with well-developed characters and situations that I know will leave me smiling at the end. In Beach Vibes, we meet Beth, owner of the Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches. I immediately connect with her “giver” personality.

Recently, Beth’s life has been altered by divorce and moving in with her aunt. However, she’s fiercely loyal to her brother, Rick, and recently began volunteering at a local food bank, where she befriended a single mom named Jana. Beth marvels at how Jana juggles a career, child, school and volunteering.

Twists, turns and surprises await you in this tale, as Mallery tackles loyalty vs. doing the right thing. Jana dates Rick and Beth, dates Jana’s older, widowed brother. When faced with a secret that could destroy her friend and brother, Beth must decide what to do. Family, forgiveness, betrayal and personal growth will have you lost within the pages of their stories.

Beach Vibes is the perfect beach read for fans of women’s fiction romance. Mallery once again delivered a light-hearted tale that tackles real life drama as she blends in romance, humor and friendship.