Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ARC!

There’s so much I have to say about this book. To start this book wasn’t bad by any means but it was not my favorite Susan Mallery book. For one the audio version does not indicate who’s talking which threw me off multiple times while I was listening. That was unbelievably frustrating and made me almost stop listing multiple times. When it comes to the actual plot of the story I thought it was super cute that Beth fell in love with her best friend’s brother. Seeing their relationship thrive was the highlight of this book along with the friendship. However Beth’s brother was the absolute worst and I hated everything about him. It also made me so angry that Beth covered for him even though she knew she would possibly sacrifice her two closest relationships. I was screaming at her the whole time to tell the truth and just ended up frustrating myself. All in all it’s a 3.5 for me. Wasn’t bad but wasn’t the best either.

While Beth may have found love, it won’t be an easy journey. In the meantime, she’s made a new friend in Jana. Soon, Beth and Jana discover that they’re each dating one another’s siblings. Both couples are drawn to each other, but problems arise.

In addition to the conflicts in Beth and Jana’s dating relationships, this latest novel by Susan Mallery also explores family dynamics. Beth is living with her loving Aunt Agatha and is very grateful that she and her brother Rick were adopted by their aunt after being separated for a time while they were in the foster system. Jana is very close to her widowed brother Teddy. She is the mother of a little girl, and he is the father of three children, and they all live in his large house. Soon Beth begins dating Teddy.

With the excellent narration by Tonya Eby, it was easy to stay engaged in the story. However, one thing that annoyed me throughout, even more than the major conflict, was how Rick’s character was portrayed, making him rather unlikable from the start.

I enjoyed the family aspect of the story, especially the bond between Gina and Rick, despite some of the friction that existed between them. The bond that Beth has with her young daughter and her brother, as well as his children, also added a warm and heartwarming vibe to the narrative. Knowing from the blurb that at least one of these relationships wouldn’t work was a bit of a distraction, but the book itself was a good read that I was able to enjoy in just a couple of sittings.

Many thanks to HQN and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book, though I didn't get beach vibes. It's a cute story, I'm not sure how I feel about how one of the characters turned out. Quick read!

A light, beachy read with Beach Vibes, but while the setting and friendships were enjoyable, I struggled with the actual dynamics of the story, particularly Rick’s blatant lying and gaslighting.

What I Liked:
The Setting – Malibu, a cozy beach shop, and the laid-back atmosphere made for a perfect summer read. Beth’s passion for Surf Sandwiches added charm to the story.
Beth & Jana’s Friendship – Their bond felt real, and the emotional stakes were high when Beth had to decide between loyalty to her brother or protecting her best friend.
The Romance Potential – The chemistry between Beth and Jana’s brother had its sweet moments, and I wanted to love their story, but Rick’s drama overshadowed it.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Rick’s Lying & Gaslighting – He was frustratingly manipulative throughout the book, making it hard to root for him. His actions weren’t just mistakes; they were calculated and harmful, making Beth’s dilemma more frustrating than compelling.
Beth’s Inner Conflict Dragged On – While the emotional weight of the situation was understandable, her hesitation felt overly drawn out. At times, it seemed like she was enabling Rick rather than confronting the truth.
Overall, Beach Vibes had moments of heart and charm, but Rick’s behavior and the way it was handled dulled the enjoyment. If you enjoy beachside drama with strong friendships, this might still be a worthwhile read—but be prepared to be frustrated with one particular character.

This is the best Susan Mallory book I have read/listened to. I really liked Beach Vibes a lot. The characters were well developed, very likable, but human. It had twists and turns, but seemed to have more depth than most of Ms. Mallery's books. It seemed to have more depth in both the storyline and the characters than some of her other books. I listened to the audio version and found the narrator to be great. Enjoy!!!

the setup…
Beth Nield runs a sandwich shop, Surf Sandwiches, on Malibu beach. She’s divorced and lives with her Aunt Agatha, the woman who rescued her and younger brother Rick from the foster care system. He’s a successful surgeon but Beth still feels the need to protect and look out for him. She also volunteers at a food bank and has a burgeoning new friendship with one of the other volunteers, Jana Mead, who is also a part time medical billing clerk. When Rick introduces Beth to the new woman he’s dating (Jana), both are stunned that he knowingly never told either one about the other. It gets even more complicated when Beth begins dating Jana’s widowed brother Teddy. Had enough? No? Beth later catches Rick cheating on Jana.

the heart of the story…
Whew! This is the ultimate in family drama. I had misgivings about Rick the moment he found it funny to spring the surprise about him dating his sister’s best friend on them. It felt a little twisted but Beth seemed blind to his character deficiencies. Her dilemma when faced with the decision to either protect her brother or look out for her best friend is the ultimate test, threatening not only that relationship but her developing romance with Teddy.

the narration…
Tanya Eby is a great storyteller and she had her hands full with this one, including voices for four young children. She had me enthralled.

the bottom line…
No one was perfect in this story but they all (sans Rick) were trying their best to do the right things. The conflicts weren’t easily resolved, no matter how clear it may look from the outside. I’m a fan of family drama and this one had substance and character. What would you do in similar circumstances?

This novel explores the themes of family, romance, betrayal, and personal growth. The story follows Beth, who has long devoted herself to her brother Rick but begins reclaiming her own identity after a divorce and years of sacrifice. She starts running Surf Sandwiches, forms new friendships, and grows close to Jana, a nursing student she meets while volunteering. As Beth falls for Jana’s brother Teddy, and Jana's relationship with Rick blossoms, everything seems to be aligning. However, when Beth discovers Rick’s infidelity, she faces the dilemma of whether to expose the truth or protect him, forcing her to confront the true meaning of love and loyalty.

The novel skillfully explores complex family dynamics, showing that healing and redemption are possible even in tough times. Beth’s emotional journey, grappling with love, loyalty, and self-respect, is both relatable and empowering. Though the vivid California beach setting is appealing, it could have played a more central role. Rick’s actions are harder to connect with, but overall, the book provides a poignant exploration of relationships, grief, and resilience, leaving readers with a sense of hope. This is a must-read for those who enjoy stories of growth, forgiveness, and redemption.

Susan Mallery delivers another heartfelt and engaging story in Beach Vibes, a novel that beautifully blends love, loyalty, and the complexities of family relationships. Set against the stunning backdrop of Malibu, this book explores themes of grief, healing, and the power of friendship, all while serving up a side of romance and heartache.

At the heart of the story is a sandwich shop by the beach—a place that becomes a symbol of resilience and fresh starts. As secrets unravel and betrayals come to light, the characters navigate dating, heartbreak, and the bonds that tie them together. Mallery masterfully balances wit and emotion, crafting a tale that tugs at the heartstrings while keeping readers thoroughly entertained.

Tanya Eby’s narration brings the characters to life with warmth and depth, perfectly capturing the full range of emotions in this moving story. If you love books that explore family dynamics, personal growth, and all the feels, Beach Vibes is a must-read!

Quotes:
“My days don’t seem right if I don’t see you.”
“He kissed her with a fierce desperation that spoke of loneliness and regret, along with forgiveness.”

This book had some questions that make you wonder what would you do in the same situation. What do you do when your actions come down to a question of choosing your friend or your family. I liked both main female characters and completely relate to how do you make new friends as an adult. The friendship between Beth and Jana was new. But their bond was strong. There were a few surprises in the story that I didn't expect, but I fully enjoyed the story. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the narration and the story equally. The book was emotional and had me pulled in right away. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I loved this book! I literally couldn't stop listening to it. I usually only listen to audiobooks while I'm driving but couldn't wait to find out what happened next with this wonderful story. In fact, I loved it so much, I just pre-ordered the ebook. Also, a special shout out to Tanya Eby for yet another great narration of one of Mallery's stories.

This story had all the great elements of Susan Mallery's books. I loved the main characters and the supporting cast. I loved the snarky dialogue. I loved the heartwarming family relationships. I loved the unexpectedly twisty turny plot lines. I loved the satisfying HEAs. AND I loved hating on the bad guy.

I strongly recommend reading and/or listening to this book. It's wonderful!

A smattering of profanity and PG-13 love scenes.

Although Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery didn’t feel like a beach read, I really enjoyed the story. This novel was full of family drama, secrets, love, sacrifice, and betrayal. It highlighted the complexities of relationships between friends and family and tested the boundaries of loyalty.

Sooo the cover on this one is a little misleading as this isn’t really a beach read. It’s more of a story that takes place near a beach.

I really enjoyed the audiobook! The narration is great and truly harnessed the characters and their story arcs.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press, and the author for the ALC and ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was not really a romance, except at the very end that came out of nowhere. This was more of a story about a sister, Beth, who owns a sandwich shop in a beach town, and her brother, whom she gave everything up for. Her brother is dating a new girl whom Beth is skeptical about. The characters did develop nicely throughout the story. Unfortunately, I walked away knowing that this book would be unmemorable. While the story line was somewhat interesting, there wasn’t anything specific that kept me truly engaged. I was expecting more of a beachy read and this wasn’t really it.

Beach Vibes was a great family drama but I feel like it had more serious vibes than beachy ones. Beth is over-the-top loyal to her younger brother Rick who ends up dating her new best friend Jana. When Beth meets Jana's brother Teddy, they hit it off quickly and everything seems peachy keen...for a while. I loved reading about this family and how they figure things out in the end. It does make you question how far would you go for a relative?

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audio book. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 18 March 2025

The book:

I happily began reading Beach Vibes as the author is known to me and has provided me with some good escapes. I was interested in it as soon as I saw the evocative cover.

I found that the cast of this book included many characters whom I enjoyed getting to know. I had a moment of thinking that the plot was taking obvious directions but that was not, in fact, the case.

Those who enjoy stories about women and their many relationships (family, friendships, work lives, romance) will want to take a look.

While this was not my favorite novel by Mallery it was a good read.

The audio:

The narrator was excellent with the sharpest and clearest diction. The story comes to life as it is read. For those who prefer to listen to their novels, this is a very good choice.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to both read this title and be a part of the blog tour.

Thank you NetGalley and Herlequin audio for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the narrator and thought she did a really good job with the characters and their reflective thinking.

The book itself was good! I liked all the characters and how their stories ended. It was a light read, but just enough suspense to keep me coming back for more.

Beach Vibes by Susan Mallery and is narrated by Tanya Eby. Narration was okay, I was able to distinguish between the characters. Beth is divorced, owns Surf Sandwiches in Malibu and volunteers at a food bank where she meets Jana and they become fast friends. Beth’s younger brother Rick is a charismatic surgeon who she has always taken care of and protected since their parent’s death. Rick starts dating Jana and realizes that this is his sister’s friend so he has them meet. Then Jana’s brother Teddy who is widowed with three kids, who she lives with , wants to meet Beth and Rick. When Beth arrives, sparks are flying between Teddy and Beth. This story has a twist. You have Family, loyalty, broken trust, Misplaced trust, Friendships, hurt and love. I enjoyed it. Releases on March 18. Thank you to #NetGalley, # harlequin audio for this arc audio. This is my honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to to listen to this ALC. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book. It fell flat for me. Wasn’t much of a beach read, more like fictional drama.

I usually don’t look at the number of stars before deciding how many of my own stars to provide, I was pretty shocked at how low the average was. I thought that Beach Vibes really had some unique twists. I really enjoyed Beach Vibes. It did take me a couple chapters to get a sense of the characters, but not that long.

One of the main character has a sandwich shop in Malibu that she bought from her aunt and uncle, who then helped pay for her brother's medical school tuition. She is shocked to see her ex proposing on a billboard; she realizes she doesn’t have many friends and her aunt (with her flourishing love life) is encouraging her to date. (Loved some of the sandwich ideas, including the P&J variations ... although they did repeat a couple times.)

Susan Mallery is one of those authors that you try to catch each one of the books she has written. I was elated that Harlequin Audio approved my request for the advance listen copy of Beach Vibes. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to request advance copies of new releases. Approx 10 hours, 30 minutes. Publication date is March 18, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 STARS

Beach Vibes had great potential, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The narrator's voice was unengaging and didn't resonate, making it hard to connect with the story. Despite the bright setting, the plot failed to captivate my attention, leaving me disappointed by the overall experience.