I always enjoy a book about a book. Mia is the main character and she is on somewhat of a forced vacation from her stressful job. She loves to read and she's going to spend time at a luxurious beachside hotel and she wants to flirt, read, and enjoy the sun and sand.
Before Mia arrives on the island, a hotel guest goes missing. This story is part humor, part mystery, part romance.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of!
Mia finds a book to read at the hotel and there are clues that relate to the guest disappearance.
This is a good summer/beach read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Allison Brennan delivers a vibrant setting and an intriguing premise in Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds, but while the story has its strengths, it doesn't fully stick the landing.

Let’s start with what worked: the island resort setting is escapist fun, and the initial mystery—complete with a missing guest and a suspiciously perfect staff—was enough to keep me reading. It’s giving White Lotus vibes which were FUN. Mia, the overworked bookworm heroine, is relatable in her yearning for something more than the life she’s carefully built. Her love of books and quiet observation made her a sympathetic protagonist, even if she did occasionally dip into “I’m not like other girls” territory.

Where the book falters is in its resolution. Major plot threads are left dangling—what happened in the aftermath of the resort scandal? Did the media descend? Did Kalise just disappear from the narrative? Questions about the sabotage and supporting characters were either glossed over or completely ignored. It felt like the story ran out of room just when things should have been heating up.

The romance between Mia and Jason was... fine. He’s the mysterious bartender with secrets (of course), and while their chemistry worked in some places, their relationship leaned heavily on cliché. Mia’s “You lied to me! I’m so stupid!” moment felt like an unnecessary detour into the melodramatic, and the final reunion came across as more rushed than earned.

Also, for a book that leans into the meta angle (Mia is literally solving a mystery hidden inside a book), I expected a bit more cleverness in the unraveling. The clues were engaging, but the emotional payoff didn’t quite match the buildup.

In short: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a fun summer mystery with a great hook and charming setting. It’s a solid choice for a poolside escape, especially if you’re not overly concerned about everything tying up neatly.

Look for this on shelves SOON on June 17!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review

📖📖📖📖

Thank you to @netgalley and @readmirabooks for this advanced readers copy, due out on June 19th!

Who killed Diana Harden? For most of the book, I thought I knew, until my main suspect wound up dead himself.

Set on a luxury resort in a private island, this whodunnit was a quick and easy read. The main character, Mia, sets out on a long overdue solo vacation and winds up helping to solve a murder. Love affairs, love triangles, a gold digger, a handsy couple, some blackmailing, and of course, a mysterious billionaire. The best part, the mystery surrounds one copy of a book that has all the clues! Just proves how important books are!

This is a great beach read!

#beachread #imalreadyhungry

BEACH READS & DEADLY DEEDS
ALLISON BRENNAN
ON SALE JUNE 17/25

Mia is given a fabulous resort vacation by her bosses so she can relax before she takes on her new position as partner in the financial accounting firm she works for.

The day before she arrive on the very private island, a woman goes missing. A couple of days later Mia, along with super sexy bartender, Jason, and another vacationing couple, manage to stumble on the missing woman Diana, who is now a corpse.

Mia unwittingly picked up a free used book the day she arrived at the resort's gift store and now she believes it belonged to murder victim, Diana who had written notes in the margin, along with mentioning people staying currently at the resort whose names are hidden, written in code.

So now Mia is determined to find the killer and she finds a helper in 18 year old, Brie, who is trying to convince her dad that his new girlfriend is totally wrong for him.

Between kisses with Jason, lots of suspects, and beautiful scenery, Mia is desperate to find the killer….

Great summer read! It took me a bit of time to get invested and there were so many characters, but by the end I was hooked!
I love a good summertime mystery and this delivered!

Gave me vibes from some of my favorite summertime tv shows 🫶🏼 ☀️ beach, murder, sleuthing 🕵️‍♀️

3.5⭐️

Thanks NetGallery and HTP for the ARC 💛

As a fast simple read with a few interesting moments and a little romance, this book hits the mark. In every other way it misses. The writing is extremely repetitive, with the protagonist endlessly rehashing what she knows about the mystery, the plot, and herself. Even going so far as to say her own name over and over. “I, Mia Crawford, an accountant who needs stability…” as if she (and we) might have forgotten. The mystery itself isn’t very interesting because it unfolds so slowly and very few of the “clues” are leading the reader anywhere. I also found the constant references to pop culture (other bestselling books, movies, TV detectives) to be annoying. The book had some potential but spent way too much time telling and not enough showing.

The ideal beach read! It's the perfect combination of mystery and romance. The tropical setting makes me want to book a beach vacay immediately. I enjoyed how the author sprinkled the love of books throughout the story. The romance was nothing short of spicy and the mystery was layered and complex. Grab this book and head to the beach or pool, you will not be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Much thanks to Allison Brennan, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Cheryl Lee for inviting me to join the blog tour.

SPOILERS

I liked this book, but the resolution left me wanting. I really hate having unanswered questions when I finish a book; it's right up there with love triangles.

The conflicts were resolved and Mia got her HEA, but none of the aftermath was explored. What happened at the resort was a big deal, a huge scandal involving billionaires and celebrities. You can't tell me the world just ignored it. There had to be a media circus, wildfire gossip and speculation. Mia was in the middle of the mystery and carrying on a secret love affair with a powerful recluse---and I'm supposed to believe she just quietly went home and reporters left her alone?

Also, I refuse to believe none of the climax at the Sky Bar was caught on film. No one whipped out their phone and started recording as soon as it was apparent shit was going down? Bullllshit.

What happened to Tristan, after? Was Georgie found and exonerated? That poor boy was scared to death. And I'm not sure we ever found out who drained the fuel in the Jet Ski and boat---was the island being sabotaged or not? Maybe I missed the answer, but I request clarification.

And throughout the book Mia's friends and Gram nagged her to have fun and get involved and not just sit and read in her room---and we don't get the satisfaction of witnessing them sitting agog when Mia blandly tells them about her adventure?

Lastly, Kalise was completely ignored. She was supposed to be super close to Tristan---they were lovers, they'd been running the resort arm in arm--but she wasn't so much as mentioned when he was confronted. I think she was standing right there too. Was she in cahoots with him? Was she shocked, heartbroken? Or had she suspected and wasn't surprised?

I suspected whodunit probably exactly when Brennan wanted me to---when Tristan went into Gino's office and shredded files. From that point I saw his efforts to rectify the negative events in a new light. Learning more about his relationship with Ethan would have been useful---I know he loved his resort, but why was he so obsessed with protecting Ethan?

I figured out the Jason/Ethan twist about halfway---Brennan's efforts to tell us very little about Jason's personal life were obviously deliberate, combined with the knowledge that a man no one had seen or heard from in years was somewhere on the island, combined with the fact that Jason acted like he owned the place. The cliche fairly taps you on the shoulder. I'm not sure I believe it's possible no guest ever recognized him in five years, but I was willing to suspend that disbelief. It's unfortunate Brennan kept his character at arm's length---I didn't come to care about him enough that I was sad for him at the end. I liked Jason, but it was Mia I cared about.

I liked Mia and related to her, though I thought she was unnecessarily rude to Jason at the beginning. I was surprised he wasn't turned off. But Miami, Mia? I've never seen the appeal of Florida.

I kind of wish Mia hadn't played into the cliche with Jason. You lied to me! Why didn't I see it? I'm so stupid! *runs away brokenhearted . . .* I wish she'd noticed what I did and either confronted him about it before they slept together so their intimacy was clean and honest, or decided she was fine with it and went along with it so that when he finally told her she could take the power back from him with a, Yes, and? But it's believable that she didn't figure it out, so I'm not too disappointed. I thought she took him back way too easily at the end, though. A forgiving smile and coffee date might have been more appropriate than a makeout session in the middle of the sales floor. But whatever, it's fine.

So I liked this novel, but I didn't love it. The mystery was great and kept me guessing, the romance was only meh, and the resolution was weak.

Man, I really enjoyed Allison Brennan’s 2 series but I really couldn’t get into this one. I don’t know if I just didn’t like the main character but man this one was not for me. Her writing is great and I enjoyed the mystery that was super interesting and the fun cast of characters on the resort. This was an interesting read.
Thanks to Mira Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I was initially super excited about this book however, once I started reading it, it felt a bit.. dull? The pace was good but it was missing *something*.

Forever grateful to have been approved to read this book ahead of time and wish the author nothing but the best!!

This book was good. I like a book about books, authors or writing. It always keeps me engaged. The story was fun and went by fast.

Main character Mia is a straight-laced accountant (and book lover herself) who has basically been forced to go on vacation by her boss before she starts in a new role she's been promoted to. She finds herself on a private island in the Caribbean with all sorts of interesting people watching and reading to do... and a hot bartender named Jason with whom she's certain there is a reciprocal flirtation. Before she can get too settled in to one of the chaise lounges around the pool, though, she finds mysterious coded marginalia left behind in a book she picked up off the little free library table in the resort gift shop. Could these notes be clues to the recent disappearance of another guest? Probably! Mia gets in pretty far over her head (literally at one point) in her investigation.

The story unfolds pretty satisfyingly with a great Romancing the Stone kinda vibe. This is the kind of book where it's so evident that the author is a fellow book lover -- which I love. It's a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and a bit of adventure -- truly a perfect combo for a beach read (which is where I read it).

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for letting me have an e-arc of this!

I really enjoyed this book. I saw a lot of myself in Mia. This was my first romance mystery novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 29 year-old Mia is sent on her first vacation in years and is struck by three things- the beautiful resort, the hot as hell bartender, and the fact that there has been a murder only a few days prior to coming to the resort.

Mia lives her life playing it safe- she has a steady career, is going to make partner by 30, and is set up for her future. But is she really living? She starts flirting with Jason- the hot as hell bartender- and tries to enjoy her vacation. She finds a used book to read and figures out it's encrypted with little notes that might help her solve the murder.. if she doesn't get hurt first.

Mia is a lot like me- i.e. a total book nerd. I loved her quips, and her feeling at a crossroads from how she spent her twenties and how she will spend her thirties felt a little too on the nose. I loved the mystery, the guests, and the witty banter. It reminded me a lot of White Lotus vibes, minus Jennifer Coolidge telling people the gays are after her.

I highly recommend this and can't wait to pick up my copy in June!

Although I was excited about this book, I lost interest within the first half of the book. I loved how the author tied literature and reading into the plot but was ultimately disappointed with this title.

In Allison Brennan's new book, a scared book lover gets in a mess when strange notes in a book draw her into a murder investigation.

Mia Crawford is responsible because she has to be. In her little bit of spare time, she is reading: mysteries, romances, and thrillers. She is forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, and finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself. She can explore the island and have a vacation fling.

But when gossipy notes written in an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself in a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this mystery before she becomes the next target.

This book is a different style for Allison Brennan, and I really liked it.

It’s like “White Lotus,” but more fun and light-hearted! The prologue starts off with murder, mystery, and blackmail, and Mia may be just the one to solve it. She arrives at the St. Clair resort for a much needed vacation from work at a financial agency. The only thing on her mind is finding a summer fling and a beach read. That is until she stumbles on notes left in the margin of a book, that may have belonged to the woman who disappeared. I really enjoyed the cast of characters staying at the resort, and the dreamy island setting. This story was immersive, mysterious, and entertaining. I want more stories like this one!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The prologue is great! Suspenseful and draws you in. The first few chapters, not so much. Mia's brain is bouncing around so much taking in her surroundings, her books, the mystery of the missing woman, the hot bartender, it is almost too much. Somehow it all settles down into a good story, especially when Brie the angsty teen joins the story. Mia seems to gain some focus, as does the story. Stick with it and you'll have a good time!

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds 🏖️

Rating: ⭐️💫
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Pub Date: June 17, 2025

Mia is off on a luxurious vacation to a private island curtesy of her employers. And by that I mean, they forced her to go. Mia immediately gets sucked into the mystery of what happened to a guest that disappeared a few days prior to her arrival

I struggled with this one. The story sounded like such a good beach read. Beautiful setting, fun mystery, and a touch of romance. Everything that would make for a great summer time read. The beginning really dragged on for me. I had a hard time keeping interest, especially waiting to get into the guts of the mystery. I also really did not enjoy Mia as a character and the voice of the novel. She was not very relatable, and felt very flat as a character. Her personality was: I like to read, and I need to find a man. I’m sorry to say I had a hard time wanting to pick this story back up and keep reading. While the setting was really fun and well done, the rest just was lacking.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan is the ideal summer mystery—smart, sexy, and just the right amount of sinister. Set on a sun-drenched private island, this novel blends a cozy whodunit with a slow-burn romance, all told through the eyes of Mia Crawford, a hard-working, no-nonsense woman who’s forced to take a break from her controlled, over-scheduled life.

Mia thinks she’s just here to relax: maybe flirt, maybe read, definitely not solve a murder. But when she stumbles upon a beat-up paperback with cryptic notes in the margins, her curiosity kicks in—and when a fellow guest goes missing, curiosity turns into full-on sleuth mode.

The pacing starts off easy like any good vacation but soon spirals into suspense, with hidden agendas, shady resort staff, and secrets hiding behind every palm tree. The bookish angle (clues inside a novel) adds a unique twist, and the tropical setting isn’t just window dressing—it becomes an active part of the plot’s tension and isolation.

Mia is a relatable heroine: book-smart, hesitant, and completely out of her element—but never foolish. Her chemistry with Jason, the island’s charming bartender with secrets of his own, adds a romantic layer that doesn’t overpower the mystery but enhances it. If you’ve ever wished your favorite beach read would come to life—this is the story for you.

With notes of The White Lotus, Only Murders in the Building, and classic romantic suspense, Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is escapist fiction done right. While it may not offer mind-bending twists, it knows exactly what it wants to be: clever, fun, atmospheric, and just dark enough to keep the pages turning long after sunset.

This would make the perfect summer beach read. Includes plenty of romance, drama, friendship, and mystery, all taking place at a beach resort. The heroine is funny and likable and all of the characters are interesting. A quick read perfect for vacation.