Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely love this book and enjoyed everything about it. I loved the chapter titles referred to books. I love the friendships made in this book. It was a fun read. The mystery kept me guessing. I loved the romance. I just enjoyed everything about this book. It was lush and I could imagine myself in a beach chair next to MIa. If you are looking for an escape read this book.

I liked the way that books played into this, but there were a lot of characters and I had a hard time keeping them all straight.

This was such a fun book to listen to, I was glad that I did the audiobook.
I loved the story and the characters that we met throughout the story, and the way that everything came together at the end.
Would absolutely recommend this for summer reading lists!
🏖️ BEACH READS AND DEADLY DEEDS BY ALLISON BRENNAN 🏖️

IF YOU LIKE BOOKS THAT HAVE.....
🏖️ VACATIONS GONE WRONG
📖 BOOKS HOLDING THE CLUES TO SOLVING A MYSTERY
🔪 MURDER ON A GLAMOROUS ISLAND
💌 BOOK LOVING MAIN CHARACTER

🏖️ SUMMARY: When book loving Mia is forced to take a long deserved vacation, she finds herself investigating the disappearance of a previous guest. Using the clues she finds in a book borrowed from the resort, Mia has to figure out why the guest was eventually murdered, before she is next!

🏖️ MY THOUGHTS: This is the perfect summer, beachy, vacation read. I loved the way it combined some romance in with the overall murder mystery of the book. I flew through reading this one because I needed to know what was happening next! Def recommend this one for a good summer or anytime vacation read!

I've been loving comedy-thriller-murder mysteries lately so I was also excited to get approved for this one- Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds, sounded like it would be right up my alley! Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. The main character came off as annoying and not very likable, and she seemed to bounce all over the place between wanting a one night stand, being super judgey, and then flip flopping between hooking up and solving a murder mystery. I think this had a lot of potential but unfortunately I didn't love it. Thank you Netgalley for this eALC!

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a standalone romance-mystery by Allison Brennan, and I really enjoyed it! This was such a fun summer read—perfect for a sunny day by the water.

I loved the setting on a private island and the bookish theme running throughout. It gave the story a charming, almost escapist quality. Most of the characters were engaging, and I had a great time watching their interactions—especially the way the ‘elite’ behaved on vacation, which added a bit of humor and drama.

The mystery was a highlight! I loved the suspense and had fun trying to solve the murder alongside the characters. The reveal was satisfying and well-executed.

And of course, no summer mystery feels complete without a touch of romance. The romantic subplot added just the right amount of charm—it felt like something straight out of a Hallmark movie (in the best way).

This was a delightful, entertaining read, and I definitely recommend it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I’m sharing my honest opinion voluntarily.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan
Narrated by Vanessa Johansson
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Published: June 17, 2025

What a fun cozy mystery! I love Allison Brennan's thrillers and now I love her cozies as well! Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is the PERFECT vacation book.

This book delivers exactly what is claims: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds. It is a sun-soaked mystery perfect for when you are on vacation mode. The setting is a highlight as we are on a lush island with warm breezes, crystal water, and a luxury resort creating a dreamy getaway atmosphere.

This novel blends many typical genres for a light read: cozy mystery, amateur sleuthing, and romance. The stakes are fun and full of clever clue-hunting with a sprinkling of tropical suspense. Our main character is an accountant on vacation who just happens to stumble onto scribbled clues in an old paperback, then follows them like a breadcrumb trail toward a buried secret. In addition to this, she has a vacation romance with a resort bartender, providing a sweet balance to the thrill of sleuthing.

On the other hand, there were a couple minor complaints I had with the book. First, our main character is very annoying at times. She only sees in black and white and her constant self deprecating inner monologues occasionally drag down the fun. I thought I would relate to an accountant who loves to read (i.e. me), but I didn’t enjoy her. Second, the entire romance was fishy from the start, and I always knew something was up. No spoilers, but it’s obvious to anyone reading. Finally, it seemed like the read took forever. It wasn’t an exceptionally long book, but it is definitely slow at the start and takes time to ramp up.

Ultimately, this is a fun, lighthearted summer read. If you’re after a new breezy, sun-drenched whodunit with a dash of romance, this is a good contender.

This read a suspense romance book to me more than a mystery.

I really loved the twist and the mystery elements of this book! I didn't totally love the FMC. I related to her as a big reader, but other than that I found her annoying and hard to relate to.

This is still a great fast paced perfect summer beach read!

This book was a fun escape. I will say that it is very different from other Brennan novels, so if you are looking for her typical darker story, this is not it. The main character made it hard to get into the book at first (we get it, you like to read), and there were so many characters to keep track of all at once, but I ultimately ended up enjoying it.

I enjoyed this book a lot! I'm not sure if it's because I recently watched the show, or if it was what this author was going for, but I got White Lotus vibes, and was not angry about it! The ending did feel just a bit rushed for me, but still a very enjoyable summer read!

Love this book-ish mystery! See? There are reasons to write in books! It was a fun story and perfect for any beach vacation!

This was so much fun! I loved the setting of a private resort, a locked-room of sorts, for the investigation that Mia finds herself in. The characters were fun and just snotty enough that you’re OK with each and every one of them being guilty. Mia was a breath of fresh air as the smart and inquisitive investigator, working alongside her angsty teen sidekick. The gossipy notes and descriptions were the perfect clues to follow and the romance was a nice complement, not too much but enough to keep the story going. I loved everything about this!

Easy beach read for a blend of mystery and romance. It is kind of odd how this forensic accountant on vacation becomes so obsessed with a missing woman’s case and also so mixed up with the other guests’ stories, but it makes for a fun pool side read with twists and turns.

𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆?! 🏖️☀️👙📖🔍🫆🌊

𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗻, equal parts sun-soaked mystery, cozy-ish thriller, and vacation romance in paradise, this one lures you in with an Agatha-esque murder mystery and a book lover who thinks she can solve anything en vacay . 🙋🏼‍♀️

Mia Crawford is up for promotion but is being forced to take a long over due vacation. She thinks she’ll lay out, lounge around and read, and maybe have the occasional flirtatious vacation fling. What she doesn’t expect is that she may help solve a murder from a free book she picked up. Enticing right? Think salty sea air, island life, suspicious glances, and red herrings galore.

🎧 The narration by Vanessa Johansson was great! Mia is a 30 y.o. protagonist but at times I felt she was older. It was nice.

Mia wasn’t necessary my favorite character and you do kind of have to suspend your sense of disbelief for this one, but it was quick and fun.

The romance was charming in its own way but was placed on the back burner in my opinion. But if I was single on vacation, Jason is the type of man that would catch my eye too. 😏

The mystery is tightly plotted without being overcooked, and Brennan makes you suspect everyone. Mia becomes the amateur sleuth the feds didn’t see coming. It was a fun adventure. Everyone seems to know everyone on vacation here. I will say I didn’t expect the twist though and didn’t see the outcome of the killer. The stakes never feel life-shattering, but that’s part of the charm—it’s a murder mystery you can read in a weekend at the beach or by the pool, preferably with a floppy hat and a drink that has a fruit garnish and a questionable paper umbrella. Perfect type of light, carefree summer read for me.

3.5 stars

If you’re looking for the perfect summer mystery, this one’s calling your name. Think: island vacation + murder mystery + a sexy bartender + a book-loving heroine who gets pulled into a real-life whodunnit after finding strange notes in a novel.⁠
⁠
Our FMC Mia is basically all of us—she never goes anywhere without a book, loves sharing her reading life online, and somehow ends up investigating a murder (with a little help from that irresistible bartender 👀).⁠
⁠
Full of twists, danger, and sun-drenched suspense, this is the kind of mystery that pairs best with a beach towel and iced drink.

It’s pretty rare for me to find a thriller I don’t enjoy, and this one was another hit—I absolutely loved it! The main character is a successful financial professional who dreams of one day opening her own bookstore, but she’s always put practicality ahead of passion. On the verge of accepting a career-defining promotion, she decides to hit pause and take a spontaneous vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a little romantic escapism. Naturally, a murder mystery kicks off almost immediately (as any good thriller should), and our book-loving, number-crunching heroine decides she might just have what it takes to solve the case herself.

From steamy beach moments to getting stranded on a boat overnight, this book had everything—suspense, romance, grief, and just the right amount of chaos. There’s sneaking around, unexpected connections, and emotional layers that kept things feeling grounded amidst the island intrigue. I didn’t guess who the killer was until right before the reveal, and there was another twist I truly didn’t see coming at all! I had such a great time reading this and flew through the pages. I’m definitely going to be diving into more books by this author!

3.5 stars. Definitely go into this one knowing that this is a departure from Brennan's previous books (of which I have been a huge fan of). I think if you are a fan of cozy mysteries with a little romance thrown in, then this will be right up your alley. I've come to realize that I like my thrillers to be a bit darker and grittier which is probably why this one wasn't a total win for me (or my favorite by Brennan). The romance was a bit lackluster, and I never quite felt the connection between the main characters. I did like the friendship that developed between Mia and Bri. I did enjoy the quotes from a wide range of books that led off each chapter and were a sign of what was to come in that chapter. I listened to this one on audio, but I think I would have enjoyed the unfolding mystery and all of its pieces better in print.

I listen to two or three audiobooks each week, and I've discovered that it can be challenging to transition to a new audiobook after being immersed in the captivating world of a great story. Because of this, I’m always eager to give a new audiobook a fair chance before deciding it’s not for me.

I've realized that while a narrator can be truly exceptional, sometimes the story they’re conveying simply doesn’t resonate with the listener. Unfortunately, that was the case with this particular audiobook.

Thank you opportunity to listen to this audiobook

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds seemed like a great choice for a beach read as it is set in the Virgin Islands at a resort. The book is a mash up of a mystery and a romance which isn't typically found together. I found the FMC to be annoying and the amount of characters to be somewhat difficult to keep straight. Vanessa Johansson did a decent job of narrating the book.

Synopsis:
Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.

Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this real-life mystery before she becomes the next target. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced digital copy of the book.

This was great! I loved everything about it and wanted more. You get a bit of everything with this one, humor, romance, action, suspense, betrayal, and great characters. What more could you ask for.