3 1/2 stars rounded up to four. Mia Crawford, a self described workaholic, is on a long awaited holiday that she has been gifted by her bosses. Finding herself forced to relax on a luxurious private island vacation, Mia begins reading a paperback book whose margins are filled with cryptic notes. Mia learns the paperback was left behind by a previous resort guest who suddenly went missing. Mia investigates her disappearance and also begins a fling with the resorts handsome bartender. Good fun, fast action, and a slew of rich people, behaving badly.

Love the mashup of mystery and romance! The mystery had a ton of great twists and turns and I loved the ride. The romance was cheesy in the best way. Narrator did a great job.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read that came along exactly when I needed it! It was fun and quirky and lived up to its description.

It can be a struggle to fuse thriller/mystery with romance but the author did a great job honoring both genres interweaving the solving of the mystery while sorting out the feelings that go along with a vacation romance.

I love how the author brought in quotes from other current popular books to start off each chapter. Those quotes were a good touch point for how the chapter would unfold.

The book has a cozy type quality to it but doesn’t go as far as to be called a cozy mystery. The book has some “meat” to it especially when the FMC looks to decode the victims writings. I think this book had a little bit of everything which kept me engaged and not wanting to hit pause.

I consumed the audiobook and Vanessa Johansson did a fabulous job narrating the story. Even at the 1x speed she spoke at a good pace but it still worked when sped up a bit without sounding strange. I also really enjoy her inflections. She was appropriately snarky without going overboard. On the production end it was solid and overall enjoyable.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Harper Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I ended up DNFing around 20% because I found myself too annoyed with the main character. She was incredibly judgmental in a way that just really didn't work for me and by that point there wasn't enough intrigue/main plot to distract me from the voice/characterization.

I like the narrator, though!

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a fun mystery with a side of adventure and a splash of romance.

Mia is a workaholic and not one to take time for herself. When forced to take a vacation, she finds herself on a beautiful island, the perfect place to relax, read some books and have a little fun. But when she picks up a book and starts reading, little does she know she is about to find herself in a real-life murder mystery complete with intrigue and adventure.

Murder, secrets, and hidden agendas abound. Following handwritten clues found on the pages of the book, Mia sets out to unearth what happened to the missing guest who disappeared just before she arrived at the resort.

Filled with a cast of eclectic characters and a handsome bartender, this book was clever and charming.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this book. The narrator Vaness Johansson and the production team did a wonderful job bringing this cozy mystery to life.

This was cute! Mia becomes an amateur sleuth while on an island vacation. There’s murder, rich people drama, new friendships, and a vacation fling (that may or may not turn into love).

I enjoyed this book and loved the FMC Mia. She was realistic with a strong moral compass, and I was rooting for her personally, professionally, and in solving the murder.

It did slow down a bit in the middle, but picked up again towards the end. I was able to guess some things, but ultimately enjoyed the book as it unfolded. I loved the blend of mystery and romance.

I did absolutely adore the nods to bookstagram, the bookish community, and the love of readers and books. At times it felt like a love letter to reading, and I loved that 💙 I loved all the quotes from other books at the beginning of each chapter, and appreciated the messaging of books being beacons of hope.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you HTP Hive and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator did a fabulous job with all the different voices, so I was never confused about who was talking at the moment.
I loved the murder mystery x romance elements of this book! And I DEFINITELY want to go to that resort, but maybe not end up killed. Thanks 😂

2.5/5

Oh my god, this woman is insufferable! She is the most annoying, pick-me, main character syndrome person I have ever read about. (It feels weird saying she has main character syndrome because she is the literal main character, but that's the energy she gives. If she were a real person you came across, you'd say she had main character syndrome.)

And will she just shut up with the "I could be having sex with Jason Mallory right now" or whatever his name is. I don't care that you be getting it on with some random man! I really don't care, that had nothing to do with anything!

Sorry that this is such a dramatic review but I was so disappointed in this book. I thought the cover was so cool, I really really love the design. I thought this had so much potential to feel like a season of the show, The White Lotus (and there were definitely moments when it did feel like that like show, but they were constantly interrupted by our obnoxious main character.) She really thinks she's the smartest, most important person in the room. Wonderful moments were constantly interrupted by her, it was so confusing.

I would be thinking "oh, this is getting good, I am intrigued, maybe it was just a fluke that she was annoying, maybe that has ended." And I was wrong. It really ruined all of those good moments. This book could have been so good!! That's what I hate. When something is so close to being perfect, but one little thing keeps squandering it.

What this book is supposed to be about is the mysterious happenings on this remote resort island. There are lots of mysterious and suspicious people on this island, they do shady things and have mysterious and interconnected pasts. The drama was great and so was the mystery element.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book as well as the audiobook
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This was an ideal beach read for me featuring some mystery and romance. The narrative was fairly predictable which is desirable for a beach read. I had a harder time engaging with the book and with the audiobook narrator's performance. Again, both were written and/or performed with care but I did not 100% connect with the story or protagonist.

This book got me through four loads of laundry, cleaning the house, mowing and packing for vaca! I couldn’t stop listening. Absolutely loved it!

While right now, Allison Brennan's latest novel is a stand alone, I hope it continues! "Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds" was a fun ride of a book! Great reader as well.

Mia is overworked and on a long overdue vacation on a fancy private island. She is all set to settle in on the beach and read a novel when she notices there are cryptic notes in the margins. Soon she realizes the notes may be related to the disappearance of a recent guest on the island and decides to investigate, uncovering more than she bargains for.

This is a fun mystery and great to read in the summer with the added beach vacation vibes. I enjoyed the riddles laid out in the notes in the novel. I liked Mia as a protagonist and all the characters on the island, especially Bri. I did feel like the story dragged in a couple places, but overall it was an enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the audiobook and the narration kept me very engaged.

Tropes
* Slow Burn
* Vacation Adventure
* Murder Mystery
* Secrets and Riddles
* Amateur Detective

4 star

Publication: June 17th, 2025

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was about a girl named Mia Crawford, who is a workaholic and finally takes a vacation on a private island, and of course, she brings a stack of books. But instead of relaxing, she finds notes in one of the books that hint at someone’s disappearance. So naturally, she turns into a full-on amateur detective. It’s like a cozy mystery meets beach vibes with a little bit of romance. And a slight romance happens while she’s there. I loved all the characters whether it was main characters were the side characters. They all played important role in the book. I listen to the audiobook and the narration for it was perfect. I felt like I was there.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio

The publisher provided audio book ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

A perfect summer read. This one has a bit of everything! Mystery and intrigue, steamy romance, tropical island setting, and dreams coming true!
Couldn't ask for anything more in a summer beach read.

I really enjoyed “Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds!” I thought this book was clever & cute! I loved the mysteries & puzzles, and thought Mia was funny as she worked to solve them. She was such a nerdy but relatable character. There was plenty of drama to keep me engaged - finished reading this in a day because I couldn’t wait to see what happened! The romance aspect was predictable, but satisfying.

This was the definition of a beach read! Tropical murder mysteries seem to be having a moment (hello White Lotus) and I’m here for it. This was delightful as the main character was a book lover so lots of fun literary references throughout. Is it a perfectly crafted thriller full of unexpected twists and turns? Maybe not. Is it a lightly spicy whodunnit it in a sexy destination? Definitely yes.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook for review. All opinions belong to me.

Mia is a bookish financial advisor on a forced vacation (seriously can I work for this company that sends their employees to a resort?). On the way there, she meets several of the people who will join her at the resort and quickly learns she’s the only single, which puts a damper on her desire for a one night stand/vacation fling.

On the island, she meets a hot bartender and learns about the disappearance (later we find the body) of a guest. She decides to sleep with the bartender and investigate the murder, using a paperback with the missing woman’s notes to guide her. She befriends (and angers) some residents, gets stranded, and has her fling. Not all is as it appears, and maybe what she wants for her future isn’t really what she needs.

This is kind of unserious! Like it’s more humorous than I’d usually find in a mystery. There are lots of bookish references and fumbles on Mia’s end. It went by quickly and the narrator did a good job.

Mia is absolutely not a girl’s girl, and the spicy scenes (I think there were 2?) felt like they were added to cross genre lines. I’m not mad about them, just wasn’t expecting them.

Anyway, this was a pretty fun summer read and the audiobook would be great on vacation. Thanks to Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

3.5/5

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan is a fun, feel-good mystery with an island setting and a bookish flair. Mia Crawford is driven and hardworking, reluctantly taking a much-needed vacation that quickly turns chaotic when she gets swept into a local murder investigation. Her reluctant dive into amateur sleuthing is engaging, and her character growth—from cautious to courageous—adds heart to the story. The slow-burn romance with a charming bartender brings just the right amount of warmth and charm.

Vanessa Johansson delivers a steady and easy-to-follow performance that suits the story’s tone, however there may be a few too many characters for the audiobook to be the best way to consume this book. However, Johansson’s narration keeps the pacing smooth and captures Mia’s emotional arc well. The audio production is clean and professional, with no distractions to pull you out of the story.

While not a new favorite, this is an enjoyable listen—perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, coastal settings, and heroines who learn to take chances and trust their instincts.

I love Allison Brennan's books - Her Lucy Kincaid series is one of my all time favorites, so when I saw this, I had to listen immediately!! I barely even looked at the description... and I was not disappointed!! I loved the characters and the setting made me feel like I was there! This was such a fun story,I listened to it in two days.
The narrator was great for this book and she felt like the characters.

Love a good book centered around books! This novel had a bit of everything, some mystery, romance and comedy. Can't wait to check out more from Allison Brennan

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.