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Beach Vibes
What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?
While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she's even prouder of her charismatic brother, Rick, who rose from foster care all the way through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Things takes a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days…and nights.
But when she catches Rick with another woman—like, with with—her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.
Love and loyalty collide with secrets and betrayal in this witty and emotional tale about the lengths we’ll go to for family, from Susan Mallery, bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop.
While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she's even prouder of her charismatic brother, Rick, who rose from foster care all the way through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Things takes a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days…and nights.
But when she catches Rick with another woman—like, with with—her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.
Love and loyalty collide with secrets and betrayal in this witty and emotional tale about the lengths we’ll go to for family, from Susan Mallery, bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop.
570 pages, Library Binding
First published March 18, 2025
7298 people are currently reading
28908 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
857 books15.4k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,532 reviews
March 4, 2025
3.25 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio & NetGalley for the ALC! 💌
Okay, so… BEACH VIBES? More like mild ocean breeze with a side of family drama. 😭
I went into this hoping for a fun, summery, lighthearted beach read, but instead, I got secrets, betrayal, and a whole lot of questionable decisions. Like, girl, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? 🤦♀️
Beth owns a successful sandwich shop by the beach (love that for her). She’s also ride-or-die for her brother, Rick, who is a doctor. Cool, right? WRONG. Because homeboy decides to date her best friend Jana AND ALSO CHEAT ON HER. 🚩🚩🚩
Now Beth has to choose: protect her brother or tell her bestie the truth. And let me tell you, the drama was DRAMAAAAA. 🫣
WHAT WORKED FOR ME:
✔️ Sandwich shop setting 🍞🥪—loved the beachy small-town vibe.
✔️ The theme of loyalty vs. doing the right thing—messy, complicated, and definitely made me think.
✔️ Beth’s personal growth—she started off way too protective of her brother (like, girl, CHILL), but she did get better.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
❌ The whole "dating someone but never mentioning his name" thing? Completely unbelievable. Who does that?! 😩
❌ Rick. Just… RICK. The man had zero remorse and somehow thought his situation was funny? 🚮
❌ The romance felt so RANDOM. Like, there was no real chemistry until the book just decided they were in love?? Make it make sense.
The audiobook narrator, Tanya Eby, did a great job, though! 🎧 Even when the story dragged a bit, she kept things engaging.
Would I recommend this? Maybe… if you’re okay with more family drama than beach vibes. Just don’t expect a fun, breezy romance, because this ain't it. 🤷♀️
Okay, so… BEACH VIBES? More like mild ocean breeze with a side of family drama. 😭
I went into this hoping for a fun, summery, lighthearted beach read, but instead, I got secrets, betrayal, and a whole lot of questionable decisions. Like, girl, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? 🤦♀️
Beth owns a successful sandwich shop by the beach (love that for her). She’s also ride-or-die for her brother, Rick, who is a doctor. Cool, right? WRONG. Because homeboy decides to date her best friend Jana AND ALSO CHEAT ON HER. 🚩🚩🚩
Now Beth has to choose: protect her brother or tell her bestie the truth. And let me tell you, the drama was DRAMAAAAA. 🫣
WHAT WORKED FOR ME:
✔️ Sandwich shop setting 🍞🥪—loved the beachy small-town vibe.
✔️ The theme of loyalty vs. doing the right thing—messy, complicated, and definitely made me think.
✔️ Beth’s personal growth—she started off way too protective of her brother (like, girl, CHILL), but she did get better.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
❌ The whole "dating someone but never mentioning his name" thing? Completely unbelievable. Who does that?! 😩
❌ Rick. Just… RICK. The man had zero remorse and somehow thought his situation was funny? 🚮
❌ The romance felt so RANDOM. Like, there was no real chemistry until the book just decided they were in love?? Make it make sense.
The audiobook narrator, Tanya Eby, did a great job, though! 🎧 Even when the story dragged a bit, she kept things engaging.
Would I recommend this? Maybe… if you’re okay with more family drama than beach vibes. Just don’t expect a fun, breezy romance, because this ain't it. 🤷♀️
May 31, 2025
◦ Beach Vibes ◦ Susan Mallory ◦
★★★★
◦: plot :◦
Beth’s world is turned upside down when she discovers her brother cheating on her best friend, Jana. Torn between loyalty and love, she faces an impossible choice that could cost her everything.
◦: my thoughts :◦
▸I appreciate how the main problem of this book is a problem we probably have all experienced and can relate to. The family drama and friendship in this book was comforting, warm and familiar. I feel like too much of this book was summarised and revealed in the blurb and I already knew the major plot points. I was then just reading to see when these things were going to occur.
I was hoping to feel more “beachy vibes”. Yes there was great setting descriptions about their view of the beach from the balcony but I would have liked if one of the brothers were surfing, beach walks or doing something down at the beach more often. I felt like the side characters were used simple for Beth and Jana to “problem solve”. They were used to be their voice of reason. I found that I little tedious.
I enjoyed Susan’s writing style and could easily pick up another book she has previously written.
▸Overall: I enjoyed the simplicity of this book. Definitely a cute little romance book to pack in your beach bag.
★★★★
◦: plot :◦
Beth’s world is turned upside down when she discovers her brother cheating on her best friend, Jana. Torn between loyalty and love, she faces an impossible choice that could cost her everything.
◦: my thoughts :◦
▸I appreciate how the main problem of this book is a problem we probably have all experienced and can relate to. The family drama and friendship in this book was comforting, warm and familiar. I feel like too much of this book was summarised and revealed in the blurb and I already knew the major plot points. I was then just reading to see when these things were going to occur.
I was hoping to feel more “beachy vibes”. Yes there was great setting descriptions about their view of the beach from the balcony but I would have liked if one of the brothers were surfing, beach walks or doing something down at the beach more often. I felt like the side characters were used simple for Beth and Jana to “problem solve”. They were used to be their voice of reason. I found that I little tedious.
I enjoyed Susan’s writing style and could easily pick up another book she has previously written.
▸Overall: I enjoyed the simplicity of this book. Definitely a cute little romance book to pack in your beach bag.
March 18, 2025
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?
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
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?
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
April 10, 2025
I did not feel any beach vibes whatsoever. Disappointing, but I finished.
March 31, 2025
2.5 actually which was a surprise. Susan Mallery is typically an easy, predictable hit for me and so I went in blind. First, the title is misleading. Second, while I loved Beth's character arc and Jana's relationship with her family, the rest was a complete miss for me. Unfortunately, the vibe was off from the beginning with this one for me. Other than a surfer side character and it taking place in Malibu, there wasn't nothing beachy about it and it was more women's fiction with relationships, than a summer romance beach read.
I'll continue to read Mallory's books of course, we can't hit a home run every time.
I received an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I'll continue to read Mallory's books of course, we can't hit a home run every time.
I received an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 19, 2025
What would you do if you learned something that your best friend needed to know?
Beth and Jana meet at the local food bank.
They both have brothers - what does that mean?
Well it means that they both unknowingly fall for each other’s sibling.
How does that work out?
Beach Vibes is about family, trust, loyalty, and second chances but it also has some situations that make you think about who your family members really are.
Which character becomes someone he/she is pretending to be because deep down he/she isn’t that person.
It gets a little tense once this personality shows up. This character turned out to be a horrible person who ruined the lives of the other characters.
Even though it isn’t my usual read, adding a bit of tension, the question of what would you do, and a little bit of mystery made it a good read for me. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Beth and Jana meet at the local food bank.
They both have brothers - what does that mean?
Well it means that they both unknowingly fall for each other’s sibling.
How does that work out?
Beach Vibes is about family, trust, loyalty, and second chances but it also has some situations that make you think about who your family members really are.
Which character becomes someone he/she is pretending to be because deep down he/she isn’t that person.
It gets a little tense once this personality shows up. This character turned out to be a horrible person who ruined the lives of the other characters.
Even though it isn’t my usual read, adding a bit of tension, the question of what would you do, and a little bit of mystery made it a good read for me. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 2, 2025
2.5
Did not like this writing style. Felt very cheesy & hard to believe. 😬
Did not like this writing style. Felt very cheesy & hard to believe. 😬
March 16, 2025
I grabbed this one as soon as I saw Susan Mallery's name on it. The beachy cover also caught my eye. Mallery writes great books about relationships and families and I've enjoyed many of her books.
Description:
What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?
While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she's even prouder of her charismatic brother, Rick, who rose from foster care all the way through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Things takes a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days…and nights.
But when she catches Rick with another woman—like, with with—her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.
My Thoughts:
Poor Beth! She was certainly blindsided and shocked as the image of someone she trusted and believed it turned out to be so wrong. Beth impressed me thought with her strong sense of business and her loyalty to her friend - some things to admire about her. The romances were fun to watch develop and heartwrenching at times. This was a good story, though not my favorite by Mallery.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?
While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she's even prouder of her charismatic brother, Rick, who rose from foster care all the way through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Things takes a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days…and nights.
But when she catches Rick with another woman—like, with with—her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.
My Thoughts:
Poor Beth! She was certainly blindsided and shocked as the image of someone she trusted and believed it turned out to be so wrong. Beth impressed me thought with her strong sense of business and her loyalty to her friend - some things to admire about her. The romances were fun to watch develop and heartwrenching at times. This was a good story, though not my favorite by Mallery.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.
July 6, 2025
This is my first Susan Mallery novel and it won't be my last. I thought this would be a light fluffy beach read that I would happily give 3 stars to because it was a fun read but forgettable. This had great character development and a lot of substance for a beach read. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it!🏖🌺
December 18, 2024
Not just a romcom, twisty events and character secrets!
Totally, unanticipated wow factor on this book.
It started off a bit slow but at the halfway point, BAM, things really start to happen!
Beth, a thirty-something, now divorced woman wondering if she'll ever love again or have any new friends. Her ex took all theirs with him.
Her younger brother, Rick, is a popular surgeon in the LA area with an 'aww shucks' demeanor. They've taken care of each other since childhood due to an unreliable mother and absent father.
Beth thinks she still needs to take care of him so she puts herself second.
Beth owns a popular Malibu sandwich shop right near the beach and volunteers at a food bank once a week. She meets Jana, a young single mom, and they hit it off as friends.
Unknowingly, Jana is dating Beth's brother Rick. They met at the medical building where they both work.
Jana lives with her widower brother and his three kids in home designed for the two small families.
Eventually, all the sibs meet each other and all the children. Joy and happiness abound till Rick screws up.
Beth is sucked into Rick's drama and worries about her friendship with Jana, and new relationship with her brother, Teddy.
Beth is starting to see her brother in a new light and wonders was he always like this.
No spoilers! You have to read it!
Minor note: There was a lot repeating of facts established earlier that I felt was unnecessary. Trust readers to remember.
Thanks Edelweiss and Canary Street Press.
Totally, unanticipated wow factor on this book.
It started off a bit slow but at the halfway point, BAM, things really start to happen!
Beth, a thirty-something, now divorced woman wondering if she'll ever love again or have any new friends. Her ex took all theirs with him.
Her younger brother, Rick, is a popular surgeon in the LA area with an 'aww shucks' demeanor. They've taken care of each other since childhood due to an unreliable mother and absent father.
Beth thinks she still needs to take care of him so she puts herself second.
Beth owns a popular Malibu sandwich shop right near the beach and volunteers at a food bank once a week. She meets Jana, a young single mom, and they hit it off as friends.
Unknowingly, Jana is dating Beth's brother Rick. They met at the medical building where they both work.
Jana lives with her widower brother and his three kids in home designed for the two small families.
Eventually, all the sibs meet each other and all the children. Joy and happiness abound till Rick screws up.
Beth is sucked into Rick's drama and worries about her friendship with Jana, and new relationship with her brother, Teddy.
Beth is starting to see her brother in a new light and wonders was he always like this.
No spoilers! You have to read it!
Minor note: There was a lot repeating of facts established earlier that I felt was unnecessary. Trust readers to remember.
Thanks Edelweiss and Canary Street Press.
April 19, 2025
Complex family drama in a “what would you do situation.”
Beth is divorced, and even though she owns a Malibu sub shop, is pretty much a lone soul. She befriends, then becomes the best of friends with Jana, along with Jana’s small daughter. Both women have a brother they’re very close to. These men are each dating their sister’s friend. One brother has been caught red-handed cheating. Oh the drama! From there certain things unexpectedly come to light within that family.
With its gorgeous California coastal setting and warm summery vibes, this is a story of family dynamics, loyalty, friendship, romance and yes, betrayal. It did feel a bit longwinded in places and could have been shortened, other than that it was a fun for summer read. Enjoyed it. 4.25 stars — Pub. 3/18/25
Beth is divorced, and even though she owns a Malibu sub shop, is pretty much a lone soul. She befriends, then becomes the best of friends with Jana, along with Jana’s small daughter. Both women have a brother they’re very close to. These men are each dating their sister’s friend. One brother has been caught red-handed cheating. Oh the drama! From there certain things unexpectedly come to light within that family.
With its gorgeous California coastal setting and warm summery vibes, this is a story of family dynamics, loyalty, friendship, romance and yes, betrayal. It did feel a bit longwinded in places and could have been shortened, other than that it was a fun for summer read. Enjoyed it. 4.25 stars — Pub. 3/18/25
April 8, 2025
Beach Vibes by Susan Mallory is a very elementary written book. A barfy predictable romance. The fact I didn’t DNF it allowed it a 3✨
March 23, 2025
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.
4.5
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.
4.5
August 25, 2025
3.5 rounded up
do you tell your friend your brother is cheating on her or do you trust your brother to end the affair and say nothing? telling your friend would cost you your new relationship with HER brother. dramaaaaaa.
do you tell your friend your brother is cheating on her or do you trust your brother to end the affair and say nothing? telling your friend would cost you your new relationship with HER brother. dramaaaaaa.
July 26, 2025
A decent summer beach read, but the characters weren't the most likable or relatable.
April 7, 2025
2.5. A few misses in this storyline for me. I’m pretty sure people are more likely to be extra critical or judgey with their siblings than they are to believe they can do no wrong, all while actively insulting you your entire life. And then the personality switch up of just admitting he was playing her felt off. The side characters were the best part.
April 16, 2025
DNF @ 33%
Beach Vibes? This book is not it. I didn’t feel an ounce of beach vibes. The premise of this story sounded so promising and I was really hoping for a lot of drama. However, the characters were one dimensional and robotic. Don’t get me started on that first time scene between Rick and Jana — CRINGE! I didn’t connect to them on any level. For supposedly intelligent people, these characters made stupid decisions. I read a spoiler about Beth’s choice when he came to her brother and Jana. Whomp whomp. Big fail, Beth.
Thanks to Canary Street Press for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
Beach Vibes? This book is not it. I didn’t feel an ounce of beach vibes. The premise of this story sounded so promising and I was really hoping for a lot of drama. However, the characters were one dimensional and robotic. Don’t get me started on that first time scene between Rick and Jana — CRINGE! I didn’t connect to them on any level. For supposedly intelligent people, these characters made stupid decisions. I read a spoiler about Beth’s choice when he came to her brother and Jana. Whomp whomp. Big fail, Beth.
Thanks to Canary Street Press for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
June 24, 2025
I just finished Beach Vibes. I’m giving 2⭐️. It was okay until I realized how often nausea was used to describe a bad feeling. That got on my nerves! Spice was barely there, which I found refreshing, so there’s that. The only beachy part was the setting in Malibu. The story/ending was predictable. There were two quips from the book I liked. “During the day, when she found herself wanting to dwell on how her life had gone to shit, she reminded herself that doing that was already on her calendar.” Haha.
May 2, 2025
I don't know how I feel about this book. From the beginning I felt like Jana deserved better and Rick was throwing out some serious red flags. Beth's experience with her brother just left me sad for her, mostly the fact that he pulled the wool over her eyes for so long. There were a lot of things going on and some aspects of the story ended up feeling rushed. This book came with a lot of seriously uncomfortable feelings.
July 27, 2025
This is my first DNF. I was excited by the cover & a book set on the beach. This was so boring. The pace of the book is off. One minute I kind of like the main characters & and then the next chapter I dont . This is not the Summer read I was looking for.
March 23, 2025
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?
I enjoyed the audiobook, EXCEPT for how the narrator did the kids' voices—it drove me absolutely insane. At least it was a small proportion of the book, and I was able to flip back and forth between audio and Kindle.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio, Harlequin and NetGalley for the ALC and eARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
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?
I enjoyed the audiobook, EXCEPT for how the narrator did the kids' voices—it drove me absolutely insane. At least it was a small proportion of the book, and I was able to flip back and forth between audio and Kindle.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio, Harlequin and NetGalley for the ALC and eARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2025
Did I finish this? Yes. Should I have? No. This was super boring and I’m pretty sure I picked it off of a beach reads list for middle aged divorced women. Can’t believe I wasted a beach read on this :/
March 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced audiobook.
Unfortunately, for me… this was mediocre and had zero beach vibes.
Not much happened in this story outside of some family drama with two friends that were dating each others brothers. One of those brothers was a huge narcissist and so unlikable, and him cheating on his sister’s friend was the main drama of the story. The romances all felt instantaneous and I had trouble believing in any of the pairs’ chemistry.
The audiobook narrator also really irked me. The way she enunciated many words and said the word “to” made me cringe every time.
Unfortunately, for me… this was mediocre and had zero beach vibes.
Not much happened in this story outside of some family drama with two friends that were dating each others brothers. One of those brothers was a huge narcissist and so unlikable, and him cheating on his sister’s friend was the main drama of the story. The romances all felt instantaneous and I had trouble believing in any of the pairs’ chemistry.
The audiobook narrator also really irked me. The way she enunciated many words and said the word “to” made me cringe every time.
November 18, 2024
When does familial loyalty become less important than doing the right thing? Beth has been divorced for a year and the only thing she has going for her in life is her successful beach sandwich shop. But she's just started making a friend in Jana, her co-volunteer at a food pantry. But things get rocky when Jana starts dating Beth's brother, whom Beth is immensely protective. Jana is a single mom, living with her widowed brother and his three kids. She has a part time job in medical billing and is making her way through school, hoping to become a nurse. She was burned in her last relationship and is hesitant to start again, but Beth's brother is just so sweet, she takes her chances.
This was...fine. It's pretty unbelievable that Jana would Date someone and talk about him a lot, but never actually mention his name. And the romance at the end felt out of the blue...there didn't seem to be any attraction at all, until suddenly there was. 🤷♀️
Release Date: 3/18/2025
This was...fine. It's pretty unbelievable that Jana would Date someone and talk about him a lot, but never actually mention his name. And the romance at the end felt out of the blue...there didn't seem to be any attraction at all, until suddenly there was. 🤷♀️
Release Date: 3/18/2025
August 3, 2025
"Beach Vibes follows" sandwich shop owner Beth. Beth is divorced and realizes that it's been a year and she needs to actually get a friend and maybe date. She thinks the woman she hangs out with at the local food bank, Jana, maybe a good person to become friends with.
Jana though is dealing with having a young daughter and finishing up at community college so she can apply for nursing school. She does realize that she needs someone to hang out with that is not a member of her family. She's happy to start a friendship with Beth. Things turn a bit though when Beth realizes that Jana who has been dating a mysterious doctor, is actually dating Beth's brother Rick.
I think that this book would have hit harder if we actually had the character of Beth realizing what was going on with her brother a lot earlier. I just felt that she was written way too naive when everyone else was clicking what was going on there. The insta-love she had for Teddy didn't really grab me either. I think that the slowly building friendship with Jana and Beth were supposed to be the forefront of the story. But, I didn't find Beth to be someone I would want to be friends with. I thought it was weird that both women seemed to have zero female friends outside of each other. It just didn't feel real.
The big mess of Rick just felt like it fit a different book.
I also thought the ending of the book needed more time to breathe. You don't get to see a solid resolution for either women, you just guess how things go from there.
I read this for CBR17binhgo, "B. The first letter, or first major word of the title begins with a B. This firts the third row, 1st square.
Jana though is dealing with having a young daughter and finishing up at community college so she can apply for nursing school. She does realize that she needs someone to hang out with that is not a member of her family. She's happy to start a friendship with Beth. Things turn a bit though when Beth realizes that Jana who has been dating a mysterious doctor, is actually dating Beth's brother Rick.
I think that this book would have hit harder if we actually had the character of Beth realizing what was going on with her brother a lot earlier. I just felt that she was written way too naive when everyone else was clicking what was going on there. The insta-love she had for Teddy didn't really grab me either. I think that the slowly building friendship with Jana and Beth were supposed to be the forefront of the story. But, I didn't find Beth to be someone I would want to be friends with. I thought it was weird that both women seemed to have zero female friends outside of each other. It just didn't feel real.
The big mess of Rick just felt like it fit a different book.
I also thought the ending of the book needed more time to breathe. You don't get to see a solid resolution for either women, you just guess how things go from there.
I read this for CBR17binhgo, "B. The first letter, or first major word of the title begins with a B. This firts the third row, 1st square.
May 11, 2025
Susan Mallory had me invested in this book from page one. If I read a book with any a⭐️⭐️hole characters I usually just quit, but the other characters of this book drew me in. The characters were complex and realistic.
I will caution readers to ignore this title of this book and the cover. This book has very little to do with the beach and a lot to do with family relationships and misogyny.
I will caution readers to ignore this title of this book and the cover. This book has very little to do with the beach and a lot to do with family relationships and misogyny.
May 30, 2025
Voor een boek met de titel Beach Vibes waren er weinig van die vibes aanwezig… ik had echt zin in een zomers boek maar dit was helaas niet wat ik had gehoopt. De gesprekken van de personages voelde onnatuurlijk en erg geforceerd aan, alsof ze informatie voor de lezer daarin stopte zodat wij op de hoogte waren i.p.v. dat je gewoon een normaal gesprek voerde. Daarnaast vond ik Beth erg onuitstaanbaar en judgemental en hierdoor voelde de personages aan alsof ze tieners waren soms in plaats van dertigers… jammer, want ik had echt zin in beach vibes.
March 14, 2025
Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
First, I just want to say that I don't think this is really in the romance genre. Is there some romance? Sure. But there's also so much drama and other situations that it feels more like women's fiction to me (I could be totally wrong, just my opinion).
Also, I don't think the title really fits the story. When I think of beach vibes, I think relaxing, fun, sunshine, tropical drinks, etc. Again, just my opinion. Yes, the setting is a beach town. There is a character that is a surfer, and there is one instance where a few characters go to the beach. But still, the story itself doesn't really give "beach vibes" if that makes sense?
I did enjoy the story. I'm glad that Beth came to her senses, and her character arc was great. I loved how family oriented Janna and Teddy's families were and how they supported each other with all the things.
Overall, this book was ok. It's just not what I was expecting based on the title. Oh! I also kinda felt like there's a spoiler in the actual blurb for the book because one of the situations mentioned doesn't even happen until over 50% in.
Anyway, if you enjoy this author, you'll enjoy this book. But if you're looking for a beach vibe type beach read, I don't think this is it.
First, I just want to say that I don't think this is really in the romance genre. Is there some romance? Sure. But there's also so much drama and other situations that it feels more like women's fiction to me (I could be totally wrong, just my opinion).
Also, I don't think the title really fits the story. When I think of beach vibes, I think relaxing, fun, sunshine, tropical drinks, etc. Again, just my opinion. Yes, the setting is a beach town. There is a character that is a surfer, and there is one instance where a few characters go to the beach. But still, the story itself doesn't really give "beach vibes" if that makes sense?
I did enjoy the story. I'm glad that Beth came to her senses, and her character arc was great. I loved how family oriented Janna and Teddy's families were and how they supported each other with all the things.
Overall, this book was ok. It's just not what I was expecting based on the title. Oh! I also kinda felt like there's a spoiler in the actual blurb for the book because one of the situations mentioned doesn't even happen until over 50% in.
Anyway, if you enjoy this author, you'll enjoy this book. But if you're looking for a beach vibe type beach read, I don't think this is it.
March 15, 2025
First, the title has nothing whatsoever to do with the book. It’s a little bizarre. The entire book was about relationship and friendship drama. Nothing else actually happened from a plot standpoint.
Both female main characters were insanely naive and gullible. There was such a conflict-avoidant theme throughout the book, and even the individuals who had a sense of seeing people for who they were never did more than hint at character issues and let the women carry on with their blindly self-destructive decisions. It was pretty obnoxious. I was constantly eye-rolling thru the book.
There was so much repetitive inner dialogue, weird character dialogue, and a severe lack of boundaries between various characters the majority of the time, and cringey content or conversations here and there. I ended up increasing the speed of the audiobook to get thru it and if it wasn’t an ARC I would have ditched it pretty early on.
Not a fan in the least, and a second strikeout by this author, so I’ll be avoiding in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
Both female main characters were insanely naive and gullible. There was such a conflict-avoidant theme throughout the book, and even the individuals who had a sense of seeing people for who they were never did more than hint at character issues and let the women carry on with their blindly self-destructive decisions. It was pretty obnoxious. I was constantly eye-rolling thru the book.
There was so much repetitive inner dialogue, weird character dialogue, and a severe lack of boundaries between various characters the majority of the time, and cringey content or conversations here and there. I ended up increasing the speed of the audiobook to get thru it and if it wasn’t an ARC I would have ditched it pretty early on.
Not a fan in the least, and a second strikeout by this author, so I’ll be avoiding in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
April 17, 2025
This is my second book by this author. The first one I DNF because of how slow it was. This book was nearly a DNF, but I powered through. The pacing is excruciatingly slow. The conflict that is the main point of the book didn't happen until about 70% through the book. The title has nothing to do with the book, except it is set in Malibu and one of the FMC has a sandwich shop near the beach. None of the characters were likeable enough that I cared about what happened to them.
I received a digital ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. Full disclosure: I didn't get to this ARC before pub date, so I checked out the audiobook so I could get through it faster.
I received a digital ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. Full disclosure: I didn't get to this ARC before pub date, so I checked out the audiobook so I could get through it faster.
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