Beach vibes

Beth is not even 40, and even her Aunt Agatha has a better social (and sex) life than she does. So when Beth meets Jana while volunteering at the Malibu food pantry, she's thrilled to have found a friend. Jana is dealing with community college classes and raising her four-year-old daughter with the help of her widowed brother, Teddy, his three kids, and Teddy's best friend, Dex. But she's finally met a great guy, surgeon Rick, who turns out to be Beth's brother. Just as Beth is getting used to the idea of her new friend dating her beloved brother, she catches Rick with another woman. Complicating matters is Teddy, the first man Beth has felt good about opening up to since her divorce. Relationship fiction superstar Mallery (For the Love of Summer, 2024) amps up the drama as both Beth and Jana must choose between biological and found family, and she makes sure the decision isn't easy. But she doesn't abandon her trademark breezy tone or (mostly) likable characters, especially relatable women. Give this to fans of Elin Hilderbrand who are ready to leave Nantucket for Malibu.

Beth, newly divorced, and Jana, a single mom, meet while volunteering at the local food bank and become friends, but their friendship is tested when they date each other's brothers and become caught up in a drama of unexpected revelations, hurt feelings, and family loyalties. Per her usual, Mallery ("Mischief Bay" and "Happily Inc." series; One Big Happy Family), a queen of romance, populates her novel with believable, flawed protagonists; in this case, two women who are overcoming setbacks from their past, plus a lively cast of supporting characters, such as Kai, a young surfer who imparts wise advice. The sunny California setting (surfers, actors, and lunches on the beach) compliments the hopeful vibe that is Mallery's trademark, even as characters deal with serious issues. There are some brief but steamy bedroom scenes, humorous exchanges, and surprising turns that will have readers asking themselves what they would do in that situation. VERDICT Multi-published Mallery is at her best here. This is a fast read that's sure to delight her fans and provoke discussion for book clubs.--Sonia Reppe