A Conversation with Susan Mallery

Celebrating Beach Vibes

Susan Mallery writes novels about the relationships that shape women’s lives—family, friendship, romance. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live. In BEACH VIBES—Susan’s latest unforgettable beach read—love and loyalty collide with secrets and betrayal. It’s a witty, emotional tale about love, secrets, betrayal and family—the one we’re born into and the one we choose—and the lengths we'll go to for both. We’re so glad for the opportunity to speak with Susan about her career and her latest beach read.

Your new novel asks the question “what would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?” That’s a tiny bit of what the book is about. Tell us more. And then, our favorite question here at Friends & Fiction, what is the book really about?
At its heart, Beach Vibes is about the way that friendship makes life richer, more meaningful, and happier. It’s about how much beauty true friends bring into our lives. These themes come through in an emotional and uplifting way, through the story of Beth and Jana’s new and somewhat fragile friendship.

When Beach Vibes starts, Beth discovers that her ex-husband is engaged, and it shakes her to her core. Not because she’s still in love with him, but because while looking through his Instagram photos, she realizes that she lost much more than just a husband in the divorce. She lost her community. She was a part of his big family. . . and then she wasn’t. Her friends were the wives of his friends, and when they divorced, she found out that she was the friend-in-law. She lost them, too. So she’s feeling disconnected. Untethered.

Don’t get me wrong, she’s far from pathetic—she has a thriving business. Her customers and employees love her. She lives with her loving aunt, and she’s close to her brother. But she no longer has a social life, and she misses it, deeply.

That’s why her budding friendship with Jana is so important to her. Jana is a bright and very happy addition to her life. Jana makes Beth feel hopeful about the future, especially because Jana is dating Beth’s brother, and Beth falls hard and fast for Jana’s brother. Beth starts dreaming of a lifetime of holidays spent together, backyard barbecues, family vacations. . .

And THEN she finds out that her brother has another girlfriend. What does she do? Does she keep his secret or tell her friend?

Beach Vibes is a juicy slice-of-life story that will have you asking yourself what you would do. It’s relatable and funny and exasperating and hopeful, and it has the most satisfying ending that will affirm your faith in humanity. It’s perfect for book clubs because it feels so true to life and has so many interesting moral dilemmas to discuss.

This novel is set in glorious, sunny, sparkling Malibu. Now, we know you are a Pacific Northwest girl yourself. So, what arduous research did you have to do to bring this frothy beach setting alive on the page? Did you have to suffer for your art?
I’m a Pacific Northwest transplant. I grew up in LA, so it feels very natural to slip right back into California mode. That said, I did use this book as an excuse to take a research trip to Malibu. I desperately needed some Vitamin Sun in the short, wet days of a Seattle winter.

And it. Was. Glorious. Driving along the coast with the windows open and the light dancing on the water immediately lifts the spirits. I hope I was able to capture that ebullient feeling in Beach Vibes.

On a personal note, one of my main priorities whenever I visit California is to get a burger from In N Out. The ultimate comfort food! If someone could please open an In N Out in Seattle, I’d be eternally grateful.

Let’s talk about your characters. Beth runs Surf Sandwiches, a Malibu beach shop. Her brother Rick rose through the foster care system to become a surgeon. What were your inspirations for each of these main characters? While Beth is proud of the business she created, she realizes that while she makes subs, her brother saves lives. Talk to us about this sibling dynamic and why it is important to the plot.
The inspiration for Beach Vibes started with the central question of the story: what would you do if your brother cheated on your best friend? Fiction works best when the stakes are high, so I wanted Beth and Rick to be as close as siblings can be.

Beth adores her little brother. When their mom was alive, they protected each other from her volatility. After she died, they were put into separate foster homes, until their aunt and uncle rescued them. (There’s a lot more to that story, which you’ll discover in the book.) This made Beth even more protective of Rick.

Beth was so proud of her brilliant little brother that she set aside her own dreams to put him through medical school and surgical residency. Even now that he’s a successful doctor, she looks out for him.

When she finds out that he’s cheating on her best friend, the shock she feels is visceral. Her perfect little brother isn’t the man she thought he was. It makes her question everything. She always thought she would do absolutely anything for him. . . but will she lie?

Beth is feeling fragile and lonely after her divorce since many of her friends chose her ex. When she meets Jana, instant friendship sparks fly, and their meaningful connection makes Beth grateful and hopeful. We all know it’s sometimes not so easy to form deep bonds of friendship in our adulthood. Why did you want to explore this theme of a mature female friendship?
It’s hard to make new friends as an adult because we’re all so busy and entrenched in our own routines. When we connect with someone new—laugh at the same jokes, love the same books, enjoy the same hobbies—it can feel magical.

Being interconnected in a community is a primal need, perhaps especially for women. We feel safer and more complete when we have a strong support system around us, be it family of origin or family by choice. I think readers love stories that make them feel this connection through the characters.

This novel explores universal themes of betrayal, family bonds, and loyalty. Why are you drawn to these topics as an author? And why do you think readers find stories like these so appealing?
“Finding family” is a recurring theme in my books, and I think it’s one my readers respond to. For my part, I think the reason I’m drawn to it is because I’m an only child. From the time I was young, I yearned for more connection. Happily, I’ve found that now, but I still love to explore the many ways that a person can create a family of choice. Readers who yearn for connections can experience them in my stories.

Susan, you are so prolific. How do you do it? What is your writing process like? You must be incredibly organized to publish as many books as you do. Are you a dedicated outliner? I can’t imagine you could fly by the seat of your pants and still stick to your impressive publication schedule!
There’s a plotting/pantsing (writing by the seat of one’s pants) spectrum, and I’m on the extreme plotting end of it. While I’m writing a book, I’m also thinking about upcoming books, usually with 2-3 ideas in the pipeline. After an idea has been approved by my editor, I think on and off about the characters for a few months, in the afternoon after I’ve finished my pages for the day. I jot down some ideas, discard others, but it’s really more about getting a feel for the characters.

When I’m ready to plot the book, I write a scene in the point of view of one of the main characters, until that person comes to life in my head. I can hear their voice, feel their emotions. Then I stop writing and plot their story, scene by scene. Then I do the same for the other point-of-view characters, who each get a full story arc. Then I print and cut apart those scenes and weave them together.

Essentially, it’s the world’s tiniest first draft. By working out all of the problems at the plotting stage, I free myself to relax into the story and immerse myself in the characters’ emotions in a way that I couldn’t if I were worried about writing myself into a corner. The characters still surprise and vex me, though. When that happens, I have to stop, and we renegotiate. Character comes first, so I can’t make them do something they wouldn’t do, just because it serves the story.

Susan, you’ve been a staple in the romance genre for eons. And you also publish what we’d deem straight-ahead women’s fiction. So, tell us. How do you define yourself? And how do you hope readers see you and your body of work? Do these genre labels matter much in the grand scheme of things?
The genre labels are really just a marketing tool to help readers discover books they’ll love. Readers are at the heart of every book I write. I want to write stories that they want to read, and so I try to focus my ideas on those that I think will appeal to my core audience. So sure, go ahead and call it women’s fiction and romance. I don’t find that insulting. I love women. Personally, though, I think a better label is “relationship fiction.” Every human relationship is unique and fascinating. If a mother has three daughters, her relationship with each daughter will be unique. At the same time, there is a universality and relatability to the mother/daughter bond.

I write stories that explore those relationships—family, friendship, romance—in all their nuances. No one is murdered, no one goes to space, no one saves the world. I’m not denigrating mysteries or sci-fis or thrillers in the least, but I think relationship fiction can be just as exciting and much more relatable to our daily lives. And I’ll never run out of story ideas because of the infinite variety in human relationships.

In addition to being incredibly prolific, you are also wildly successful—a #1 NYT bestseller with 40-million copies of your books sold worldwide. After so many books, do you still get nervous and excited at the dawn of a new publication?
I do still get nervous and excited—mostly nervous, and especially when a book pushed me as a writer, as Beach Vibes did. When I stretch myself, I worry about whether readers will feel the emotions that I felt so strongly while writing. Those are almost always the books that readers love the most.

Readers adore the many quirky animal characters you’ve featured in your novels. Can you tell us a bit about your passion for animal welfare?
I adore animals! I love that each animal has a unique personality, which makes them so fun to meet. Not just dogs and cats—my giraffe boyfriend’s name is Dave. In my personal life, I’ve been a longtime supporter of animal charities such as Seattle Humane and the Woodland Park Zoo. Professionally, I think the way we treat animals when no one is looking says a lot about who we are, so I include animals as a tool for characterization. (Plus, they’re just plain fun to write.)

What are you working on now? What can readers expect next from Susan Mallery?
Next up will be Otherwise Engaged in November, the story of two young women who discover they are connected in a most unusual way: Victoria’s mom Ava almost adopted Shannon, but then Shannon’s mom changed her mind at the very last second, breaking Ava’s heart and making her unable to fully open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. (Does that make sense? I need to work on my elevator pitch.) It’s a fascinating look at how something that happened 25 years ago can still resonate today. I loved every minute of writing it.

I’m working on the first book of 2026, but since we haven’t announced a title or release date yet, I’ll tease you with two words: Bookstore. Sisters.

How can our community connect with you—both online and in-person if you’re touring in the near future?
If you’d like me to email you when I release a new book or when I’m doing a signing in your area, sign up for my free newsletter at www.susanmallery.com/join-mailing-list.php. Becoming a Member gives you access to all of the freebies and bonus content inside the members section of my website, too. Recipes, exclusive short stories, character family trees. . . and lots more.

On socials, I’m @susanmallery pretty much everywhere. Come say hi!

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About the Author

SUSAN MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations," and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier place to live. She’s passionate about animal welfare, which shows in the many quirky animal characters she has created.

Susan grew up in California and now lives in Seattle with her husband and adorable poodle. Find her online at SusanMallery.com.

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About the Book

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about love, secrets, betrayal and the family we're born into--and the one we choose for ourselves, perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Mary Kay Andrews.

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 through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Life 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, New York Times bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop.

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