Just Beachy
Published on: June 3, 2025
Just Beachy by Wendy Wax is a delightful and breezy summer read that blends humor, heart, and a bit of mystery. It's a fast-paced story with plenty going on, yet it never feels overwhelming. With a mix of romance, generational friendships, and a dash of crime-solving, this book feels like a warm, sunlit getaway wrapped in the pages of a novel.
The story follows Sydney Ryan, an actress who finds herself unexpectedly out of a job after her long-running TV show, Murder 101, comes to an end. Craving a break from Hollywood and all its politics, she heads to Treasure Island, Florida, to visit her grandmother. What was meant to be a temporary escape quickly turns into something more complicated. Her grandmother has bought a house in the vibrant community of Casas de Flores and is deeply involved in helping a neighbor open a bookstore. And then the break-ins start.
As Sydney begins to suspect that her grandmother isn’t telling her the full story, she teams up with the beloved Ten Beach Road crew and Luke, a local police officer who just so happens to be her high school crush. With a little help from her TV crime-solving background and some undeniable chemistry with Luke, Sydney finds herself drawn into both a mystery and the possibility of a new life she never expected.
This book is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a romantic twist. It’s quick, engaging, and full of heart. The witty dialogue and beach-town charm make it a great choice for reading by the pool, on a rainy afternoon, or during a sunny weekend escape. If you’ve missed Wendy Wax’s storytelling, this one will remind you why her books feel like a conversation with a good friend.
Just Beachy releases on June 3, and it’s definitely worth adding to your summer reading list.
About the Author
Wendy Wax
Wendy Wax writes novels that beautifully explore themes of friendship, self-discovery, and life’s many challenges, all sprinkled with a warm touch of humor. She takes pride in all her books, but she’s perhaps best known for her “Ten Beach Road” series, which includes the USA Today bestsellers Ten Beach Road and The House on Mermaid Point. Another favorite among readers is While We Were Watching Downton Abbey.
Wendy was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and grew up on St. Pete Beach, just a stone’s throw from the Gulf of Mexico. She attended Sunshine Elementary School, where recess and art classes often happened right on the beach. One of the most memorable events each year was the annual fish broil, a tradition that surely added to the laid-back charm of her childhood.
Despite this easygoing environment, Wendy admits she has a type-A streak. She was so determined to read before starting school that she convinced a neighbor to teach her at age five and she hasn’t stopped reading since. Books have always been one of her greatest joys and the perfect form of escape, profoundly shaping her life.
Wendy went on to study at the University of Georgia, inspired by her many readings of Gone with the Wind. She re-read Margaret Mitchell’s classic almost every year, caught the movie whenever it played nearby, and could even recite large parts from memory. Today, she has a growing collection of Gone with the Wind memorabilia and treasures the experience of speaking at the Margaret Mitchell House.
Before fully dedicating herself to writing, Wendy worked in radio, television, and film. Like Olivia in 7 Days and Seven Nights, she has experience with live talk radio. In the 1980s, she hosted a show called Desperate & Dateless. While she never had the extreme experience of being locked in an apartment with a webcam running, as Olivia did, she did find love. Her husband, who works as a financial consultant, understands the practical side of life and is quite different from the fictional Matt Ransom. Wendy and her husband live in Atlanta with their two sons.
| Book Title | Just Beachy |
|---|---|
| Author | Wendy Wax |
| ISBN | |
| Book Language | English |
| Book Format | Ebook, Paperback, Hardcover |
| Date Published | June 3, 2025 |
| Publisher | Berkley |
| Awards | None |
| Pages | 304 |
| Tags | Summer Summer Reads |
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