Reckless Girls is a cast of random people who get together on a deserted island with a sketchy history. What could go wrong? (said with copious amounts of sarcasm). Of course there's drinking, drugs, lies, cheating and a whole lot of secrets.

Reckless girls left me with mixed emotions. The story wasn't horrible, it was intriguing, but I hated every single character on a deep level, the entire book. Every single one of them was unreliable, and honestly the amount of secrets and poor decision making each one harbored made the story flow, and opened the book up for a lot, but I just felt like every time there was a build up in action it would fall flat. And the ending just seemed messy. I felt like this story could have gone in a lot of directions, and honestly I didn't see it ending the way it did, I was taken by surprise by that.

I enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful and had good characters. Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity.

Lux McAllister lost everything she ever cared about when her mom passed away. Floating along in a bit of a depression, a cute guy shows up while she's working and she develops a little crush. The guy, Nico, comes back in repeatedly to see Lux and finally gets brave enough to ask her out. Nico regales her with his dreams of restoring his boat and sailing around the world. Oh a whim, Lux decides to travel to Hawaii with Nico, where she ends up working a job she does not enjoy while Nico works at the marina and tries to repair his boat.

Presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, Nico is hired by two friend to sail his boat to a remote island in the South Pacific. Nico readily agrees, so long as Lux gets to accompany them, and the women quickly agree. The island is know for a tragedy that involved shipwreck, cannibalism and possibly murder! While beautiful, Meroe Island is every bit creepy, especially as another boat is found docked on the island where they didn't anticipate others to be.

I have mixed feelings about this book, though I enjoyed it overall. I felt like I need something more than the wrap up in the last few dozen pages.

4 out of 5 stars.

Chefs kiss 💋 no notes

Okay, but for real... this book was SO GOOD. I have been in a bit of a reading rut with thrillers lately (they've all felt the same & boring) and Reckless Girls reminded me why I do love this genre. This book was a wild ride... filled with thrills and intrigue. The whole deserted island was the perfect setting and at times felt vaguely reminiscent of The Beach {the movie, still haven't read that yet 🤦‍♀️} and that whole "leave the world behind but don't screw it up" vibe. I loved the twists and didn't see all of them coming, which was nice. I really enjoyed how the other letters and notes from other island visitors were scattered throughout the novel, bringing even more interest and engagement to the entire book. I read this book in one swoop, and it was fantastic.

Honestly, I don't know how I slept on this novel for so long - it's been in my TBR since its release a few years ago. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book! I finished this one in 3 days. It held my interest and I desperately wanted to figure out what the heck was going on with this island!! I did not see it coming the way it all played out and in the end I was happy with the plot twist. I did get a little emotional and some of the things the characters did made me mad, but I understand the why. I will continue to read books by Rachel Hawkins and recommend them to my friends and patrons. Thank you again!

This is one of those books where everyone is making bad decisions from the get go so you KNOW it won’t end well. I kind of wanted a stronger ending for Lux but if the goal was for me to be stressed and curious the whole time. It worked!!

I value the opportunity I was given to read this in advance, but it has been three years and I still haven't read this. With so many books ahead of me, I cannot return to this title.

This book wasn’t quite for me. The premise and setting initially pulled me in—it had all the makings of a great, atmospheric read—but I didn’t enjoy the whole journey.

One thing that stood out was the frequent use of the f-word. Oddly enough, I can watch movies where it’s used, but reading it feels unnecessary and always takes me out of the story. Timing might have been a factor as well, but when I realized I wasn’t feeling it, I decided to move on. While I can see how this could work for fans of slow-burning suspense and isolated settings, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

A fun and crazy travel thriller set in a tropical island. Dual timeline, multiple POVs. It kept me on my toes and had a crazy ending. Some stuff was predictable, but it was still a fun beach read thriller!

I really love Rachel Hawkins, and I also loved this novel, Reckless Girls. While the novel had a lot going on (shady characters, questionable relationships and friendships, etc., I found myself not truly liking or rooting for any of the characters, which is why this novel wasn't my favorite of her works. Overall, a fun, solid, and fast read. I look forward to reading more novels by Hawkins in the future.

Reckless Girls* is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that takes readers on a dark and suspenseful adventure, blending tropical escapism with mounting tension. Set on a remote Pacific island, this novel weaves together mystery, psychological drama, and secrets.

The island itself feels alive with its eerie beauty and dangerous allure, amplifying the suspense and the characters’ growing unease. The tension is palpable as the group's relationships begin to fray, and secrets—both about the island and the people on it—slowly come to light. While the characters are intriguing and the interactions between the characters are taut with tension, the drama is a slow burn.

If you are a fan of island-set mysteries. Rachel Hawkins delivers a sharp story with deceit, and danger for readers who enjoy stories about paradise gone wrong.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins is a sun-soaked thriller that drops readers into a seemingly idyllic tropical paradise before unraveling into a sinister, suspenseful ride. The novel follows Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, who are hired to sail two glamorous young women to the remote and mysterious Meroe Island. What begins as a carefree getaway soon becomes a psychological game of secrets, lies, and danger.

The slow burn of the first half is engaging, but the second half, where the real action unfolds, sometimes feels rushed and predictable. Some twists don’t quite land with the impact they could have, as particular character motivations feel underdeveloped or too convenient.

That said, Reckless Girls still delivers an enjoyable, escapist read for fans of beachy thrillers with darker undertones. It’s a fun and atmospheric ride, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing. If you’re looking for a quick, twisty read with glamorous characters and a creepy island setting, this book offers plenty to satisfy.

It reminded me in some ways (island setting; thriller; young beautiful characters) of One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware, which I also recently read.

I cannot read anything else about rich people behaving badly. It’s just not a trope that works for me.

Rachel Hawkins is such a great writer! I really enjoyed this thriller! Lots of great twists, but also lots of trigger warnings so check those if needed.

Very meh and forgettable. Nothing that stands out from this one. Not a compelling read- I skimmed a lot of it. The ending was also a little unbelievable. Bleh.

Archived prior to being able to read the book. Lost interest in trying to pick it up. I was originally interested but as it sat in my library, I did not feel the summary grabbed my attention anymore.

In RECKLESS GIRLS, Rachel Hawkins has developed a small island into a playground for those looking to escape their everyday lives and problems. The island becomes a character in the story as these young adults didn't realize they asked for an escape and they got one. No phones, no email, no outside connections at all. Then Hawkins begins to stir the back stories of the characters to keep the story twisting to the point that the reader has no chance of fihuring out the killer. The story quickly moves from a party atmosphere to a fight for survival. As it races to a conclusion that will leave you speechless......well, you need to read the book!

Thank you so much for this ARC! I've picked up this book a few times and was never able to get through it. Not sure if it was the setting or the slow start. However, two years after its release date, I just finished listening to the audio book and it was great! The story captured me right away and was laugh out loud funny at some parts. The accents were fun and the characters were interesting. I would not say this is my favorite of Hawkins, but it was an enjoyable listen. A bit predictable with a slower build up, but the ending was fun and left it interesting.

I am a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins. I love her thrillers.

Reckless Girls did not disappoint. I loved the setting; being in a boat out in the middle of the open water is scary! I also loved the island vibes.

Although this wasn't as good as The Wife Uostairs, it was still a fun thriller!

I absolutely adored this book! I love it. Definitely 10/10. The writing was easy to follow. The story was paced great it kept me wanting to continue reading.
Lux and Nico live in Hawaii and they can’t to sail the ocean. Two girls Brittany and Amma ask Nico to sail them to a deserted island and pay him for it. While they are there 2 more people show up Jack and Eliza. What will happen on the island?