A deserted island and a trip of a lifetime? Yes please!

"Reckless Girls" begins with Lux, a unique character trying to figure out what to do with her life. She has a sad background but when she found her boyfriend Nico, she hoped that things would change.

When Nico meets two girls that want to sail out to Meroe Island, he decides to offer to take them so he can get some cash. He brings Lux along, who has reservations about sailing with two very pretty girls, but she's excited for the adventure.

What starts as a trip to a beautiful island soon turns into a nightmare. The group of four meets another couple on the island, and at first all seems tranquil. But when an unwanted stranger shows up, all bets are off.

This book had me guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the characters, although I did find Lux a little too willing to take the backseat at times. The setting of Meroe Island was really fun, the slow burn from great vacation to something more sinister really held my attention!

Definitely a fun read for this time of year, or maybe while on vacation.

The Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins is a gripping mystery that falters at the end. Although the characters are well-rounded, they can be hit or miss, and the prose is excellent. Unfortunately, the conclusion falls short and leaves you unsatisfied in some ways.

FINALLY! A female author who has written about a strong female protagonist that isn't an alcoholic, stupid or doesn't act like a complete doormat! Thank you for giving us Lux, a smart and strong woman. This was an incredibly fast read because the was entertaining, engaging and smart. It was a bit twisty, but honestly, I had most of it figured out long before the end. I didn't mind, though, because I was pleasantly entertained.

This review was also published on Goodreads.

“𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔, 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏, 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆, 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒑.”

My first book of 2022 was a wild fun bingeable read. After having really enjoyed Rachel Hawkins’ The Wife Upstairs last year, I knew I had to read Reckless Girls ASAP.

First of all, this cover is GORGEOUS. There’s something about it that really made me excited for the island setting of the majority of the book; Meroe Island became like a character itself, especially as our six characters had no one else to depend on but each other and their resourcefulness. The mounting tension felt like a tightening of a noose as secrets are revealed, and Hawkins’ writing draws you in. I also loved the vibes that were similar to And Then There Were None, both the island and the characters that all had secrets they were trying to hide. There were a couple clichés that I didn’t love (one reveal involving Nico in particular) and the last third of the book really amps up in terms of action, but it almost moves too fast - especially with a few plot holes.

Overall Reckless Girls is a fun escape-ist popcorn thriller perfect for the cold winter weather. I really like Rachel Hawkins’ writing and will definitely read her next book. A big thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC.

I just really enjoy Rachel Hawkins' writing. This time she has given you a story that draws you in and drags you along. Some twists and turns. I couldn't connect with all the characters but overall a decent read. My appreciation to NetGalley for a review copy..

This has all the elements of an Agatha Christie murder book. Deserted, remote island. Strangers thrown together who don’t know anything about the others and who they can trust. Starts off well, but quickly spirals into chaos. Loads of secrets, keeps you guessing until the end.

First book I've read by this author. It kept my interest if not a little predictable - it didn't seem entirely well rounded plot wise but I get what the author was going for.

I really enjoyed how this thriller builds. The characters are interesting, and it's easy to like many of them initially, especially Lux. And the flashbacks to the "Before" were engaging and provided more intrigue amongst the characters and their relationships. I also like that there weren't many characters because it allowed for more character development.

It's a slow burn, but because of the way the narrative fills in the blanks with each character's past and their relationships to each other, the suspense kept climbing and I was hooked. The plot is also intriguing, though it escalates quickly near the end—in a way I enjoyed, mind you—but this pacing makes it a little unbelievable. It's a good story, but there are also some plot holes and details that could have been filled in.

It's a rollercoaster of a thriller and I really enjoyed it overall!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A remote island full of rumors and secrets is what draws Lux, Nico, Brittany and Amma to sail there for an experience to remember. But they are not the only ones who want to explore this mysterious island. It seems everyone has a reason to be there and the people closest to you may be who you need to fear the most.

I thought this was a good read and at times a bit slow paced. Told with different POV's told from past to present, it's a mix of drama, mystery, suspense and twists. I really couldn't root for any of the characters because they were all suspicious, unlikeable and distrustful. But the story was intriguing and I love the ocean so the tropical island setting drew me in to the story. I look forward to reading more of Rachel's books in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was fast paced and suspenseful. As a reader, you were not sure who you could trust - which I kind of love in a thriller. I love trying to figure things out as I'm reading and I typically do. I did figure most of this one out, but there were a few surprises at the end. The characters were relatable even though they weren't exactly "moral". I also really loved the tropical setting. If you love psychological thrillers, you'll enjoy this one too!

This was a short, wild ride and my first book by Rachel Hawkins. And to keep it simple, I really liked it. I didn’t even read the blurb before diving in so I had no idea what I was in for. Two girls vacationing in Hawaii hire Lux and her boyfriend to take them to a deserted island that’s rumored to have a dark past. When they get to the island they find two other people there and Lux instantly hits it off with them but soon discovers secrets everywhere.
It wasn’t scary but it was thrilling and so fast paced with twists and turns. It’s told in a split timeline. The past is told from different POVs but the present is told from only Lux’s POVs. Definitely dive into this one.

Wow, what a ride! I love Rachel Hawkins writing. She has a way of drawing you in from the very first sentence and keeping you intrigued until the end!

Reckless Girls was a super fun, quick read that kept me guessing throughout the book. the ending was wild and I didn't see it coming!

Would absolutely recommend if you enjoyed her other books!

This was a fast read that I could not put down! It’s hard to find a book that keeps the momentum, and this one did. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley

Was a fun thriller , but there were aspects of the story/plot that I found a little questionable and far fetched. Would recommend for a quick entertaining read.

Reckless Girls is not my usual fare, but Rachel Hawkins’ novel did not disappoint. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys that slow descent into madness, where even you begin to question everyone’s motivations, then this book is for you.

There was a lot to enjoy in this book, but as strange as it may be, I loved Lux and Nico the most. Not because I found them #couplegoals but because I wanted to see how long Nico could convince Lux that he was what she wanted, and how long it would take Lux to realize she was just going through the motions. Nico’s subtle digs and Lux’s rationalizations kept me hooked because these kinds of relationships are all too real, and Rachel Hawkins paints that picture with astounding ease.

And that's not even to mention Brittany, Amma, Eliza, and Jake. If two’s company and three’s a crowd, then six is a disaster waiting to happen. The building of all these characters is helped along by chapters set in the “Before.” Not only do we see how Lux and Nico first met, but we also get glimpses of their relationship leading up to the start of the book. Then Brittany and Amma’s perspectives are added in, and eventually, so is Eliza’s. It paints a full picture of the entire ensemble, pushing us ever closer to the answers we seek in the “Now.”

Much of Reckless Girls is a slow windup to an explosive end, but instead of feeling bored or anxious about what was to come, I found myself settling in deeper and deeper with every page, wondering when the ticking timebomb would go off. And when it finally did? Oh, it was worth it.

Pretty good! This was my first read by Hawkins. I enjoyed the story but thought more could have happened... it didn't thrill me enough!

I enjoyed this book. It did get a little confusing going back and forth. I had to really pay attention. Overall it was enjoyable and a good book. I would definitely recommend this book.

Lux has been waiting for her life to begin since her mother died of cancer. Amidst her grief, she begins dating Nico, a gorgeous albeit flighty sailor, and the pair move to Hawaii to “have adventures.” The problem is that they’re broke. Enter Amma and Brittany, young women who SAY they’re best friends, but something about their story doesn’t add up. The girls hire Lux and Nico to take them to remote Meroe Island in the Pacific, an island with a sinister history of shipwrecks, disappearances, and possibly cannibalism. When the group arrives at Meroe, they find Eliza and Jake, a beautiful wealthy couple who don’t seem to have a reason for being there. Six hot people who are basically strangers on a remote island with no cell service and dwindling fresh water supply… what could go wrong?

This book is marketed as a thriller, but I believe “suspense novel” would be a better descriptor. There’s an eerie feeling pervading most of the story and the reader is left questioning a lot of characters’ motives, but it does not have the pacing of a thriller. Over half of this novel is mostly character driven and pretty slow-burn. For the last 20% the pace picks up almost suddenly and all of the reader’s questions are answered in the typical thriller “big reveal” twist at the very end.

I was interested in this book because I loved Hawkins’ last book, The Wife Upstairs, which remains my preference of the two. Reckless Girls was good (not great), but the perfect quick book to read between longer or more emotionally heavy reads. That is how I read it, and I enjoyed that experience. I would recommend this to someone looking for a beach read or if you generally like the whole “pretty people with secrets who behave recklessly” thing. If you’re interested in reading Hawkins, definitely go with The Wife Upstairs first!

My rating: 3 stars

Thank you to Negalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

An actual closed circle mystery! I loved the setting of the island and slowly getting the back story on all of the characters.

I am a total sucker for all things Rachel Hawkins and this book had me intrigued from the cover! Absolutely beautiful and tropical and perfect. But with all things Hawkins, there had to be a dark twist in the scenic island setting. This book literally contained many of my nightmares: traveling to remote places, random strangers, being on a boat during a storm where I could possibly be thrown over, and being in a jungle without phones or connection to society. I loved the layout of this book-- from the pasts of all the characters to the current situation on Meroe Island! I started and finished this book in ONE DAY-- definitely stayed up too late past my bedtime-- but I HAD to know how it ended!! The ending was a bit far fetched for me to truly enjoy, but I did feel there was a conclusion to it all, albeit a little far out.