The Wife Upstairs was a five-star read for me. I was excited to read Rachel's book Reckless Girls. I loved Reckless Girls even more.

Pay close attention to the characters Brittany and Amma. I was getting some of their details confused. The backstory plays into the ending.

I liked the audiobook reader. However, it would have helped to have more of a difference between the characters.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

I was really excited for this one but after finishing it I thought it was just ok. I read this authors previous work The Wife Upstairs, and I remember a similar feeling.

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator did a good job telling the story.

Lux takes the ultimate leap of faith following het boyfriend Nico to Hawaii. The glittering promises of sun, sand, and adventure are quickly washed away with the tide. When Lux is fired from her job, Nico accepts a job to sail two women to a mysterious Meroe island. Lux is quickly on board, figuratively and literally. College besties Amma and Brittany are ready as well for an adventure, though their reasons may be for questionable.

The backdrop of a paradise setting, Meroe Island has a haunted history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and murder. When they wash up on the Island the group notices a boat is already anchored. I thought this place was a secret? The new couple Jake and Eliza scream rich sophistication. Everything seems like the trip of a lifetime until the arrival of a sketchy stranger. This event rocks the boat of their perfect trip. As the secrets start spilling, it seems they have not been as honest with one another as they thought. Things escalate from there.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

We meet lux, who follows a guy to Hawaii, who promised her that he will take her on adventures around the world where ever she wants to go, how ever doesn’t end up that way. Nikola, lux boyfriend meets two girls, amms and brittney who want to go to Meroe island, in the South Pacific. Lux and her boyfriend agree, however this island gives off bad juju and legend has it that only bad out comes happen. When they arrange they meet two other who have anchored there as well, drinking and exploring become a daily thing to this 6 people till a random stranger comes to join the party and things start to get really strange… maybe the bad juju is really after all!

This book was great! I loved it was a sense of exploration and a good mystery it’s set in two different times the before and present and thy go together really well! Listen to the audiobook in one day! Recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This review is my honest opinion and recommend to everyone!

Six strangers together on a deserted island for two weeks that is clouded in mystery? What started off as a fun party quickly turned sideways. The book gave off vibes of the show Lost, which I was a big fan, and made me long for a less sinister tropical get away.

Reckless Girls by @ladyhawkins is a book that I couldn’t put down once I picked it up! It’s a suspense book that kept me guessing up until the end. There’s romance. There are new friendships. There’s that one creepy guy. The character development is captivating and really gets you thinking about which person is going to turn on the others.

If you like listening to suspense books, you’re in luck! I went back and forth between the egalley and audiobook (@macmillianaudio). You can’t go wrong with either!

4.5 stars – Rounding to 5 for Goodreads

Pub Dare: January 4, 2022

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

While this was the kind of thriller with the twists and turns we love to see, some of them were a little too twisty and turny for me while others were disappointingly predictable.

Lux is aimless after the death of her mother and jumps at the chance to travel with the dreamy Nico but when they end up in a rut in Hawaii she thinks this makeshift dream is over. Until they are given the opportunity to Shepard two young women to a remote desert island that’s not as deserted as they thought. There they meet up with two other travelers and begin to enjoy what seems to be a dream vacation until a 7th creepy guy shows up then all hell breaks loose.

I felt the claustrophobic tone throughout the book and Hawkins is good and building a tense atmosphere but the characters were at best unlikeable and at worst you wanted them to get swallowed whole by the island itself.

The first half of the book you could feel the tension building and then the introduction of Robbie sends things off the rails. So many bizarre connections and disconnections. Triggering behaviors and unbelievable plot holes.

There is a rule with writing that says you don’t introduce a gun in act 1 if you aren't going to use it in act 2. I feel like Hawkins fell victim to that a bit. Some of the events in the first half just seem superfluous. And then other things seemed like they needed a bit more explaining.

While I enjoy her writing style and she has a way of setting mood, this was a bit of a miss for me.

3 1/2 stars...but I couldn't stop reading it...so bump it up to 4 stars....

Reckless Girls is one of those books that I would compare to a train wreck. You know you shouldn't look, but you just can't help yourself. It started out strong, but as the story progresses, the plot limps along somewhat. In addition, the characters are all unlikable people.. Not one single person was worth "rooting for" in this book. When I don't even like or respect the main character, it's a struggle to connect with the storyline.

The story follows Lux and her boyfriend, Nico as they take off for a deserted island with two young women that hired them. The island is not only remote, it has a history of murder and mayhem. Once they arrive there, nothing seems to be what they expected. The paradise it appears to be initially may be an illusion. The island ends up feeling very sinister and dangerous.

Other characters are added, along with several twists and turns that are blended into the storyline. Again, I wasn't fond of these characters or the direction the story went in....but I couldn't stop reading. As the story approached the end, I truly was disappointed. I found the ending to not only be far-fetched, but also somewhat excessive. Again, it's only my opinion. Many readers may enjoy each and every word of this book. I was too busy overanalyzing certain aspects of it. That said, it did keep my interest....that's definitely worth something.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I was wishy washy with the book. However, the audiobook truly redeems this story. The narration was spot on perfect, in my opinion. It not only draws you into the story, you stay entrenched in it. This narrator had such a smooth way of transitioning between characters and events that the story flowed seamlessly. I would rate the audio with 4 1/2 stars.

Lux and Nico have big plans to travel the world, but don’t have the means to get their sail boat back up and running. That is until Amma and Brittany offer a chance for them to travel by sailing the girls out to a private island for a hefty pay. The trip almost seems too good to be true, but several days into the trip a newcomer brings about change and the true colors of all the travelers gradually start to surface.

Reckless Girls slowly builds suspense. Set with a paradise island getaway the atmosphere created this perfect ominous undertone. I found myself expecting something sinister to happen with every new chapter, and it just kept building. The few “before” chapters gave a glimpse into the background of several characters, truly added to the tone and slowly revealed true motives and lies that they were harboring.

The audiobook narrator had a smooth voice that added just enough of a shift for each character. It created an enjoyable listening experience and allowed a reader to follow the various characters and flashbacks with ease.

This Agatha Christie-esque thriller will keep a reader guessing and add a new element of paradise turned horror trip.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for offering an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

It isn’t often I read books filled with questionable/unlikeable characters. That’s one of the many reasons Reckless Girls felt fresh and real. If you’re in need of a book you can easily binge, this is the one.

I love complicated relationships, especially when it’s between women. Between Lux, Amma, and Brittany, there’s a lot going on. The story is told in alternating time periods with the present focusing on Lux, and the past chapters focusing on some of our supporting characters. It was interesting to see the build up - it’s a delicious mix of vulnerability and power seeking amongst women trying to find their footing in the world.

I think I can safely say we all love when a setting is a character in its own right and Meroe Island was just that. Filled with tales of cannibalism, murder and more, it’s a floating nightmare disguised as paradise. No better place for long-buried secrets to be unearthed, right?

I listened to this on audio and was instantly along for the ride. It’s one of those books where you don’t think too far ahead to try and figure things out. I had no idea where it was going and constantly found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t listening. Which is when I figured out one small twist (it was fun to see whether or not I was right). But I had 0 idea how it would end and while I would love for it to have been slightly different, I’m still content with how things were left.

I think fans of The Wife Upstairs and those looking for a concept that hasn’t been overdone and feels like it could really happen will enjoy Reckless Girls.

Unfortunately, the narration of this one wasn’t successful for me. I found the voices to be confusing, and it felt like the narrator was trying to portray an entire cast with different voices. I found it especially didn’t fit the male characters and as an avid audiobook listener, it was hard to distinguish between the girls. The story fell a bit flat for me, even with the big reveal. Thank you for the opportunity to listen.

4.75 stars, thank you Netgalley to review this audiobook. I was pulled in right from the start to this fast paced thriller, especially towards the end. Like I usually do, I don't look at the overall reviews before I read or listen to a book since I do not want to be influenced by others.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest suspense novel by Rachel Hawkins - 4 stars!

Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, have been hired by two young women, Amma and Brittany, to sail them to a remote island in the South Pacific - one that has a history attached to it. Nico can't turn down the money the women offer him and Lux is looking forward to an off-the-grid vacation from their life in Maui. Arriving at Meroe Island, they discover they aren't alone - another couple is there, Jake and Eliza - a seemingly golden couple with lots of money and a boatful of good food and alcohol. The six become tight and enjoy an endless party, until a stranger sails into their life. Suddenly the island, and all its inhabitants, aren't so golden any longer.

This was a great escape novel - especially when you're reading it in the cold winter. It's very atmospheric and you can feel the suspense and tension building. You will definitely find out that not all of the characters are who they seem and that they all have secrets. Those secrets will all come crashing down - and that ending was a surprise!

I alternated reading the digital copy and listening to the wonderful narration by Barrie Kreinik - she masterfully voiced all these different characters with different accents and genders. Bravo!

#RecklessGirls:

Reckless Girls had the potentional to give me Agatha Christie in 2022, but sadly missed the mark. I was hoping for a more “And Then There Were None” locked room mystery, and it did start to give off a bit of that air, which is why I added this to my review. But, this just wasn’t my favorite from Rachel Hawkins.

What is so great is that there is a lot of deception. Lies on top of lies on top of lies. However, there were so many names and pseudonyms that I didn’t really know who was who, or pretending to be who.

The narration flowed seamlessly. Barrie Kreinik (who has done some of my favorite reading) really had me in the beginning. Bobbing along listening while I was shopping, I had to pause it to check out. I looked down snd realized, holy crap. I’m already 60% in and nothing really happened?

There are some plot holes that I just couldn’t overlook. I was more interested in that info than the actual story at play. Everyone in this book is trash. That’s okay though. I had no one to cheer for, and that’s fine. But, Lux girl, you own the damn boat on paper. Girl, legally it’s yours. I don’t care what Nico says. Not his boat boo. I actually yelled this in frustration in the pick up area at Lush so I had to get it off my chest.

I do love a short read that packs a major punch. This started off strong and I was ready to be knocked TF out by Hawkins writing that usually has me with hearts and stars in my eyes. This time, I just kind of felt unfulfilled and that maybe I was missing a chapter or three.

Overall, a quick and fun popcorn read. The narration is fantastic, but it quickly turns into a book filled with promise, and that’s it. Thank you MacMillan for the gifted copy!

Reckless Girls is a thrilling and suspenseful read that had me guessing the whole time. When Lux and her boyfriend agree to take a pair of college besties to a deserted island with a deadly history things quickly get messy. It turns out that the island is not the only one with a burdensome past. It gives the feel of Lord of Flies but more grown up and much more creepy. Overall this was a very entertaining read but be prepared for darkness.

Reckless Girls is the new thriller by Rachel Hawkins, author of The Wife Upstairs. A fast-paced read that blends the luxury of boat/island living with the fear of a killer in your midst.

Publication Date: January 4, 2022

Synopsis:
Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific. Meroe Island is the paradise they expected, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for Lux who is stuck in a dead-end job on Hawaii and no family. Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah, a boat her boyfriend Nico signed away to her, and set out on an adventure. She also becomes fast friends with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape. Once on Meroe island secrets come out and mysterious events start to happen. What is really going on on Meroe Island?

Thoughts
I loved the tropical feel of the setting, especially reading it in the wintertime.

The story line jumps from the present to the past to give background information on the characters. Since the characters were interesting, I looked forward to the "Before" chapters.

A few twists and turns, not as many as I typically read in a thriller.

The ending wrapped up brining everything together, even if I wasn't too happy with the way things ended.

The narrator was fantastic and I loved the way she brought the book to life!

Overall, a great read that I would recommend to others.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lux and Nico are a young couple in need of a change after an unfulfilling job and personal tragedy. The two find what seems like the perfect opportunity to get away and change things up. The couple is hired to sail two friends Brittney and Amma to the remote island of Meroe in the South Pacific. Expecting to be there alone they are surprised to find another boat there as well. Soon (4) becomes (6) as Jake and Eliza, who appear to be not only wealthy but quite interesting and welcoming as well. Before long the reality of their isolation sets in as does a feeling of desperation. Soon (6) become (4) and the reader is left wondering who to trust and whether there is someone else lurking in the remote jungle?

This was one of those thrillers that started out slow and I began to think this might not be for me. Barrie Kreinik is a great narrator though so I persisted. Soon as we begin to get insight into each character's secrets and past the story became more interesting. I began to get the feeling that one or more of the players could not be trusted. I loved the remote island setting. The story of told from the POV of Lux in the present and flashbacks to the past of all of the characters as well. The short chapters and the way the story was told held my interest once it got going. My suspicions proved correct yet I still wondered a bit about motivation when all was said and done.

https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2021/12/book-reviews-matrix-lauren-groff-my-one.html

I was so excited to be able to read this one. I loved Rachel Hawkins other novel, The Wife Upstairs, and looked forward to seeing how the story would unfold in this story.

At first you fall in love with Lux and Nicos relationship. You want to run away and whisk yourself off to Hawaii to fall aboard their boat.
But as the story goes on and more unfolds on the island, you come to question Lux and how she justifies herself and her actions. However I do think that this is set up because the author invites you want to think of her as naive and create this picture before the big revel at the end.

I loved the flashbacks and backstory of Brittany and Emma and Jake and Chloe. I slowly started to pick up on how and why the backstories were put in and how they would come into play in the present storyline. I also loved the “historical” accounts that read through the story beforeany of the chapters.

Honestly, 80% of the way done I was ready to give up and walk away. However I am so glad I stayed through the end.
Again I loved The Wife Upstairs more, but this one was a fantastic womens mystery that felt like a beach read at the same time. Think The Lions Den meets The Disapering Act.

This book was a super fun and quick read. I devoured it in one day. The narration was superb and definitely enhanced my reading experience. However, I didn't love the ending, and I didn't this book as much as the author's last book. I will still read the author's next one though.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

I loved The Wife Upstairs when I read it last year. My guilty pleasures are twisty thrillers, especially as audiobooks. Reckless Girls does not disappoint! High suspense and interesting characters keep you guessing until the very end.

The luxurious voice of the narrator adds to the appeal of this novel. I would have liked a little more action on the high seas, or more deserted island drama, but messed up character dynamics are the primary appeal here. Recommended for lovers of twisty thrillers.

I listened to the audiobook version, and this narrator voice-acted the sh*t out of this--outstanding performance, and a definite highlight of the book overall.

I found the narrative to be not quite for me--the author successfully created an ominous vibe in this deserted-island tale, but I was never quite convinced of the treacherousness of the setting. Maybe it lacked subtlety--I might have needed a little more nuance around the characters and setting. But all in all, I found it lacking in the build-up of suspense. There were some twists at the end, but only one of them surprised me and overall I would have enjoyed more exposition around the twists than in the somewhat vanilla build-up to those. Admittedly this is also not the genre I most tend towards. I expect for folks who love thrillers, this will hit a lot of the right notes and you'll gobble it up.

Rachel Hawkins is back with another twisty thriller in Reckless Girls.

This book reminds readers that when things seem too good to be true, they probably are. Unmoored, when Lux and her boyfriend Nico are given the chance to take a pair of friends to remote Meroe Island on as a chartered boat service, it sounds like a good idea.

Initially upset to have another couple join, the foursome quickly bonds. But, the island has a dark history, and similar to Lord of the Flies, as time goes on, people will do desperate things when left in the wild.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.