This audiobook was absolutely fantastic, as was the story. While I felt like the plot is somewhat predictable (though there were a few little surprises I didn't see coming!), I ate this book up in under 24 hours. The setting was impeccable - a remote island off the coast of Hawaii that has a haunted past? Yes, PLEASE and thank you. It was such a fun book to read, and it was a perfect escape for anyone else who is sick of the cold weather. Pick this one up if you're in the mood for a fast read!

Reckless Girls is a fast paced read that kept the momentum from beginning to end. It's a twisted beach read meets haunted island thriller and no one is who they first appear.

The plot line is a little unbelievable at times but it kept might attention and was especially fun for a winter weekend read. If you enjoy plot lines with imperfect (and sometimes unlikeable) characters and plenty of suspense, this one might be for you as well!

I especially enjoyed this on audio as the narration was really well done and really helped bring this story to life.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my gifted copy.

The main character, Lux made one bad decision after another. It really bothered me that she never learned from her mistakes. This was a quick read that kept me turning the pages, but it was very predictable. The last third of the book lost my interest as things took many turns over bumpy paths that connected in a messy web. I did not like the ending as I was hoping for a more satisfying conclusion. The cover, however, is gorgeous, I do have to give it that.

Reckless Girls is the perfect escapist story to bring some heat to the cold winter months or makes a fantastic beach read. The storyline is a slow burn that is told with alternating timelines of the past and present. The present day setting is Meroe Island, a remote island in the South Pacific with a dark and scary past. The characters are flawed and as we learn more about their pasts we see why they are not very stable in their present day lives. Their time on the island reminds me of a of Gilligan's Island meets Lord of the Flies with a bit of heat.
This is a dark thriller with twists and turns that slowly builds to an unexpected ending. The audiobook is wonderfully done with narration by Barrie Kreinek. Her amazing narration bring life to the characters, especially Luxe, and helped keep me interested throughout the entire book.
I am extremely grateful to Netgalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to listen to an ARC in exchange for a honest review of the book.

This book was a blend of White Lotus meets white feminism. A couple of mysterious women lure tough and moody Lux and her golden retriever boyfriend to a mysterious island with a sordid past. On the island they meet rich strangers, trade couples, experience disorientation, revenge plots and murder. The Island is painted as the epicenter of all this strange behavior, but of course it’s human greed and manipulation that drive the actions of the characters, not the sandy beaches. Overall, it wasn’t a suspenseful thriller or a who-done-it, but some amalgamation of both that made a mediocre character like mopey, deceptive, and annoyingly whiny Lux the ultimate “feminist hero.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy!

I really liked the setting of this one. If you’re looking for a perfect book to bring in spring break, this is it. But while it was a fun time, I was looking for a little more depth.

This one started out exciting but kind of flopped at the midway point. Strangers turned fast friends hang out on a remote island, when all of a sudden a stranger no one trusts (for some reason?) "crashes the party", so to speak, and things aren't fun anymore. Idk man, I just...it had kind of a YA feel, like you know, maybe preteens would eat this up, but then there was profanity, so then, maybe not? Idk. I'm not sure why the stranger was immediately painted in a sketchy light right off the bat, I mean what if he was there to just hang out and explore, like you? That was the worst case of foreshadowing I've seen in a long time. I didn't enjoy the book, but I know others might. Overall I'll rate it 2.5 stars

Thanks netgalley for advancing me a copy of the audiobook so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
A special thanks to Macmiillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nico and his girlfriend Lux are stuck. Their boat is in need of some repairs and they are trying to raise the funds to set her right, when Nico runs in to 2 girls Amma and Brittany looking for adventure. They found this remote island called Meroe that’s off grid. After offering Nico a huge amount of money to take them there and repair his boat they develop a plan and set out.
After sailing to the island, they are settling in when Eliza and Jake show up in their boat to do the same, explore and drink on the beach.
As time moves on the group spends a lot of time together and forms fast friendships. But when a stranger arrives that no one knows or trust tensions rise. With the stress of being on a remote island, the group of 6 starts to crack under the pressure. It becomes clear that no one can trust anyone but themselves.
This book was pretty slow getting into but once you got moving things picked up pace quickly. I enjoyed the back-and-forth from present day to past events with each character in the past. This is one that’s going to stick in my head for a while!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins wasn't entirely my cup of tea. I'll rate it middle of the road... so not something I necessarily regret, but won't go out of my way to recommend to family and friends, especially if I know they have lengthy TBR lists already.
While it was a quick read with a locked room feel, which I enjoyed, the writing felt a little off and didn't quite seem to match the target audience. It almost had a YA feel to it and was peppered with profanity, which has it's place in some stories, but served no real purpose here. The setting was nice, and the pace was good.
It's a decent beach read, I suppose.
I preferred the audio version over the actual book, as the performance was quite enjoyable.

This is a fast paced fun read.
The characters are relatable.
I loved the twist & turns.
I am suggesting this book for my book club.

Reckless Girls will sweep you away, hopefully you are reading this on land and can’t be thrown overboard. This is the kind of book, that I suggest not to overthink much, just go on the wind blowing wild journey. You are sailing after all to a Remote island, that has a very sinister past, with rumors of murder and canibalism. So, when Nico and Lux, a young couple who own a boat decide to take two young women, Amma and Eliza over to Meroe Island, for an adventure, it seems the perfect thing to do. Remember you are reading a murder mystery, so everyone may not be exactly who they seem. Which just adds to the fun. Lux, narrates this book and she definitely has not had any fun in a long time. Her Mom has died of cancer and Nico seems the perfect boyfriend to take her away. First to Maui, and chartering this sail seems like such a great idea, as the women are offering a lot of money to do this. Then Lux will finally be able to travel with Nico as they planned. Will they get to live out their dream? Right on the first page, I learned some interesting facts, such as “Salt Water and Blood taste the Same....both are warm and tangy....both threaten to consume her”. So, it’s obvious someone is going to end up in the water, and is in danger of drowning, but who and why?

When Lux, Nico, Amma, and Brittany reach Meroe Island, another couple is already staying there. That is Eliza and Jack, who have a luxurious boat called the Azure Blue. So, right away I am swept up in their glamorous life; a beautiful young couple, endless bottles of wine, and fantastic food they share. Plus, Jack is smart enough to name his boat the Azure Blue, not The Susannah after his now ex-girlfriend like Nico. He’s just a more sophisticated guy, but will that be a problem?

Remember, this is an island with a dark and creepy past and these 6 may well be literally getting in over their head. They are surrounded by deep water and can not call for help. The group goes exploring and wants to find an air strip that Allied pilots used during WWII to refuel their planes. Yes, they find the small strip, but unfortunately Lux finds more. She finds a human skull. Nico, thinks this is fantastic, such a great addition to the adventure. Everyone, but Lux seems to agree. It’s an old skull, most likely from the war, so naturally Lux realizes she is overreacting to this discovery. This wouldn’t bother anyone, right? Nico finally agrees not to take the skull on the boat, so that helps calm things down. However, that’s just the first day. What could possibly go wrong? Many things are about to. Who is to be trusted and who is not, it’s best to just forget that and have a party. There is nothing a lot of liquor can’t solve after all.

You will eventually find out the whole messy story, with many twists and turns, lies, deception, and the book does not disappoint with it’s ending. This was such a fast paced, page turning book and I had the Audio Book, too, which enhanced the creepy and scary vibe all the more. I suggest if you go sailing to deserted islands, that you don’t go completely off the grid. Sometimes, cell phones really are a great invention. Enjoy your travels everyone. Pack light, but bring a few extras. 🥳👙🧳🌊⛵️⚓️🗺🏝💀🏴‍☠️ + 📲🔦⛏🔪🗡⚰️💉

I really enjoyed having the Audio Book. I thought the narrator, Barrie Kreinik did an excellent job with all the characters. It really added a lot to the book. Hearing parts of the story did give me a creepy feeling and a sense of doom coming. 🎧 Audio with a Book, I really enjoy. Thank you so much for providing both. I was listening late into the night, I just had to find out the ending.

Thank you NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the book and also 🎧 the audio book.

I was very much looking forward to the next book from this author of The Wife Upstairs. That book had an incredible twist that you didn't see coming and an ambiguous ending. I was left a bit disappointed by this book however, as I believe it doesn't quite pack the same punch as her previous offering. This is still and enjoyable read and a worthwhile experience.

🌸᥇ꪮꪮ𝕜 𝕣ꫀꪜⅈꫀ᭙🌸

Thank you @stmartinspress @netgalley for the gifted book of 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬 released Jan 4th 🌟🌟🌟🌟
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𝘼 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚, 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.
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“𝘐’𝘮 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧_𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳”
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This was a fun beach read mystery and it would be a perfect book to bring to any upcoming beach vacations you have planned.
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Going sailing to an isolated mysterious island for a couple weeks when you are in your twenties with your boyfriend and a group of 6 sounds ideal, however, when you are off grid you must watch your back.

Reckless Girls
Rachel Hawkins
Lux McAllister follows her boyfriend Nico to Hawaii. She gets a job as a maid in a hotel. The two of them have a dream of sailing around the world however, Nico’s boat is in the shop and they do not have the money to repair it until two women, Amma and Brittany, make him a lucrative offer. The two women want Nico and Lux to take them to Meroe Island. With the boat repaired they set sail for the private and secluded island. There are rumors about the island concerning cannibalism, traps, murder and shipwrecks. The four young adults bond during their journey. When they arrive at what is supposed to be a deserted island, they find someone already there. They all formed a quick bond until another boat shows up with an obnoxious guy onboard. Suddenly things go wrong.
Lux was the only character I came close to liking in this tale; I don’t think the author intended for readers to like the other characters. The story moves back and forth in time. There was a hint of suspense, and I knew something was going to go wrong. The last 100 pages were unsatisfying; I felt as if the author had lost sight of her vision for the plot and the ending proved it.

This is the perfect winter night audio book to listen too. It’s fast paced , a bit unbelievable but it’s intriguing enough to be unputdownable . I loved The Wife Upstairs and am excited to see this author’s next work.

I'm somewhere between 2.5 & 3 stars for this one. I loved the family upstairs, so I was really excited to read this. But, for most of it, I was kind of bored. There were parts that were really confusing (like all the emails) and there's one major plot twist toward the end that is the most confusing at all (not elaborating due to spoiler). None of the characters are likeable, which actually helps to move it toward the 3 star rating. You hate them all so much that you want to know what happens to all of them. I liked reading about their backstories and toward the end when it all starts unravelling, I was the most interested. But, then it ended, and I was left more confused. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Reckless Girls! Although it was a bit of a slow burn, it kept me interested and intrigued about the characters and their back stories. I did figure out some of the twists but only a few pages before the reveal. I didn't guess the ending but after reading it, I can see some of the clues that might have suggested it before the reveal. I really enjoyed the creepy, deserted island vibes the story gave off and the unreliable characters. I really liked how you got pieces of their backstories a little at a time and I found myself pausing my audiobook to think about what was revealed about whoever. I really recommend this to my thriller lovers and may I suggest reading it on a beach vacation? I know I'll be saving this on for my mom to read on vacation this summer!

I am… not a fan. Moral of the story: if you have a bad feeling about something DO NOT DO THAT THING. Literally so much could’ve been solved if people just followed their gut 🙄

The last 15% of this story is “at first this felt like a great idea and a wonderful place but now it’s awful and I hate it” like no shit. UGH can we just like not make every character in thrillers act so stupid and naive. And then do like a 180 and be cunning? Makes no sense to me

Lux McAllister is working as a waitress in San Diego when she meets the very handsome Nico. After a whirlwind romance, Nico is leaving for Hawaii and when he promises adventure, Lux jumps at the chance to go with him. Life happens and many set backs have led to Lux working as a hotel maid. Nico meets Brittany and Amma, college best friends, at work one day and they propose an offer he does not want to refuse. He informs Lux that the girls want to hire him to sail them somewhere "off the beaten path". Finally, the adventure Lux has been waiting for.

After going through a horrible storm the four finally reach their destination-Meroe Island. They arrive to find that they are not the only ones there. Another boat is anchored out and here they meet the beautiful couple-Jake and Eliza. They quickly become friends and settle in for a once in a lifetime adventure that they may or may not make it back from.

This story had my attention in the beginning but it started to lag for me in the middle. The setting-Meroe Island-was my favorite aspect of this story. Even with it being described as this beautiful island, its mysterious background gave me chills. The island was used in WWII as a stop for planes to refuel. Also, in the beginning of the book we are told of a shipwreck and the survivors who were stranded on the island and possibly resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. Throughout the story we also get little snippets of other people's experience with the island.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I think it would be a great beach day thriller to listen to while soaking up the sun. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen to an early recording of this audiobook. As always, all opinions are my own.

I really really liked this book! It’s such a quick and easy read. It’s very laid back party and vacation vibes! I loved the tropical setting, especially since it’s winter here. It’s giving me major beach fomo!! The nice part about this one is that it was set up so different from all the other thrillers I’ve read recently. The “thriller” themed stuff didn’t really start happening until way further into the book. You really got to know the characters first and learn to like them all before everything went to hell. The ending really threw me off. I wish I could say I saw it coming but I always guess completely wrong with thrillers! Highly recommend checking this one out!!