Lux meets Nico in California and follows him to Hawaii under the premise of them sailing the South Pacific seas together. Unfortunately things don’t go as planned when Nico’s boat is in need of repairs and Lux ends up cleaning hotel rooms and sleeping on a mattress on the floor of their friend’s place indefinitely. Not exactly the paradise she had in mind.

When Nico is hired by two women to sail them to the remote Meroe Island it seems like a lucky break. This is their chance to fix the boat and bankroll their travels. But when they arrive at the deserted island the find another boat already moored in the waters and the foursome becomes a party of six. More the merrier, right? Um, maybe not!

Two weeks on an idyllic island in the South Pacific. What could possibly go wrong? Lux seems to pick up some bad vibes from the get-go, her island mates have secrets to hide and paradise might be, well, lost.

I loved this closed-room thriller with a beachy vibe. Lots of twists and turns in this one and I loved the way this story was told in now & then chapters. The narrator was excellent!

Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for this advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up for pure bizarre escapist enjoyment.

Is this book full of plot holes and incredible coincidences? Yes.
Is it laughably implausible? Also yes.

But still...I was thoroughly engaged with the audiobook throughout and was very interested to see how everything would play out in the end.

This is the story of a couple, Lux and Nico, who live in Maui and have dreams of sailing around the world. When two young women, Amma and Brittany, offer them a huge amount of money to take them out to the remote Meroe Atoll, they quickly jump at the chance. When they arrive, the isle is as amazing as they had imagined, yet it is also eerie and has a creepy and troubled past. There is another boat there when they arrive, carrying Jake and Eliza from Australia. The two groups of people spend their time drinking and sunning and relaxing. When another boat arrives carrying a frightening man, the foreboding increases. As secrets and backstories are revealed, Lux starts to wonder whether or not they will actually make it off the island alive.

There is a great deal of tension and a sense of unease and anxiety created throughout the course of this book. What originally seems to be a light, fun time gradually and yet all at once it becomes a nightmare. The narrator of the audiobook is fantastic. Barrie Kreinik does a stellar job with the varying accents, giving each character a personality.

There are a couple of drawbacks, not the least of which are the sheer implausibility of the plot and the way things turn out in the end. There are so many things that are brought up and then forgotten about (like why did Nico transfer the boat to Lux's name?) and also things that could and would never happen in real life. They drink like 6-10 bottles of wine per day for weeks on end, plus have cold beer and other drinks at the ready constantly. You cannot tell me that Nico was going to make Lux leave her meager belongings behind (a photo?) and Jake and Eliza had endless room on their boat for 100+ bottles of wine. Not buying it. This book is rife with f-bombs, the language might not have been as distracting had I read it on the page (however, maybe it would have been) but listening to the audio made it really glaring.

Overall if you can just suspend your logical brain and treat this book like the soapy piece of entertainment it is, you might enjoy this wild ride to a deserted island.

Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to review this title.

A 3.75 rating.

First, I want to address the beautiful cover. That is what really drew me in and want to read this book. The bright yellow with the island vibe details were well done and complements the story.

This was my first thriller read from author Rachel Hawkins. Having only read The Ex-Hex from her alias and not really enjoying it I was hesitant to dive into this story. However, the cover art won me over and within the first 15% I was hooked. This story follows Lux (our main character) who has poor judgement when it comes to the men in her life. Her current boyfriend, Nico, is a sailor who is down on his luck but refuses to ask his family for funds to help repair his boat so that they can continue their journey. One day after losing her job Nico approaches Lux with a chance to earn a lot of money for sailing two women (Brittany and Amma) to an abandon island so they can check a box off of their traveling list. When they approach the island, they encounter two fellow sailors with a dirty secret and an additional free-range traveler who happens upon the island a few days later. What follows is a story of betrayal, murder and a twisted friendship.

This story was definitely worth reading and will keep you engaged from page one.

Thank you MacMillan, Rachel Hawkins, and Netgalley for this audio in exchange for my review. This is the second book I’ve listened to of this author and definitely will not be the last. Loved every second of listening to it! 🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2 rating from me.

3.5 stars

Have you ever seen that movie “The Beach?” Well look out! Here is the literary equivalent!! I was psyched when I read the publisher’s description!

We meet Lux, the narrator of the present day storyline. After losing her mom to a lengthy battle with Cancer and being neglected by her dad, she decides it’s time for a fresh start. So when she meets the laidback handsome Nico, she can’t help but be swept off her feet and jumps at the chance to sail around the world with him. However, a year later, they are still in Hawaii with Lux unhappily working as a maid to keep them afloat while Nico spends his days at the dock. While there, he meets Amma and Brittany, two young and beautiful college friends travelling together. After talking Lux into coming along on another adventure, Nico agrees to take the two of them to a remote island, which unbeknownst to them, is notorious for having bad juju. When they get there, they discover that another couple has already beat them there. However, the six of them become fast friends until betrayals start happening and hidden truths start being revealed. When someone dies, Lux starts questioning how well she really knows any of them and could one of them be a murderer?

I loved the setting of this story. I had vivid images in my mind of the boats, the island and the ocean. I also thought the plot was well executed with spot on pacing. There was no boredom to be felt as the story moved along at a fast pace. Yet there was something lacking…

I kept waiting for something really big and out of left field to happen but it never did. There were several twists and a suspenseful atmosphere but overall the plot just didn’t peak for me. I also had a hard time with some of the characters being portrayed as shallow caricatures . There was nothing redeeming about them so it was challenging to connect or care about them.

The audiobook performance was super engaging. Well narrated and good fun! I would recommend this book as it’s a unique framework for a domestic thriller and was a quick and intriguing read. Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have very mixed feelings about this book! I really enjoyed the setting and the overall idea of this book but I felt the pacing and ending were a miss.
The first 75% was good and entertaining. We got flashbacks of most characters and it was fun trying to guess how they would be connected (I did end up guessing correctly)!
The last 25% got a little gruesome and weird for me. I wished we would have gotten a different ending out of this book.
I would recommend this book to readers who aren’t afraid of very dark books, enjoy revenge plots and enjoy reading mysteries set on a desert island.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

Yikes! This book started out really well. The setting is intriguing and the writing throughout is excellent. I thought I'd really like it, but it devolved into something so dark and violent that I didn't really enjoy it. There is not a single character to like or to care about, although that doesn't become totally clear until the latter part of the book. I was grateful to have access to this book through NetGalley (my thanks also to St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio), and in the NetGalley feedback, I did say I'd recommend it to book clubs and through readers' advisory, especially since it's seems many people gave this book high ratings. However, I'd want to make sure the prospective reader would enjoy a dark book, because I don't think it's for everyone. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik, and she was absolutely wonderful in every way.

#RecklessGirls is a adventurous story that was entertaining and had me until the end. This story takes place in a paradise with sunny beaches and has a adventure with some love, action and deception. #BarrieKreinik did a terrific job narrating this story. #RachelHawkins is one of my new favorite authors. Thank you #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio for giving me this awesome opportunity.

This was an excellent thriller and I definitely did not predict the ending. Realistic characters and it was interesting how everyone's true motives were gradually revealed.

This is my first experience with Rachel Hawkins, and I enjoyed her description of the setting. Meroe is lush and beautiful, but deadly. The sailboats, even if Nico’s seems a bit cramped with 4 people, make me want to sail myself with such dreamy accommodations. I loved her character names, but liking the characters was difficult.

They are all twenty-something years old and extremely privileged, with the exception of Lux to a point. It was hard to root for them because when you got the backstories, they came across as brats to a degree. Yes, some experienced some trauma and great loss turning them into the present characters in the book, but even so, redeeming qualities were few. Lux is the main female character, and she is described as a survivor of sorts. However, she is very wishy-washy. I am a bit surprised that so much hinged on her character.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this story, and I’m not sure if that is indicative of Hawkins’s writing because this is my first experience with her. I had a hard time keeping up with the audio and switching POVs at times. Thankfully, the narrator had such a flair for accents (American, British, Aussie) that was the only way I knew what was happening. I have a love-hate relationship with alternating perspectives. This book isn’t the best use of them, but it also isn’t the worst either. I liked it, but it was hard for me to keep up, particularly in the middle section of the book.

Based on other reviews of a print version, the author said in her acknowledgements that she has always wanted to write a “boat murder” book, and she has accomplished that. The ending surprised me a little, and I think that is primarily because I couldn’t keep the story straight in my head during the middle of the listen. Clearly, it will come across differently in print.

This book was a good piece of escapist fiction for me. I appreciated the tropical locale in a dreary December! I also like the literary references (The Virgin Suicides and the Island of Dr. Moreau...even if the second was a bit heavy-handed). A solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

**Do brace yourself for the language if that is something that bothers you.**

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced listen!

I really enjoyed The Wife Upstairs, so I was excited to listen to another thriller from Rachel Hawkins, and this one was also very suspenseful. The story is about a young woman named Lux who sails with her boyfriend from Hawaii to a remote island in the South Pacific when they are hired to take 2 women there. Initially they enjoy lounging in the sun and partying with a wealthy couple who sailed their luxury catamaran to the same island. But then they discover that Meroe Island has dark secrets in its past involving shipwrecks and cannibalism, and another stranger arrives who has an ominous feeling about him. As the storyline digs into the pasts of some of the characters, things start to take a darker turn. In the end I found that the characters were not exactly likeable although I did feel sorry for some of their circumstances. But the twists were outstanding and made for a thrilling and fast paced story.
Barrie Kreinik did a fantastic job of narrating the audiobook. Her take on the on many different personalities and accents and her storytelling really kept me on the edge of my seat.

It took me a while to decide if I was going to stick with this book but I'm glad I did. It took quite a few chapters to get attached to the characters, and I will say that I never really liked them, but they did get more entertaining as it went on. So forget that they are douchy 20-something beach bums and stick with it. You will be rewarded.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this one, so it did really keep me guessing. About halfway through, I was pretty convinced it was a bizarre Christie-retelling of And Then There Were None. All of the characters are hiding something, so I was pretty sure I was going to find out the dirt on all of them and why they must all die, but it took a different turn. I should have expected that from other Rachel Hawkins books. They always have wonderfully juicy plot twists and this one was no exception.

Stick with it. It started really hooking me about 20% in and I ended up loving it!

Reckless Girls sucked me in from the beginning. I haven’t read a book like it and was really enjoying the refreshing island setting and story. The big plot twist and ending had so much potential. While I didn’t see it coming, it felt almost disappointing after such a good setup throughout the book. I was left wanting more/something different but could see why Hawkins went the way she did. Overall, this book is a quick, twisty thriller that would make a great beach read!

The narrator did a great job with emotion and voice changes. I will be adding her to my list of narrators to listen to as she made the story a great listen!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

Lux and Nico have been in Hawaii for longer than they expected. Their original plan to sail around the world fell apart due to expensive and necessary boat repairs. So, it seems too good to be true when Brittany and Amma, two college best friends, ask Nico and Lux to sail them to a remote island. Lux is suspicious about the circumstances of this seemingly random opportunity, but she can’t deny that the timing is perfect. The amount the girls are willing to pay will cover the cost of fixing their boat - finally giving Lux and Nico their chance to chase their dreams and sail the globe.
Meroe Island appears to be paradise. So much so that the group forgets about it’s dark reputation. It’s so perfect that when they discover that two other tourists have also arrived on the island, they decide to include them and enjoy their vacation. It doesn’t take long for the group of six to acclimate to paradise. Lux feels, for the first time in years, that she actually belongs.
Soon, another person arrives on Meroe Island. The gang immediately distrusts him and then slowly begin to distrust eachother. Where Meroe Island once enchanted them all, it now begins to reveal cracks and Lux realizes that everyone on the island is keeping dangerous secrets. Soon, one person goes missing and another turns up dead. What all seemed perfect suddenly seems perfectly deadly…
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I listened to this ARC on audiobook (Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio!) and I was immediately hooked. I really enjoyed Rachel Hawkins’ last book, “The Wife Upstairs”, so I had high hopes for this book. “Reckless Girls” exceeded my expectations. I looked forward to driving or cleaning (gasp) so that I could press play. The chapters alternated between character POVs which allowed slow reveals as the novel progressed.
If you like twisty thrillers with unreliable narrators and sketchy secondary characters, you’ll like “Reckless Girls”.
8/10 ⭐️. Unique premise in a haunting, exotic location. Lux had certain qualities I found grating, but overall, I enjoyed her as a protagonist. I especially liked the ending and how things played out for Lux. I thought it was all very fitting.

It's probably my own fault that I didn't like this book. I should have researched it more. I don't usually like raunchy books full of sex talk and swearing. 😬 Maybe I'm a prude. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Thought I would enjoy this since I liked The Wife Upstairs so much. Boy was I wrong! Horrible characters that you couldn't possibly route for, a convoluted story that I didn't care if I ever got straight, and more F-bombs than remotely necessary. I will say the reader's ability to switch from American to British to Australian accents was amazing! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman, Lux is trying to figure her life out when she meets a charming, handsome Nico and sails to Hawaii with him. They have plans to sail around the world together once they can save up the money to make needed repairs for his boat. Luck would have it that Nico is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime when he is asked to take two wealthy young women, Brittany and Amma, to a remote island for an incredible amount of money. Not only will they make the needed repairs to the boat but they want him to bring Lux along. What could possibly go wrong? The fact that the island is uninhabitable due to the lack of food and water for starters. There are also rumors of misfortune to those that have stayed on the island in the past which also doesn't bode well for the young travelers. There is also a lot of deception, betrayal and secrets amongst the group during this vacation. Everything begins to spiral out of control as the group finds themselves in danger.

I really enjoyed this story. It was unexpected and went in a different direction that I thought it was going which was a very pleasant surprise. Solid thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end. If you are a fan of Ruth Ware, Agatha Christie or Lucy Foley I believe you would enjoy this book. The audio version was narrated well.

4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #RecklessGirls #RachelHawkins

What a wild ride! I absolutely loved this thriller that unfolds on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific. This story of intrigue and suspense under sunny skies, blue seas, and sailing masts would make a perfect escape in the doldrums of Northern Hemisphere January! The narrator of this book did a great job as well, making this a fun listen. I highly recommend this!

A dark and twisty travel thriller that sees a group of strangers with suspect pasts sailing together to a deserted tropical island. Told in a dual timeline with multiple POVs this one kept me on my toes and had a deliciously jaw dropping ending. Perfect for fans of Roz Nay's Hunted and great on audio narrated by Barrie Kreinik. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copies!

I'm going to give this 3.5 and round it up. Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the audiobook ARC.

What I liked:
-The parallel storylines. I don't always enjoy "then/now" storytelling but Rachel Hawkins is very adept with it in this novel, and the switches are never jarring or inappropriately timed as they often are with this genre.
-The characters. I really enjoyed the gradual unravelling of each character's history and motives, and how well those snapshots were woven into the "present" narrative. Almost every character gets some history, but the primary narrative is focused on the women (hence the title).
-The tension. There is just enough of a dark/uncomfortable/"off" undercurrent between all of these characters to give you pause without ruining the discomfort and uneasiness that gradually ratchets up as soon as the group arrives at the island.

What I could take or leave:
-The island. Naming the island "Moreau" is a bit heavy-handed, especially since it takes a bit for the creepiness to settle in and start affecting the characters. Yes, we do get some early glimpses at why the island was given that name, but I still didn't latch on to the tension and borderline hysteria that grips you for the last third of the novel.

What I disliked:
-The finale. It was a bit too cliché for the drama on the island to have ended the way it did. Without spoilers - I do not buy the epilogue.
-The title. I went into this anticipating a chaotic energy akin to the movie Spring Breakers, and while I'm not disappointed with what I DID get I wouldn't characterize any of the characters or their actions as reckless.

Honorable Mention:
-Barrie Kreinik's narration. They switched very believably between accents & adopted deeper pitches for the male voices without the campy quality that a lot of non-male narrators have when they read male dialogue. The only unbelievable accent was the southern one, which I accept might be entirely because I am southern myself.