Lux and her boyfriend Nico are living in Maui trying to save enough money to fix up Nico’s boat and sail around the world. By chance they meet Brittany and Amma who are taking some time out of college life to travel. Brittany and Amma hire Nico to take them to a deserted island that is way off the grid and has a wild history. Lux comes along. Once they arrive they discover they aren’t the only ones on the island. It starts off great. This slightly older couple invites them to an amazing dinner and a friendship begins. As the days go by things take a sinister turn and Lux cannot piece together what is or is not happening.

The book is entertaining. The real action doesn’t pick up until about half way through but the backstories and plot building keep the reader interested. Now that being said, there were a few points that the events were so obviously for maximum dramatic effect that I was a little put off. Also, these are some pretty awful people and there was little to relate to on a human level. The title infers that the women are responsible for the drama and maybe they are the catalysts. However, the two men are certainly willing participants. It would be more aptly titled “Reckless People”.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for a copy of this book!

What a great book! I enjoyed Hawkins previous novel despite not being a fan of the inspiration of that book, so I was eager to read Reckless Girls. This modern island gothic book was an absolute binge, I finished the audio in a day. This was the perfect narrator to tell the story.
This book is twisty, fresh, atmospheric, and I loved the juxtaposition of the bright tropical setting with the eerie vibe that Hawkins still managed to make ominous and foreboding.
As with most gothic literature, the setting of the island and nature were a force and almost character in their own rite.
I was so satisfied with everything about this book and can't recommend it enough. Looking forward to reading more from the author .

A solid idea. A satisfactory plot. A weak execution.

<i>Reckless Girls</i> is about seven people who converge on the same deserted island. Many of the island's new inhabitants are holding secrets. One of the people goes missing, at least one more is murdered, and the secrets of the islanders start to come to the surface. Part <i>The Beach</i>, part <i>And Then There Were None</i>, part <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i>, part <i>Gone Girl</i>, <i>Reckless Girls</i> creates an atmosphere where no one is safe and no one is to be trusted.

As far as a pitch for a novel, <i>Reckless Girls</i> is solid. Who doesn't love a creepy mystery/thriller in a setting with no cell service or easy means of escape?

The problem with <i>Reckless Girls</i> is its execution. The plotting was slow; getting everybody onto the island takes too long, and their arrival is anticlimactic. Unbelievable plot points come out of nowhere seemingly as a weak method of moving the story along or (worse) producing red herrings. There are massive character inconsistencies, making it hard to empathize or connect with any character when everyone's actions are so illogical (ironically, the most authentic, fleshed-out character is the one with the briefest presence). And does it bear mentioning that plot holes (which this spoiler-free review cannot discuss) are annoying?

If there's any bright light to the audio version of this book, it's Kreinik's talented narration (though I find her narrative quite flat in contrast to the brilliant character voices, and I thought her British accent was too posh for the character, but otherwise masterful!).

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for providing a free audio in exchange for an honest review.

Reckless Girls
By Rachel Hawkins
Narrated by Barrie Kreinik
Release Date January 4, 2022

This book is about four people who set sail to a deserted island called Meroe. When they get there they are not so happily surprised to find that there is another boat and two more people on the island already but they find that people are really nice and start their first evening by making a huge bonfire Soon they are joined by a strange man that keeps telling one of the women that the other people are not who they seem to be. This strange man soon disappears after breaking all of their radio equipment. When this man turns up dead strange things start to happen and the islanders start to turn against one another.

The narrator was also very good. She could go between accents easily and kept the book flowing.

Full of twists and turns Rachel Hawkins once again does not disappoint. I would highly recommend this in book or audiobook format.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC copy of Reckless Girls on audio.

Lux McAllister has had a rough couple of years after watching her mother lose a tough battle with cancer, Lux is trying desperately to pick up the pieces of her life and find her way in the world. Feeling untethered she jumps at the opportunity to sail to Maui with her handsome new boyfriend, Nico. He has been hired to take two college friends, Brittany and Amma, to the deserted island of Morero for two weeks to "unplug" despite its creepy history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and murder. When they arrive they meet a wealthy couple also enjoying the private island and the 6 adventurers become fast friends. They hike to hidden lagoons, magical waterfalls and even the deserted airfield where they stumble across a human skull. Lux and her new friends quickly discover this paradise is still as scary as its fabled past...but will they all make it off of the island?

I really enjoyed this island thriller. It is told from the point of view of multiple characters and provides flashbacks filling in the backstory of many of the characters. Its is full of deceit and twists which keep the story moving along, however somethings are a bit predictable but it is still enjoyable. I have enjoyed other Rachel Hawkins works and look forward to reading more in the future. I had the audio version read by Barrie Kreinik. Her performance was very enjoyable and easy to follow the story. I would seek out other stories read by her.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the setting, especially as it was snowing here in Colorado while I was reading about people laying on the beach. I was surprised by all the twists and developments throughout the book. I did not particularly love every single character, but I do not think I was meant to since the author slowly revealed each characters' true identity. I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed the different accents and the narrator. I would recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing me with this advance listener copy.

Description from NetGalley:
When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She’s also quick to bond 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.

Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. But what they don’t expect is to discover another boat already anchored off Meroe’s sandy beaches. The owners of the Azure Sky, Jake and Eliza, are a true golden couple: gorgeous, laidback, and if their sleek catamaran and well-stocked bar are any indication, rich. Now a party of six, the new friends settle in to experience life on an exotic island, and the serenity of being completely off the grid. Lux hasn’t felt like she truly belonged anywhere in years, yet here on Meroe, with these fellow free spirits, she finally has a sense of peace.

But with the arrival of a skeevy stranger sailing alone in pursuit of a darker kind of good time, the balance of the group is disrupted. Soon, cracks begin to emerge: it seems that Brittany and Amma haven’t been completely honest with Lux about their pasts––and perhaps not even with each other. And though Jake and Eliza seem like the perfect pair, the rocky history of their relationship begins to resurface, and their reasons for sailing to Meroe might not be as innocent as they first appeared.

When it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in on them. And when one person goes missing, and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if any of them are going to make it off the island alive.

I’ll admit: I am relatively new to the mystery/thriller genre. I have read plenty of cozy mysteries, but the harder hitting thrillers are a whole new kettle of fish. I received a copy of the audiobook to listen to and review plus I received a physical copy as my pick for Book of the Month.

First of all I love the narrator. Barrie Kreinik did a great job making each character feel distinct so that I could tell right away whose point of view was who. We do get several points of view when it comes to the “before” chapters, but Lux is our main point of view for what’s happening now.

The plot is definitely a slow build in some aspects, but that didn’t bother me. Once the plot did take off, it didn’t slow down. The reactions that people had to events felt real with their own motives and made me feel for Lux as everything came crashing down. People do say that it’s very much like Agatha Christie; however, I cannot speak to that as I unfortunately have not read anything by her. I do know I could put it down and finished it over two days.

Rachel Hawkins is definitely now on my authors list, and I’m probably gonna pick up The Wife Upstairs, also by her, this year.

Great time of an isolated thriller. 4/5

This audiobook is one I managed to binge-listen to in a matter of a couple of days while Rachel Hawkins kept me on my toes wondering what would happen to our reckless travelers throughout their adventure. While the story was not necessarily unique, as a play on an Agatha Christie story, its twists kept me guessing and intrigued how the ending would come together.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Rachel Hawkins book.
It was a quick action packed read, but fell a little flat for me. Here are my thoughts:

I didn't get very invested in these characters. WIth the book being so short I wanted more of an understanding of Lux and Nico's relationship as well as their struggles of late. We got a bit of that, but it was very brief. I did listen to this on audio, so wonder if I missed more vs. someone who read it.

Secondly, they agrees way too eagerly to take Brittany and Amma on that trip. Seemed like a huge red flag, but I can get over that small detail in the plot.

Lastly, that ending was great and fun but absolutely insane. Lots of twist and dead bodies that just come at you full force. I did enjoy the unexpected ending. I thought the story felt incomplete for some reason, and I can't quite put my finger on why. It's as if the relationships and motivations of the characters weren't fully formed for me.

I did find myself understanding the distorted logic of Eliza and Brittany though. Men take what they want from the world and they found a way to take it back. I didn't fault them as much as I thought I did and loved the feeling of a relatable villain.

Overall, I thought the story's hart had a good message and the premise of beautiful women disobeying the rules was great. Her reckless girls were very RECKELSS! But, I wanted a bit more development out of the story.

I would like to thank Netgalley for the advance audio of this book. I thought the narration was done well but the storyline did nothing for me. I disliked every character in this book . They were all too trusting of complete strangers which I found to be nauseating. About the time I would think I am quitting this book it would throw in a tad of backstory and I would hang in there hoping for a thrilling ending. I loved "The Wife Upstairs " so I wouldn't put it down and muddled through. Will I be getting on a boat with a complete stranger I just met in a bar to sail to a deserted island??? Nooooo, and I hope you won't either!

This was a fabulous book to read in mid January in Michigan. The imagery of the ocean and the Island was fantastically written. I could feel the waters warmth and the sun on my skin. And in reality, it's 35 degrees outside. Meh. I loved that there was a core group of characters and you felt like you really got to know what they were about. Funny thing is I swear recently I read something or seen something somewhere about this Island or an island very similar with it's history. I think that added to my fascination to this story. With the way the author ended it, I would love to see a sequel written with Luxes new life and adventures.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins is a newly published book and I was seeing it everywhere! Thanks to @netgalley for giving me an opportunity to listen to this audio as I get my excercise. It was definitely keeping me moving so I could listen!

Lux and Nico are offered $50,000 to take two young ladies to the deserted island Of Meroe near Hawaii. Having just been fired from her job - Luz is ready for new adventures. But the island is not deserted and no oneis who they say they are - just like you would expect from a Rachel Hawkins book!

I read The Wife Upstairs about this time last year and although I enjoyed it - I would have to say I like Reckless Girls even better - just because of the location and the situation.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this. I did enjoy it. Definitely a lot of crazy things happen. The ending is a tad confusing but it comes together.

I needed a book, or rather an audiobook to take me away for a few hours and this book did that for me. It is an entertaining beach read that will leave you intrigued with the setting and what is going to happen on the deserted island with 6 strangers.

The book starts out with Lux and Nico "stuck" in Hawaii because their boat needs fixing. When two young women approach Nico asking for him to charter a boat to an island, there is no way he and Lux can say no. With the 3 women and Nico sailing the seas to the small secluded island, what could possibly happen?

The story is told mostly from Lux's POV, but we also get to hear from the past and about the passengers, Brittany and Amma, and how their connection started. It is clear that nothing is as it seems. There seems to be a lot of lies piling up, which makes for a fun and tantalizing stranded island read with characters that don't have the best of intentions.

The four passengers dock at the island where there is another boat just waiting for more people. So now the group of 4 has turned into 6. Let the party and craziness truly begin.

This wasn't a unique story, but I was still entertained and wondered what was going to happen to the group once they got to the island. Lies were unfolded and characters really showed who they were. And it wasn't always pretty.

Overall, this is an intriguing read and one you can sit down and read in one sitting. You'll want to just keep listening or turning those pages to see what happens. The narration was overall pretty good, minus a mispronunciation of a Hawaiian place, but she did a good job with the overall feel of the characters and who they were. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Reckless Girls was the second book I have finished this year. It tells a story about a girl who goes on a trip to a small island with her boyfriend and two random girls they just met. When they get to this island they meet another couple who is vacationing there. Throughout the story you wonder who is trustworthy and if the island is really creepy as stated previously in the book.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on my toes , especially during the end of the book. I wasn’t expecting any of it to happen and so it was fun to be completely blindsided by a book. Since I listened to this as an audiobook, I should mention that the person reading the book did a great job. It didn’t annoy me and I when switching between genders the tone of voice didn’t vary in which I personally prefer.

If you are trying to explain this story to someone it is really hard and complex, which you will understand after reading the book. I ultimately, again, really enjoyed the book. However, one thing that I didn’t particularly like was the start, it was weirdly rushed at first and then slowed a lot in the middle. It just seemed like an odd transition to me and was hard for me to get into during those parts of the book.

Thank you so much @Netgalley for the audiobook of Reckless Girls

This is a book where Lost meets Desperate Houswives meets Criminal Minds!

The main character, Lux is relatable but not likeable without giving up the story.

The story keeps you engaged throughout the timeline and a draw drooling ending you did not see coming but it connects all the dots that were missing.

I listed to this book over 3 days - and I kept saying “what in the world is going on now!”

The Wife Upstairs is still my favorite by this author but it has different twist to it that will meet up on your toes .

My first Rachel Hawkins novel and it lived up to the hype! This seriously read like one of those spring break beach scary movies. All about a group of strangers hiding secrets on a cursed isolated island with a sinister past. Slowly their secrets are revealed over time just as the danger on the island becomes very real. I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator, I felt like she perfectly matched Lux’s personality. The descriptions of the setting of the island were so vivid, honestly gave me Lost vibes. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded down to 3! While I enjoyed this locked-room type mystery, I really felt as if the overall execution of the story fell flat. For the first 80% or so of the book I kept waiting for the fast-paced thriller action to start up, but it never really did until the last few chapters. Definitely was a very atmospheric read and I could picture their tropical location throughout.

Do yourself a favor and don't read the full blurb. It reveals too much of the plot.
Here's what you need to know:
Lux and Nico, a couple, are hired to take two women to a desert island with a mysterious past. They come across another couple there. All is great until secrets start to surface, and their trip goes from idyllic to dangerous.

Atmospheric on a claustrophobic island with "locked-room" mystery vibes, this is a book that's incredibly difficult to put down. It delves into human nature, and watching it unravel is tragic, chaotic and fascinating. I did enjoy reading it despite its issues, I'd recommend it as a quick read for those who like psychological suspense.

The book interleaves some chapters covering the past of these "Reckless Girls". My favorite parts were those. I kept looking forward to them. The author did a great job focusing on 3 of the women's pasts to really show their motivations for the present.

However, the flashbacks reveal too much relatively early on. This takes away from the element of surprise from the present. In a way that the reveals by the end of the book don't surprise. Having said that, not every thriller necessarily needs a major twist. The book did an amazing job with setting up the atmosphere. It really puts you on edge and amps up the suspense.

At times, reminiscent of The Lord of the Flies with adults, the book will have you asking if it's the island that corrupts or the isolation. Or if the people were this shitty to begin with.

When it all comes together, it feels quite improbable, thus, a bit unsatisfying.

Overall, I really enjoyed the claustrophobic feeling of the book. I really could not put this down. I stayed up late on a tired day, just to find out what was happening. The author did an amazing job with setting the atmosphere, and I could feel myself get paranoid together with the main character.

I listened to this on audio and would recommend reading it that way. Barrie Kreinik, the narrator, really brings the story to life!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I liked this book from the beginning. I was hooked and felt the suspense creeping up on me once the characters arrived on a deserted Meroe Island in the south Pacific; blue sky and clear water.... paradise! There's And Then There Were None vibe to it; Six "pretty" people with secrets, ulterior motives, and none are who they appear to be. I didn't really like any of the characters, but in the chapters with flashbacks, you begin to understand why each of them is there, and why they're so jaded.

It is a very quick read, and the audio is narrated well. I'm a little confused by the ending; who is Lux now after this terrifying experience...is she just as bad now as the others when they arrived on the island?!