I want to start off by saying I loved Lucy Clark’s last book, One if the Girls and I was really looking forward to her newest. It just fell flat. There were a lot of POV and hard to distinguish between some of them. Most of them were unlikeable and mean to each other.

It made absolutely no sense to me why this group of girls would be involved with the drama that was going on as much as they were. It didn’t keep my interest. I listened to the audiobook as well and felt the narrators did a great job with it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for my ARC of this book.

This book was a page turner. Liz wants her three best friend to escape from life and go on camping and hiking trip in Norway. They quickly learn the wilderness hides secrets and life change and choices must be made. This is a nail biting and cliff hanger read.

This is why you’ll never find me hiking. If my bodies turns up on the side of a trail, I can assure you I was murdered. As much as I wanted to hate the women for not training for a long, grueling hike, I reminded myself that I tan a half marathon without training so who am I to judge? Note: I do not recommend it - it was awful. Clarke writes a thriller with so much conflict and does it well. Overall, a fun popcorn thriller that will keep your intrigued.

Every year, best friends Liz, Joni, Helena, and Maggie melt their stress away on a planned yearly trip. This year it's Liz's turn to pick the destination, and she decides on a four-day hike in the pristine wilderness of Norway. Only when they're out on the trail do they discover that they aren't alone and that the others' intentions could be sinister. Will the three friends make it out of Norway?

The Hike was the first book I've read by Sunday Times bestselling author Lucy Clarke, and I really enjoyed the "just right" blend of character-building, immersive setting, and the thrill of seclusion with a dash of the unknown.

“𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.“
– 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘌𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯

If you're looking for your next light thriller with strong themes such as friendship, finding oneself, nature, hiking, secluded locations, survival, secrets, and redemption, then this is it.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the gifted eARC for review considerations. All opinions expressed are mine alone. The Hike by Lucy Clarke US version will be widely available on August 29th 2023

4.5⭐️

First, massive thanks to NetGalley and Penguim Group Putnam for this ARC copy! Out 8/29!!

Y'all, Read. This. Book.
It was an amazingly fun ride! I will admit, the first 25% or so was a bit slower, but I feel as though the details you receive in that part of the story are so important for what's to come.

I ate this book up. I did predict a thing or two, but had the incorrect characters for my predictions. I did not see the majority of this outcome and man was it so fun getting to that final point! I found my heart pounding and being over anxiously to find out where this was going, what was happening next, who was involved and so much more! I absolutely love when I get that feeling from a book!

I thoroughly enjoyed the dual timeline here. It was done in such a way that makes you question whether it's present or past and flowed so easily into the story that I devoured it. I also loved the dual POV from all 4 of the friends.

I have had Lucky Clarke's 'One Of The Girls' on my shelf and haven't made it around to it yet, but you bet your bottom that is being bumped straight up my TBR list immediately!

Bravo to Lucy Clarke for this wild ride!

The Hike is a multi-POV novel about four friends who go on an intense hiking trip to Norway. They've been friends since they were in high school, and now in their thirties they still reunite each year for a holiday. This year Liz has picked the trip and everyone else is a little less than enthused about the physically demanding vacation.

Lucy Clarke begins this story with lots of character building around the four friends: Liz, Helena, Maggie, and Joni. By the time the trip begins, I had felt a connection to several of the characters and a deep interest in the others. When they arrive at the lodge near the daunting peak they plan to summit, the friends meet a small group of locals- some friendly and others less so.

Interspersed with chapters about "the search" for a woman's body, Clarke builds tension even before the hiking expedition goes awry. My only gripes are that this book was a bit long (384 pages, not ideal thriller/suspense length in my opinion) and that the end managed to feel very this, then this, then this (a shift from the overall writing style).

For a character driven adventure in the wilderness book, this hits the mark. I found myself picking this up over other books I was reading, and I think it will work for many readers.

3 solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book drew me in immediately. A dangerous hike and dysfunctional friend group- you just know something is going to go off the rails. The book started to drag a bit- I feel like some of it could’ve been cut out. But I was satisfied with the ending and I do have to say, it ended completely different than I thought it would, which was a happy surprise!

Thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC!

Thank you so much to Putnam Books for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!


𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I love a good getaway/travel thriller! This one takes place in Norway and centers around a group of four close friends who reunite for a girls trip every year, except this time instead of choosing a sunny beach destination, they decide to head to Norway on a fun an adventurous hike that will change their lives forever. The remote wilderness, hiking, heavy backpacks, camping, and four close friends who each harbor secrets of their own…what could possibly go wrong?
This book was good, but not great. I am a huge fan of Clarke’s previous books, and the premise for this one sounded so promising. It was definitely entertaining, and played out like a popcorn thriller, but it was a definite slow burn. The story line seemed a bit far fetched as I am not sure why a group of women would venture out on their on for a hike in Norway and not be well prepared with the proper equipment🤷🏼‍♀️ I do think that the author did a great job with developing the characters, and I found them to all be very entertaining. Clarke does a great job with painting the image for the reader of the treacherous hike in the Norwegian mountains. I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating POVs and found this to be an enjoyable, yet slow moving, suspenseful, atmospheric survival story. However, I found it to lack the “thrills” for me and found it to be a tad predictable.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞?
I think that fans of Clarke’s previous books will either love this one or hate it. If you enjoy slow burn survival suspense books then check this one out.

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.75/5

Four best friends go on the vacation of a lifetime and run into some troubled people a long the way. Secrets are shared and memories are made on this crazy hike.

Hiking in Norway. How amazing. Throw a mystery into the mix and it becomes even better. I loved the friendship.

Awe man, this was probably the biggest disappointment of the year. Not because it was the worst book I've read, but because this was my most anticipated book. Lucy Clarke has been an auto buy author for me for nearly a decade, but this is the first book of hers I've given below a 4 star to. :(

There were too many characters with VERY little character development. None of them were flushed out enough, so I had a really hard time distinguishing between them. Looking back at her book from last year, there were a Feb more POV's but figuring out who was who was super easy bc she created them in such a way.

Aside from the characters, the overall plot was boring and just didn't hold my attention.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Four friends who take a yearly trip together decide to go hiking. Story is told from alternating point of views from all four, plus a local who is on the search and rescue team in the area. All four women have very different things going on in their personal lives and these are written well to give depth and relational info on each. Atmosphere is described but not over done, which I enjoyed!

Side character were well woven into story and didn’t figure out all the bad/good characters myself!!

My first by this author and definitely enjoyed, not your typical did the husband do it mystery for sure!

ARC provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

DNF at 30%

Although the women's fiction thriller is not generally my cup of tea, I found myself really enjoying Lucy Clarke's One of the Girls for its messiness, constant twists, and genuinely surprising reveals. When I saw her new release The Hike, I quickly hit the request button and prepared myself for another wild ride.

However, The Hike didn't exude the same charm as Clarke's previous outing and frankly felt like it was written in what I like to call the "paint by numbers method". Put three or more women who are looking to overcome a very specific issue in their life, send them on a vacation, and wreak havoc. With this, however, I was so bored that I couldn't even get to the part where they start the vacation. I'd be willing to read something else by Clarke, but this just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

First off, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is a story of four girlfriends who decide to spend their yearly girls' vacation hiking in the mountains of Norway. Their trip doesn't go quite as planned. There is mystery, adventure, friendship, and even betrayal. I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I laughed in a couple of spots and actually teared up in one spot, and I don't often cry over books! This book was riveting from the first page to the last page. I'm not sure if this author has other books published, but I will definitely read them if she does. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller with twists and turns. Please, please read it! You won't regret it.

One of the Girls was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was super excited to get an DRC for Lucy Clarke’s newest novel, The Hike. I love thrillers set in the wilderness so this one was calling me now.

It’s told from the perspectives of four women who are on a hiking trip in Norway. None of these women are experienced hikers or totally in shape, so it’s surprising they selected this for their annual trip when normally they sip drinks somewhere on the beach.

I liked the choice of one narrator for all of the women’s POVs as it worked being told in the third person. There is also another perspective that we get throughout the book, but I won’t say too much about that. I felt that each woman had a unique character and story, and it was easy to differentiate between them because each chapter was labeled by the character’s names. Stephanie Rancine and David Johansen-Menkin were able to create a sense of dread and suspense while listening to the audiobook.

I loved the shorter chapters, and the pacing of this story, however, I felt the ending was rushed. I hoped for some big twists, and although there are some smaller ones, I just never got that OMG factor I look for in thrillers. The setting was fantastic, and Clarke definitely knows how to keep her reader’s hearts racing in this atmospheric and unsettling story.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Utnam’s Sons, PRH Audio,,and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Thriller Thursday!
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam publishing and NetGalley for my e-arc in exchange for my honest feedback. The Hike by Lucy Clarke, an amazing destination thriller, is publishing August 29th!

This is a story about four women who have been lifelong friends and, despite their current careers/places in life, still take one annual trip together. Liz is tired of tropical poolside destinations so when it is her turn to plan the trip, she decides to plan an adventurous backpacking hiking trip in the mountains of Norway. Research is done, gear is purchased, training has been completed (well, for some), and the girls spend their first night full of booze, dancing, and reminiscing at the local lodge before embarking on their 4-day hike. Each day of the hike includes chapters from each of the women and I loved the multiple POVs. Additionally, there are future scenes from the POV of the lodge owner attempting a rescue. The reader is aware something has gone terribly wrong on the hike but is not aware of who is hurt or how the accident has happened. Fast-paced, propulsive writing, and twisty secrets were revealed in each section of the read. Additionally, there are local community members who add an eerie mix of folklore and mystery surrounding a local girl who went missing on the same trail a year ago. I had no idea where this story was going and loved every second! It also unlocked some new phobias I have regarding potential hiking disasters, and I might have sold my tent and hiking gear on FaceBook marketplace!

If you enjoy atmospheric destination thrillers, add this to your TBR today.

Four life-long friends embark on a 4-day hike for their somewhat annual girls trip. Taking a break from a tropical getaway, this year it is Liz's turn to pick the destination so she chooses something more challenging. Once they arrive at the Lodge to head out for their trip, they start getting the vibe that something is not right. But not heeding any warnings about weather or potential dangers, the 4 women head out to conquer not just the mountain, but their own personal struggles. A previous hiker died, a prodigal son returns, in the dark wilderness things happen, will the women return to be able to tell their tale....

3.5 stars! This was a quick, easy read, survivalist thriller. I was surprised by a few of the twists, because I usually guess them ahead of time. Each of the characters have their own issues they are dealing with, most that the other women in the group don't realize. There was good character development and made that aspect more interesting and their part of the story more important. Lots of intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict that kept the pace of the book. Chapters are told in different points of view between the different women, and I always think that is integral with a story like this.

Definitely got Lucy Foley/Ruth Ware vibes with this book! And would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys those authors!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for a complimentary ARC copy of this novel!

Who can be trusted up on the mountain?

Four friends. Maggie, Joni, Liz, and Helena. But they share far more than just friendship. There are secrets as well. But a great adventure is awaiting them in Norway and the surrounding mountains. Each year they plan a different get away. Joni isn't always able to make it, but this time at the last minute she does. All four set out on the four day treacherous hike, but all is not as it seems. Secrets are revealed, a body is discovered. And just like that, murder is now a part of their hike!!! The question is, who can these four women trust? Who is the killer among them?
Available August 29, 2023

⛰️⛰️⛰️ / 5

I thought this one had a lot of potential, but I didn’t love it. The setting in a small coastal town in Norway was gorgeous, and I loved the premise of a girls’ hiking trip gone wrong. However, I wasn’t really drawn to any of the characters, and the story took a turn that I didn’t really care for. As much as I loved the setting, I wanted more of it. I was impressed by all the obstacles the author put these characters through as well as the conflict that they endured with each other. I thought it was a good amount without being redundant. Overall, I’d say this is a solid survivalist thriller that quite a few readers have enjoyed—based on reviews I’ve seen. As always, please take my reviews with a grain of salt, as you might enjoy this one more than I did, which is great!

4.5 Stars

Four friends on a hiking adventure to Norway. What could possibly go wrong? Liz is tired of their annual beach getaways and needs adventure. Maggie and Helena are not quite sure about this. Joni is touring, and hasn’t given an answer. What starts out as a fun, impromptu night at the lodge bar quickly turns dark and sinister when the hike is underway. Hold on to your backpacks!

What a destination thriller! I didn’t realize how much of a nightmare this would be for me until the beautifully graphic and yet terrifying descriptions of this mountain hike grabbed me and had my heart pumping. The unpredictable weather and short chapters add to the suspense. These friends have a lot of baggage which slowly enfolds during the 4 days. I became frustrated with friends for not sticking up for themselves against Liz’s reckless idea and know-it-all behavior. But, this just lends itself to the story. Innocent situations seem to steam roll into much bigger things. No one is what they appear to be. This book brought out a fear I never knew I had. Go ahead and go hiking, I’ll be at the beach, or swim up bar!

Another enjoyable read by Lucy Clarke. Can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to Penguin Group/ Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.