Liz, Helena, Maggie and Joni have been friends forever. Friends for so long that they go on a girls trip every year. When Liz picks hiking in Norway as their annual affair, the rest of the group is somewhat skeptical...they always end up on a beach with cocktails. But friends to the end, they make the trek and begin a 4 day hiking experience that will change them all forever.

***

A pretty basic concept (4 women, 1 trip that changes everything), but perfectly executed. Unlike Clarke's One of the Girls, the pacing and revelations of this novel were much better. Without spoiling too much, the slightly contrived subplot ends up propelling the plot in ways that feel necessary. So while I didn't necessarily love the twist, I understood its purpose. All in all, one of my favorite Clarke reads.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC!

Lucy Clarke books never disappoint! Nicely drawn characters, beautiful imagery, and a intriguing plot made this a one day read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC!

I give this book 3 stars because while it kept me engrossed, the ending was flat. I feel like this could have gone in a different direction instead of being a typical drug ring thriller. Idk.. I struggled with the lack of originality in that part of the plot.

3. 5 stars!
4 high school best friends embark on a harrowing (possibly haunted?) mountain hike in Norway. Liz, the mom of twins, a successful doctor, and the girl next door. Helena, the carefree single girl, and boss babe. Maggie, a single mom whose whole life revolves around her daughter. And Joni, the rockstar friend who hasn't been on a holiday with her friends in years because of her busy tour schedule. Multi-POV of the four best friends and another supporting character.
The book really didn't hook me until about 25% of the way in. But I think a lot of that time was spent establishing all of the different characters' backgrounds. There were A LOT of twists. And a lot of red herrings. I'm all for twists but sometimes it just felt like, "Really? Again?" The big main plot point/point of conflict fell a little short for me. That might just be a personal preference.
Also, I don't know if I just hit a reading rut or if it was this book. But I stopped reading on pg. 192 and didn't pick the book back up for WEEKS. However, once I picked it back up, I did finish it in a day.

Overall, this was a good read. I think it just felt like there was a lot going on at times.

I had many emotions while reading this book. I loved the atmosphere and so in the beginning I was super excited to keep reading. I found that there was a bit of a lull, a point in which I were waiting and waiting for something to happen. If you enjoy a slow burn, this novel may be for you. The last one hundred pages was where all the action was and the ending did not disappoint!

This book really kept me captivated. The chapters being short was great and helped me understand each character. I do wish there was a little bit more description of each character besides their ‘story’ or life. The ending I liked, even if it wasn’t the outcome that I was expected. The one area that bothered me was that they went on a backpacking trip, but it never once is labeled as that. A hike and spending the night while hiking are 2 different things to me. Regardless, overall I like it.

3.5 stars rounded up

I enjoyed this book. The setting in the Norwegian wilderness is so atmospheric and sets a perfect backdrop for a murder thriller. The four main characters were a struggle for me - I found them all varying degrees of unsympathetic. Plus, the DRAMA in the group! However, the thriller suspense did keep me reading and I enjoyed the building tension and final reveal of what was really happening and who the hidden players were. If you enjoy wilderness thrillers, this is a great option as long as drama amongst friends isn't a trope that you dislike.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I really enjoyed this! The atmospheric setting was creepy and I loved how there were so many little secrets also entwined in the story. I found some of the characters to be annoying at times but it kept me guessing the whole way through!

ARC Review of The Hike by @lucyclarke_author. Thanks to @putnambooks and @netgalley for gifting the ebook!
Publication Date: August 29, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

This book hooked me from the very first page! This was definitely a girls trip gone wrong! I loved that the story is told from each of the friend's point of view. It was a page turner and I didn't expect the ending! Definitely go pre-order this one!

Liz plans a hiking trip through Norway and invites her best friends Maggie, Helena and Joni to join her for a girls trip of a lifetime. . . but it goes horribly wrong. Secrets come to light and a killer is on their trail . . . will they all make it out alive?

Wow! I was so shocked at how much I enjoyed this story!

It had all the butter: Norwegian girls trip, inexperienced hikers meet the impenetrable and volatile mother nature, survival of the elements... and each other?

I grew to care about and root for each woman-- flaws and all. Even the "black sheep" character could find redemption.

The thrill in this thriller was no joke-- it was always present, just lurking beneath the shadows until it was in your face; you could imagine their fear as visceral as a vice around your neck.

I felt that the story was very well written and I finished it in two days, despite only reading it before bed each night!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Putnam Books for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Four lifelong friends from England take their regular girlfriends getaway this year to hike a mountain in Norway (Liz's pick) and things go from regular hiking complaints like blisters and too heavy packs to much, much worse. Each woman is dealing with what life has thrown at them on top of the mountain misery. Solid story with well-developed characters. I can't specify because it would be a spoiler, but the sudden absence of a couple of characters in a scene towards the end was a bit of head scratcher.

A psychological thriller, four best friends travel on vacation to go hiking in Norway,
Joni, a famous singer
Maggie, divorced with a daughter
Helena, single who might be pregnant
Liz,a married with doctor with twins who’s recently separated
Each friend with their own secrets and personal issues, things take a sinister twist. It’s an eerie claustrophobic atmosphere, a fun read but a bit too much of a slow burn.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK HarperFiction and Netgalley for the ARC.

Painfully boring. The women didn't start going on their hike until 27% into the story. I like a slow burn but a lot of it seemed too unnecessary. I had to stop reading after about 35% as this book just wasn't for me.

“No help.
No cell coverage.
No one to hear them scream.”

Personal Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Big fan of all the strong women characters in Lucy Clarke’s novels, and this was no exception. This follows 4 women on their annual girls trip, as they come to terms with issues in their own personal lives, and set out on the hike of a lifetime on a famous Norway trail and mountain, where one woman recently went missing and is presumed dead. With a small part played by Leif the lodge owner adding a bit of mystery to the mix! Admittingly, it took a large percentage of the novel to differentiate the characters, but in the end, I was cheering for them all as they worked through their life issues and healed through nature and friendship.

Thank you G.P Putman and Lucy Clarke for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion, this book hits shelves August 29th!

Synopsis: Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need. But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains. The wilderness hides secrets darker than they could ever have imagined, and if they’re not careful . . . not all of them will return.

This book was pretty good. When you trade lounging on a beach, with margaritas, for a hiking trip with your friends what could go wrong?
Each year Maggie, Liz, Helena & Joni met up for a weekend vacation. This year, things got a little hectic. Will they all make it out of the wilderness alive? Are the tumors if Blafjell Mountain true? Read this to find out.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very mediocre thriller, the involvement of drugs felt like it ruined the scariness of it all and was lackluster in its ending.
Thanks to netGalley, the Author and the publisher for the ARC

The Hike is a thoroughly enjoyable read about four friends who hike the mountains of Norway as a temporary escape from the problems in their lives. The setting is impressive, and this reviewer gives credit to the author for traveling to the scene to research the trail her characters follow.

The story is told from each woman's POV in alternating chapters. I liked that each chapter is clearly marked as to who is speaking and told in her unique voice. The pacing, like the movements of the characters, slows or moves faster, giving the novel added depth. There are many twists and turns and a few surprises along the dangerous paths the women have chosen, both in their limited adventure and their personal lives. A really good book and a recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

I loved the atmosphere - a group of friends hiking a remote location and knowing tragedy will strike. Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I flew through this with a fast paced plot and short chapters (the best in these kinds of books). Overall, 4/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is set to publish on August 29, 2023.

Although this book was not my favorite Lucy Clarke book to date, it was still really good! I am a fan of Lucy Clarke and will continue to read anything she puts out! This book was intriguing from start to finish, but for me, some of the characters and writing fell flat at times, but it would continually pull itself back together as a story. I enjoyed reading this wilderness thriller that had me turning pages pretty quickly. Overall, this was a solid read that anyone who likes thrillers and especially wilderness/survival thrillers with a lot of interpersonal aspects.

3/5

Slow to start but did get good.
I didn’t love it
It was really hard to push past the slow start