I initially was thinking of giving this book a 4 or 5 stars when I first started reading it. The book started off incredibly promising. I thought the premise and characters were interesting. The pros: The writing is good, the pacing is good, the plot development is good, it keeps the suspense going throughout and you are never bored while reading it.

The cons...SPOILERS AHEAD:

As a mother myself, it was completely unbelievable to think that 2 mothers with young children would embark on a very dangerous hike without a guide..and none of them were really that experienced either. The amount of times they were in life threatening situations where they almost died was almost comical in relation to the fact that they left young children at home and were so willing to risk their lives just to hike a mountain and leave their kids, potentially without a mother.

The whole drug ring plot was totally unoriginal. I thought it would have been better without the drug plot and the "super villain" leading the drug ring.

Finally---what really made me give this 3 stars (and I almost considered 2 stars for this reason) was the internalized misogyny, which the more I think about, makes me feel gross. While reading it, I noticed 2 of the 4 characters were mothers and one discovers she is pregnant while on the trip. The 4th character is a drug addicted rock star who is aimless and has no real purpose for her existence, so she does stupid things to hide her unhappiness. I was hoping she wouldn't be killed off but had a sinking feeling she would because misogyny tells us the "disposable" character is the childless one. And sure enough, in Joni's final scenes, she sacrifices herself for the other 3 because they have something to live for (their children). The message here is that women are worthless and on the chopping block if they are childless, and purposeless without a child. In fact, the one woman who is pregnant ends up having her child and then all of the sudden her life has meaning and purpose again. I find motherhood rewarding and amazing and still found these tropes offensive.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of Lucy Clarke’s newest thriller!
In The Hike, a group of friends set out for their annual vacation together, but this time they’re trading poolside margaritas for something a bit more rugged —- a four day strenuous hike in the mountains of Norway.
It was a little bit of a slow start, as the reader had to get to know the four characters individually, but once they set off on their hike, the story quickly turned in to an entertaining survivalist thriller. Would recommend for fans of Lucy Clarke and for anyone looking for an easy adventure read!

One of the best books I've read this year! I couldn't put this book down and was hooked from the start! I'd recommend this to everyone because it's that great of a book. 5 star in every way! Ah the suspense and mystery of this book was at an all time high, my heart was pounding so much while reading!

3.75. Good read! I thought the author did a great job with character development and descriptions. Felt like I could picture where they were perfectly. Loved the plot twists as well. Only thing that was hard for me was the multiple POV and storylines. But overall good read and will recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy a good mystery/thriller with fantastic writing. I loved the buildup and slow unraveling of information at the beginning, followed by the general sensation of claustrophobia created by the mountain environment. Thank you, Penguin, for sharing this galley with me!

The Hike follows four best friends as they set out to hike the Norwegian wilderness. Told from alternating viewpoints, we watch as these four women brave the elements, discover themselves, and fight for each other.

I enjoy a wilderness based thriller. The setting is so spooky with storms and danger around every turn. I didn’t like Joni’s character very much and felt like the story was a bit predictable. Overall it was a fast-paced, middle of the road thriller. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

This book was good! I’ve been in a little bit of a slump and it pulled me out! It’s giving slow burn but I’m telling you those last 75 pages were a blur in the best way. The story telling and the intricate and complicated layers of the relationship. If you need a easy, quick thriller this is the vibes. Comes out August 29th!

This thrilling journey follows four women, a group of childhood friends, as they embark on a four-day hike through the Norwegian countryside. Hoping for a momentary break from their lives, Liz, Maggie, Helena, and Joni are soon forced to confront the exact things they’re running from as the Svelle trail and Blafjell mountain, and the secrets hidden there, welcome them into the wilderness.

Each woman’s character development gives them a distinct voice and personality through which we learn about their lives and see their experiences along the hike. The short, digestible chapters and rotating POV between the four of them keep the reader invested in and connected to each woman while moving through the novel at a speed conducive to building honest tension, excitement, and mystery.

The constant uncertainty and increasingly high stakes of the hike keep readers hooked and on the edge of their seats right up until the end of the novel. I will say that some of the plot twists seemingly come out of nowhere and feel random at first, but they are threaded back to the beginning of the novel and explained fully. However, the twists aren’t apparent enough for any reader to guess, or really even consider, until they are introduced late in the novel, which, while exciting for some readers may be too twisty for others.

Overall, I found the story to have solid writing, surprising plot twists, detailed character development, and genuine thrill, taking the reader on an exciting and fast-paced adventure.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

Generally I enjoyed this book; the descriptive language right off the bat is lush and vibrant, the female friendships were wholesome yet realistically flawed. I'm a really good plot twist predictor so that element didn't hit for me, but I thought the suspense was really well done especially with the shorter chapters. I struggled a little keeping track of whose point of view we were in, probably because for 80% of the story the 4 characters were in the same vicinity going through the same experience. Also the explanation point was overused a bit which sort've dumbed down the experience for the reader. I don't need to see an exclamation to know what just happened was important.

Overall a suspenseful read that I blew through pretty quickly!

Amazing book. You could feel all the emotions of the characters. It left me crying at the end. I could not put the book down. Clearly and well written. It took you through the twists and turns. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year.

A thrill a minute, breathtaking scenery and unbreakable friendships- this exciting page turner has it all! I absolutely could NOT put it down! When 4 friends meet in Norway for their yearly vacation to backpack the Blafjell mountains, they all have misgivings. Usually their annual trip includes beaches and booze, but Liz picked a four day hike into the wilderness for this year’s getaway. While they hike they must rely on each other and themselves to get them through the unforgiving terrain, unpredictable weather and feeling that something isn’t quite right- are they being followed? And if so, by who… and why. As they hike, they stumble on a deadly secret. As they try to solve a year-old mysterious disappearance and survive the next four days they realize that not all of them may make it out alive. This book grabbed me from the first page and kept me reading late into the night! Great descriptions of an amazing setting, complex characters and a crafty mystery. 4 1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley for giving me a digital copy.

This was my first Lucy Clarke book and now I see why people love her. Interesting plot, full fleshes out characters, surprises and twists. And best of all really really well written. This woman can write! Will be reading more of her now. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

Unfortunately this book was not for me at all. I found it boring and I struggled to finish it. This was a true bummer since I enjoyed the author's first book so much. I have found that I do not really enjoy "thrillers" that take place in the mountain. I also did not connect well with any of the characters. The ending was far fetched and not really all that interesting. I almost DNF'd this book.

📚book review📚
The Hike by Lucy Clarke @lucyclarke_author
Pages: 384
Genre: thriller
ARC: yes
⭐️: 5/5

synopsis ✍️

4 best friends go on their yearly vacation to hike a mountain in Norway. It’s only a 4 day hike and they’re together, so nothing can go wrong, right?
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My thoughts:
I really, really loved this book! It was fast-paced, held my attention, and I loved the multiple POV’s! The ending shocked me 😮 but I’m not gonna even allude to it, to make it spoiler free here as this is an ARC 🤫🤐 I’m starting to realize I have a deep love for thrillers than I originally thought ☺️ i would buy more Lucy Clarke after this tbh..I read it in one day! Love, love, love!
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Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Clarke, and Harper Collins publishing for the arc. This is my completely unbiased opinion after having read the book.
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Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the copy of The Hike by Lucy Clarke. If you’re looking for a fast, engaging read, this is the book for you. I didn’t ever really warm up to Liz, Maggie, Helena, or Joni, but I liked how they were so different and each had her own secrets and challenges. It didn’t seem realistic that they would embark on a hiking trip in the mountains without a guide or at least someone who had already hiked there and that they weren’t all in the best shape or have the proper equipment for such a grueling trip. The writing was so good it pulled me right into the story and the characters’ lives and the story was really well-paced. This is the perfect Summer read!

I have read every one of Lucy's books. I was beyond excited to get an ARC of this one. I was a little hesitant because of the hiking plot line. I feel like it has been a bit over done with thrillers lately and to be honest, I hate hiking. But Lucy has done it again. This book is so good. I have recommended to everyone to read it. I love her books so much. I want everyone to read it. I am so happy to have read this book.

The Hike is a solid survival thriller with top notch writing and a thrilling pace. I enjoyed all four main characters and the alternating narration. The drama within the friend group was not too overdone and felt realistic. The setting of the Norwegian mountain and countryside was beautifully portrayed and the author did a great job using the harsh elements to elevate the tension. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good outdoor survival story, an intriguing murder mystery, and strong characters.

Liz, Maggie, Helena, and Joni have been friends since high school. Every year they plan a girls trip. This year Liz plans a trip to hike in Norway. Each chapter is told from the point of view of each woman. Each has issues they are working out. Some have secrets that will eventually come out during the hike. Also during the hike they encounter unpredictable weather, and find themselves in a dangerous situation. This is a fast paced, suspenseful thriller with short chapters and multiple points of view. I really enjoyed this as I enjoy all of Lucy Clarke's books!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Random House for the E-ARC! I really enjoyed this book! The twists were so good and I really liked the characters. I will definitely read more from this author.

4 stars!
lots of twist and turns and I enjoyed the short chapters! Short chapters are superior!!!
Childhood friends who go hiking in the mountains in Norway and then boom a murder happens on the trail they are walking in. Now they gotta survive and get out of there asap. This book despite its shorts chapters did feel kind of slow :(
This book did give me some anxiety and confirmed that hiking is not my thing at all. Im legit scared of the woods and this book really said: this is your sign not to go hiking