This was a twisty read that had me guessing the whole book! Tom and Alice go on a road trip in the RV in hopes of healing. They come across a set of hitchhikers that aren’t what they seem. They introduced themselves as Ocean and Blue, but really they’re Simon and Jenny, and they’re running away from a trail of destruction.

This is my first book by Chevy. I felt it was a slow burn thriller. I enjoyed the multiple POVs on both sides of the story. Have you ever thought of picking up Hitchhikers? Probably not nowadays, but if you were around in the 1970's, you probably have! This story will definitely make sure you never do!
I felt for Tom and Alice and I even had sympathy for Jenny. The character of Simon was easy for me to hate. I kept hoping he would change!!
Overall, it was an interesting storyline.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions and comments are my own.

Note: I'm leaving this book a "neutral" three stars because I failed to finish it and NetGalley requires a rating. My Goodreads review will not include a star rating.

Nope, I'm out. DNF'ing at 31%. For some reason I thought this would be a psychological thriller about a couple who picks up two hitchhikers and slowly starts to suspect that there's more to their passengers than meets the eye. This is … not that. I have a hard time with books that portray realistic violence (or even threats of violence) committed by someone in a position of control over another, and there's no way I'm going to make it through 200+ more pages of coercion via intimidation and physical abuse. The writing is good and the author is obviously talented, but unfortunately this just isn't the right book for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.

The perfect thriller for Fall!

I can't wait until they turn this into a movie. I was so invested in what would become of Alice and Tom on their horrifying journey... I stayed up way too late to see how it ended!

In a world full of Simons, be an Alice!

Holy Shooty Balls, this book absolutely blew me away—equal parts terrifying and heartbreaking, this twisty, relentless stunner gripped me from start to finish!

Gritty, chilling, and unrelenting!

Starting off in Golden, BC, then winding through Kimberley, down to Cranbrook, and east along the Crowsnest Highway toward Alberta, this novel hit every nerve. I know those roads well—the tight curves, thick forest, remote stretches, and uneasy quiet between mountain towns—and Chevy Stevens brings them to life with eerie, cinematic precision. I also loved the 1970s setting, which added such a raw, nostalgic edge to the story. And when an iconic local motel was mentioned—a place that’s no longer there—it gave me a true blast-from-the-past moment. That jolt of recognition pulled me even deeper into the tension and atmosphere.

Tom and Alice’s road trip is meant to be a fresh start after an unbearable tragedy—but when they pick up two seemingly harmless hitchhikers, things spiral into a nightmare. Ocean and Blue, also known as Jenny and Simon, are more than just dangerous. They’re chaos in human form.

I love Chevy Stevens’ prose—it’s cinematic and peppered with emotive gut-punches that hit me when I least expected them. The plot is packed with twists I didn’t see coming. Every turn adds depth rather than shock for shock’s sake, raising the emotional and psychological stakes in ways that felt earned and impactful. It’s equal parts pulse-pounding and heart-wrenching, a dark, twisty ride I couldn’t look away from.

There’s a creeping dread that builds beautifully throughout, but what sets this apart is the emotional core. Beneath all the terror and tension is a raw, aching exploration of grief, guilt, and survival. The shifting perspectives, the painful secrets, the complex characters—I was completely riveted. And just when I thought I could breathe, another revelation left me reeling.

The Hitchhikers gave me all the feels. It’s gritty and gripping from start to finish, a masterclass in suspense with real emotional weight behind every twist.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Highly recommended for readers who like their thrillers dark, character-driven, and impossible to put down.

I loved the setting of this, and I thought the author did a great job of differentiating between the two narrators. I never got to know Simon, though, and so a lot of the fear and dread I could have felt was stifled. I also think part of the issue is the marketing for the book -I see the "twist-laden" blurb everywhere, but that wasn't really accurate.
This was straightforward as can be -but not in a bad way.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four and a half stars rounded up to five. Tom and Alice bought an RV and hit the open road. It's 1976 and they plan to attend some Olympic events in Canada. They offer a young couple, Ocean and Blue, a ride to the next town. That's when things go totally wrong...
This book was so good! I basically read it in one sitting. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. There was a clever twist at the end that I definitely did not see coming. Highly, highly recommended.

Thanks in advance to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I remember devouring Chevy Stevens' debut novel, Still Missing, years ago, and have enjoyed all of her books since. So I was thrilled when I was granted the opportunity to read her upcoming novel, The Hitchhikers, ahead of it's October release. It's set in the summer of 1976 (the summer I happened to be born), and as I was expecting a suspenseful read from Stevens, I saved it for the first day of my summer break. And whew - it did not disappoint.

Alice and Tom, a couple from Seattle who have recently experienced heartbreak, have bought an RV to travel and camp up into Canada on their own summer break. They are hoping the change of scenery will help to heal their hearts and relationship. Near the beginning of their trip, they pick up two young hitchhikers, Ocean and Blue, who appear to be down on their luck hippies, and offer them shelter for the night and a ride the next day. Unfortunately for Alice and Tom, Ocean and Blue are actually named Jenny and Simon, and they are not at all what they appear to be...and things take off from there and the intensity does not let up.

I found the entire story suspenseful and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The descriptions of the beautiful landscape took me there in my mind, and made the horrors even worse. I felt a growing sense of dread with each chapter, wondering where it would all end, and a few parts were so frustrating to read and not be able to do anything (small spoiler alert: the dog lives! I have to add that in since I worried nonstop as soon as Bones the dog made his appearance in the second half of the book).

A handful of chapters are set in the past and while I didn't like them quite as much as the 'current' storyline, they did help to flesh out Jenny's character in particular. Jenny and Alice were both very well done as characters, and I felt for both of them at different times. As mentioned, it was very suspenseful and I felt tense as things built, wondering how on earth it would all wrap up. I am pleased to say, I found the ending a little bit twisty, though not surprising to me, and overall satisfying. 4 stars for this nail biter, which would make an excellent movie, and a huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Portland, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake.

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

I love this author! I really loved her book, Sold On A Monday and I have The Ways We Hide on my TBR.

This was a very powerful story. I love learning about a time period that I didn't know anything about That's why I love
historical fiction novels. You can tell that the author did a lot of research on this book. She is a great storyteller. I thought that this was very entertaining and a great adventure. This book is heartbreaking and tormenting. This was such a sad time in our history. I love reading historical fiction so that our history will not be forgotten.

My favorite character was Celia. I felt so sorry for her. She awakes in an underground cell drugged and disguised. Celia then realizes that she is a shanghaied victim on the verge of being shipped off, as forced labor leaving behind those she loves most. She is abducted and wants to get her memory back. She was dressed like a man. Celia is a little naive and too trusting but very brave. She fights for what she feels is right. She is very kind. She is half Chinese passing as white .

I love the ending and thought it was heartwarming.

I want to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Wow, The Hitchhikers does not disappoint! From the very first chapter, the authors ability to create tension and suspense pulled me in making jt hard to stop reading. It is the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom are embarking on a much needed vacation. Their relationship is struggling after experiencing a tragedy and they are both ready for a fresh start. However, their paths swiftly cross that of Ocean and Blue, 2 young hitchhikers who may not be quite as innocent as they seem. As their lives become ever more intertwined, the truth of their situation comes out and Alice realizes none of them may make it home alive. With interesting characters, both relatable and twisted, Chevy Stevens leads us on a wild, fast paced and suspenseful journey in her latest work, The Hitchhikers.

I just finished reading the digital arc of this book, and I wasn't disappointed. As a fan who has read all her books, I would definitely rank this among her top three. The story draws you in from the first couple of chapters, making you invested in the characters and plot. Some twists in the storyline were unexpected and caught me off guard. Overall, I highly recommend it.

The hitchhikers is a slow angtsy(ish) thriller/mystery. Im not one to generally tell people to hang on until the end, but feel like that needs to be said with this one. At times, I found myself frustrated with the plot, thinking there were several other ways to handle a situation. But the end pulled it together and made ot worth it! Not my forat book by Chevy Steven's and won't be the last. Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

The Hitchhikers
by Chevy Stevens
Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
“The Hitchhikers” is about Tom and Alice going on a trip in their RV in the 70’s, after suffering a loss of their own. They are road tripping to Canada, then see two hitchhikers! Stranger danger!! These hitchhikers are named Jenny and Simon and they are full of secrets and deceit. These hitchhikers end up being two people they should have never picked up!

Unfortunately, what I had anticipated as a suspenseful thriller developed into a gritty and violent struggle for survival. The violent rampage continues for the majority of the novel and is a struggle to read at times. It is far too long and could have been edited down without losing the essence of the story. There is ultimately some redemption and hope at the end of all this darkness, but it takes a long time to get there. I really enjoyed Dark Roads by the same author, so it is a shame this one didn’t work out for me.

I’ll admit I’m a huge critic of thrillers. It’s so hard to get them right but the ones that are right are AMAZING. I’ve read a few Chevy Stevens books and this one is no different in fact maybe my favorite?
It’s 1976 and Tom & Alice are road tripping from Seattle to the Olympics in Canada. They give Ocean & Blue, two young hitchhikers a lift. Ocean & Blue aren’t who they say they are as most people in thrillers don’t. They’re actually Simon & Jenny who are on the run for killing Jenny’s mom and stepdad. Oh and Jenny’s pregnant. I really did enjoy this one. The adventures that the absolutely terrible Bonnie & Clyde take poor Tom & Alice on are almost comical. Simon is absolutely insane. The Dairy Queen milkshake? Randomly being obsessed with a farm dog? Normally the make or break moment of these books for me is the ending and this one wrapped up very nicely 4.5/5⭐️

This was such a fantastic thrill ride! The Hitchhikers felt very much like The Strangers meets a tense psychological thriller—a disturbing take on home invasion. The setup is perfect: a nice, middle-aged couple offers help to a young couple on the run… but everything goes horribly wrong. It’s dark, suspenseful, and impossible to put down.

The whole time I wanted to yell at the characters like in a scary movie—“GIRL, what are you doing?!” That made it even more fun to read.

Highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers and psychological suspense. You’ll definitely want this one on your reading list.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced digital copy of The Hitchhikers!

I love Chevy Stevens, nd this one did not disappoint! It gave all the creepy, 1970s vibes of people hitchhiking. A young couple who recently went through a miscarriage and are trying to reconnect take a road trip in their van. They pick up an even younger couple who are hitchhiking, but then they hear on the radio about a young couple (with the same description) as being wanted in a murder. The book is filled with tensio,n and I loved it!

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens pulled me in right away with its gritty atmosphere and emotional undercurrents. Set against the remote Canadian highways of 1976, the story balances suspense with deeply human questions: What makes someone "bad"? How much of who we are is shaped by circumstance? And when does kindness become dangerous?

This wasn’t just a thriller—it felt like a character study wrapped in tension. Stevens does a great job creating layered, flawed characters that feel real. While some of the plot points were predictable, I didn’t mind being along for the ride. I actually like letting a story unfold at its own pace, even if I can see where it's headed.

That said, I do think a few sections dragged a bit with detail that didn’t feel entirely necessary. A slightly tighter edit could’ve elevated the pacing without losing the emotional weight. Still, it was a solid, memorable read—and as my first Chevy Stevens novel, it definitely won’t be my last. I’m already adding more of her work to my TBR list.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

This book was suspenseful and stressful and… sweaty? Idk how to explain it but I felt like I was trapped in that RV with them.
Throughout the book you definitely get the feeling that something is off with Jenny and Simon but you’re not quite sure what. You know they’re on the run and likely killed Jenny’s parents but you don’t know why. Unfortunately the book kind of fell flat on the making you wonder why. Like, I should be trying to figure out these characters motives and plan but instead it felt like I was just along for the ride. You do find out eventually and everything just made me feel for Jenny’s character but for most of the book I just wasn’t that invested in their back story.
Alice is a certified badass. She puts up with so much and keeps Jenny and Simon in line to protect herself and Tom and honestly idk how she did it. I would’ve given up immediately but she stayed so strong throughout the whole book.
Poor Tom was just… there. Having a bad time. At first he seemed kind of bland but he really grew on me and I loved how he made sure Alice knew how much he loved and respected her.
This is a great summer thriller. Youve got cross country road trip meets hostage situation with a little bit of armed robbery mixed in. It does get a little repetitive in the middle but I did fly though it and I had a good time reading this book. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC!

Chevy Stevens is an automatic read author for me. The Hitchhikers was a reminder of why I enjoy her novels so much.

I was gripped from the start of this novel. Chevy has a way of making you empathize with all her characters. Even though some of Simon and Jenny's choices seem irredeemable by the end you can't help but have an understanding of why they felt the ways they did. The ending of this book was beautiful in a bittersweet way. It also left me feeling bittersweet. I highly enjoyed this book, but am a little sad that I don't have another to read by the author. I can't wait for her next novel.


Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Chevy Stevens for allowing me to read this ARC.

This was my first book by Chevy Steven’s but I will definitely be reading more. This book kept me hooked the entire time. It was quite the ride (no pun intended). There were some surprises at the end as well. Will recommend this one for sure.