Another riveting read from Chevy Stevens.! It was a fast paced thriller/suspense story that pulls you in immediately. You will get absolutely nothing done when you pickup this book. It had a good mix of creepiness and suspense with a back story about each character so you can understand each persons motivation. By the end of the story I even liked a character I hated in the beginning and that never happens for me. Chevy does a great job letting us know details about each character that makes you connect with them. I loved the story and the ending was very satisfying.

Chevy Stevens delivers another gripping thriller with The Hitchhiker. Tense, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, it hooks you from the first page. The story is fast-paced with just the right amount of twists, and the characters feel raw and real. If you enjoy psychological suspense with strong female leads and a haunting setting, this one’s a must-read.

This is the second book I've read by Chevy Stevens. The Hitchhikers is well-written, and the lead characters are believable and well-drawn. The sweeping Canadian landscape adds depth to the story. The young villains in this novel, Simon and Jenny, are truly cold-blooded. Our likeable protagonists Alice and Tom are repaid with violence for their kindness to these hitchhikers. Lesson learned, too late.

The Hitchhikers would have been a five-star read for me but for the relatively even pacing. There were no real highs and lows for most of the book. I expected one high action clash between Alice and Simon before the first half of the novel. I wanted Alice to find a way to fight back before continuing her unwelcome journey with the antagonists. I wanted more risk taking, more active resistance. There is one high point in the final chapters, but the pacing is more of the same throughout the second half of the book. There are some interesting twists in the final chapters, and the satisfactory conclusion ties the story together. Overall, The Hitchhikers is an entertaining read that old and new fans of Chevy Stevens might enjoy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

3.5 ⭐️I read this book quite quickly and have no real complaints other than it didn’t feel similar to previous books by this author. I have always relied on this author for some pretty dark content which I love. This book didn’t get as twisted as I had hoped it would. I hate to say that it felt like a story I have read many times before. That being said, I have been a big fan of this author for a while and will continue to read everything she writes. Still a solid story, just different than what I expected.

A lot of twists and turns but I found the characters were predictable. I enjoy thrillers and this started off as interesting but the story dragged.

Thank you netgalley and publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.

This book was a gripping, slightly anxiety-inducing ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. It follows two hitchhikers who end up traveling across the country with an unsuspecting couple—and things quickly spiral into a tense hostage situation. The male hitchhiker is clearly unhinged, bringing an intense, unpredictable energy to the story, while the female, pregnant and seemingly more sympathetic, adds a layer of emotional complexity.
While some elements were a bit predictable, the way the story unfolded kept me entertained and on edge. The pacing was strong, and even though I saw the twist coming, it wasn’t until later in the book—which I appreciated. The suspense built gradually but effectively, and I found myself genuinely invested in how everything would resolve.
That said, I did find myself frustrated at times with the main couple. They often just let things happen to them without pushing back or thinking critically, which made certain scenes feel more infuriating than suspenseful. Their passivity took away some of the tension, since it felt like they were just along for the ride instead of actively trying to survive or escape.
If you're into psychological thrillers with high-stakes road trip vibes and flawed, morally gray characters, this one is definitely worth a read.

Also posted to goodreads.com

The setting of the book is great, total 1970s nostalgia! The descriptions of the clothes and the appearances of people really make you feel like you’re back in time. And with no current technology for the characters to use for help, you get a sense of how trapped they really are. Long stretches of desolate highway, where anyone can disappear in a second. You know the story can’t possibly end well for everyone, so there’s the suspense of who will be the last ones standing. Spending so much time together causes the characters to bond in unexpected ways, and it’s bittersweet because you know it can’t last.

The book does drag a bit in spots, which is expected and perhaps intentional, reflecting the long stretches of time on the open road. There were random characters like the church members who just seemed like fillers to add more action to the story. But it’s a fun read that should keep you engaged, and dare I say it’d be perfect for a road trip!

The Hitchhikers is a complex book about loss, betrayal and ultimately redemption. It starts off with Alice and Tom, a couple traveling in their RV in 1976 in an effort to reconnect with each other. They offer a ride to a young couple and it turns out to be a devastating mistake. Simon and Jenny are suspects in multiple murders and will do anything to get away from their hometown. Simon incapacitates Tom and forces Alice to comply with his every demand. The tense story takes the reader on a thrill ride which ultimately has a satisfying and even hopeful ending. I love Chevy Stevens books because she creates complex characters who make the readers care about their stories. She also once again skillfully uses Canada as a beautiful backdrop to the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Chevy Stevens has become one of my favorite authors over the years. This was not my absolute favorite of hers but definitely will stick with me for awhile. Jenny and Simon are on the run from some trouble and are hitchhiking their way out of town when Alice and her husband, Tom encounter them camping in their RV. Alice and Tom are on a cross-country trip in their new RV dealing with some troubles of their own. What happens when Alice and Tom discover the truth about their new companions? And what adventures await! This book was slow in spots but picked up in others. The ending was predictable but good! Thanks to #Stmartinspress and #netgalley for the ARC. Definitely one to watch for this fall!

I was so excited to receive this book in an advanced reader copy! Thank you to netgalley for proving me to read this book!

I absolutely devoured the story! It was so good and so captivating! I was on the edge of my seat!

This is my first book by Chevy Stevens and I was very intrigued by the title. We all think of a title like The Hitchhikers and the possibilities of what can go wrong is endless. This was a good thriller and kept me entertained. Check this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, net galley, for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This one had me hooked from the beginning! I loved the premise of the story, and the characters, but did feel a little frustrated with the storyline as it all played out. However, I did enjoy the ending and feel that it made the book good overall. 3.5 stars rounded up

I just wanted to say thank you to Netgally, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Hitchhikers this was an amazing book, one of the best thrillers I have read in a while!

* Tropes/themes:
* Dual POV
* High stakes
* Trapped
* Guilt/innocence
* Trauma
* Survival
* A bit slow in the beginning but it’s not too long before the action kicks into high gear and never lets up.
* Constantly guessing what would happen next.
* Kept me on the edge of my seat- a real nail biter.
* Emotional
* Complex characters and relationships
* Gory at times
* Suspenseful, action-packed, and full of drama
* At first I felt the ending was too rushed but I changed my mind and truly enjoyed the last chapter and the epilogue
* Content warnings:
* Death/murder
* Kidnapping
* Miscarriage
* Child abuse
* Child SA
* Gun violence
* Infertility

Special thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Chevy Stevens, and NetGalley for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I very much enjoyed the vintage vibes of this one, it simply wasn't as suspenseful as I'd hoped. Everything happened exactly as I expected them to.

I liked our characters, though I thought our MC's husband needed a little more...something. He's kind of bland.

Our on-the-run duo was fun to read and about as tragic as you expect.

All in all, a respectable read.

* ARC via Publisher

A somewhat predictable thriller that I enjoyed but not as much as other books I’ve read by this author. A young couple in the late 1970s takes a cross country trip in Canada and inadvertently picks up another young couple wanted for murder. The violence was dark, but the twists not as shocking. A bit repetitive- maybe a tad too long.

Chevy Stevens NEVER disappoints and The Hitchhikers is no exception. I couldn’t put it down from the minute I started it. I took my daughter to see Minecraft in theaters today and I couldn’t stop thinking about this book while we were in the movie. I eventually pulled out my phone so I could continue reading on my kindle app. My daughter was not happy, but I literally couldn’t stop reading it until I finished. The way Chevy tells stories is so engaging and artistic. I could literally feel my pulse quicken multiple times throughout. This is a true edge of your seat thriller that I highly recommend to anyone.

>>>>> for some fun book-inspired illustrations, check out my blog :) <<<<<<

Another HIT from Chevy Stevens.

An absolutely chaotic emotional rollercoaster.
I felt like I was in it with Alice and Ted and Blue and Ocean.
My heart was racing. I barely breathed for the full 36 hours it took me to tear through this thing.

The twists were brutal and perfectly timed. This book left me staring at the wall like… what just happened?

un-put-down-able.
This is an anxiety inducing and suspenseful story filled with characters that I couldn’t figure out if I was rooting for or against or maybe a little of both. A lot of the anxiety I felt while reading this was the fact that Alice and Tom’s behaviors and reactions felt hyper realistic and relatable. I could see myself trying to behave in similar ways if I was caught in this situation. It felt like I could really understand what they were going through.

That’s one of my favorite things about Chevy’s books - how realistic and nuanced the characters are.

I enjoy thrillers and this started off as an interesting premise but I couldn't get into the characters and the story dragged. I thought there would be more twists than there were but this was a pretty standard kidnapping with a predictable plot.

Chevy Stevens is the author of my all time favorite book and I was SO excited to get an arc for her newest one coming later this year! I loved how quick a gritty this one was! It’s a long story but so much is going on that I zoomed through it. The storyline was unique and kept me hooked the entire time. There were many plot points that propelled the story further that made sense and worked so well.