Well, I really did not care for this book. Unlikable characters and an entirely predictable plot made it a struggle to complete and I wish I didn’t waste my time on it.

The synopsis for Girls’ Night Out makes the story seem much more interesting than it actually is. There are no earth shattering secrets revealed and really no suspense. I’ve read some reviews talking about the great twist ending and I am here to tell you that is false. If you are looking for a really character-driven novel about insufferable women not getting along, then this book is for you. If you’re looking for mystery and suspense and some shocking twists, you should probably take a hard pass on this one.

Ashley was a very selfish, very self-indulgent character. While she seemed to have good intentions, her selfishness was still at the root of all her actions. It was very hard to feel bad for the beautiful, charming (aka: manipulative), rich, self-centered “victim”. Natalie was also not a likable character. She let herself be steamrolled by Ashley for pretty much their whole relationship and is only beginning to show her resentment towards it. I couldn’t help but feel like if she was just more honest with Ashley then maybe she could have talked some sense into her before things got so far gone. Lauren was basically a pointless character. I really don’t have any idea why she was even in the story, except to add just a tiny bit more drama and shine a brighter light on Ashley’s inability to maintain positive relationships. Lauren also has a scandalous addiction that is mentioned and then nothing really else happened with it. It didn’t portray how damaging it is or how it really affected her day to day life. It seemed like it was just something thrown in for shock value and felt a little irresponsible to me.

Overall, I just really didn’t like Girls’ Night Out. I feel like basically your guess from the first chapter pretty much ends up being true and it made a lot of the middle just seem pointless. I also am not a fan of the “amnesia/blackout” trope which the story heavily relied on. Maybe if the characters were a little more likable it would make up for the poor plot, but unfortunately they just made it worse. The only reason this is getting more than one star from is because I liked the use of multiple POVs and timelines.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2 Stars

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have created another must-read novel, Girls’ Night Out. This book is about friendships and how much pressure the bonds of those friendships can handle.

Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren are long-time friends who have drifted apart and try to reconnect through a girls-only trip to Mexico. Along the way, their already-strained relationships are tested even further, culminating in the disappearance of Ashley. Throughout the novel, the women search for answers on many levels. What happened to the friendships they once knew? How did they end up where they are personally and professionally? And, most pressing, where is Ashley and what decisions have led her there?

The novel is told from three different points of view and also hops around in time, but these changes are easy to follow, and they make sense with the story. I did feel, however, that all three women are immature and selfish and impossible to connect with. The characters are well developed, but I could not buy into the idea that grown women would really act like Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren behave. The story is filled with cat-fighting, name-calling, reckless decisions, and “I hope you die” statements. Additionally, all three women have massive issues going on in their personal lives, which seems like an unfortunate coincidence.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher Lake Union Publishing, and authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for a copy of Girls’ Night Out in exchange for my honest review.

This is a Girls' Night Out gone wrong, really wrong.

Three friends, Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, go to Tulum, Mexico for a getaway.
In the course of their trip they attempt to mend broken bridges in their friendships, but ultimately the night before they leave Ashley disappears. And that is where the book begins. We spend the rest of the book figuring out what caused their friendships to go off track, the secrets their hiding, and why ultimately Ashley disappeared.

I struggled to get into this book initially. Between multiple view points and a changing timeline, it took me a bit to get a hang of who each of the characters were and what was happening in the story. It was probably half way when things really started to come together for me and then I sped through to the end. If you enjoy suspense and a little drama, I recommend this book to you. I do think it is ultimately worth the initial effort.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There is a very interesting premise behind Girls' Night Out: 3 BFFs who have been torn apart in recent months by business acquisitions and bad blood are coming together for a girl trip in Mexico to let loose and reconnect. Unfortunately, that's about where the intrigue ends. Ashley and Natalie have invented a styling product that Revlon wants to buy, and they're torn on whether or not to sell it - what is it called? The BloMe Brush. Yes, really. And then one day, they come out of a drunken stupor to realize one of their kind (Ashley) has gone missing. It goes about as far as you think it would considering a main beef between these women lies in the "BloMe Brush." I just can't get past that, it's very hard to suspend disbelief and get invested in a thriller when you have the phrase "BloMe Brush" lurking in the background, trying to take itself seriously.

3.5ish, rounded up. Girls' Night Out is the first book I've read by duo Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, and I'm definitely now thinking I need to pick up the copy of The Good Widow that I bought that's just been sitting on my shelf (never ending TBRs and languishing books- reader problems!). While this book features characters in an extreme and frightening circumstances, it still felt like a very true and heartfelt take on female friendship, and the highs, lows, and hurts that can exist within these relationships. It's a tense story as there are so many valid possibilities as to what could have happened to the missing friend- and the authors do an excellent job of keeping readers guessing up until the end. The pacing is fairly fast, making this a quick read- perfect for beach reading, though perhaps not on a Mexico girl's trip!

This started off so well..... 3 girlfriends go for a break to Mexico and after a few nights, one of the women disappears. They've all got issues both personally and between each other and the chapters weave together the story told from each woman's perspective. However, after a while, it just seemed to drag along and all of the women were irritating and frustrating so I no longer cared who had done what.
The 'romantic' inclusion of Marco, also felt added on and fake.

It's an OK read, but, for me it felt like a really good short story that has been elongated to a dragged out novel.

Overall a 2.5 star read for me.

I do appreciate the opportunity to preview - thanks to netgalley and LakeUnion publishing.

Started off intriguing, lost its suspense half way through and weak ending. It was an easy read, but won’t stay with me past tomorrow

Girls Night Out...a time to kick back, relax and catch up with the girls. Which is what Ashley planned on doing with her 2 friends Lauren & Natalie when she invited them on a trip to Mexico. One ends up dead, and one can’t remembee what happened that night.
I found this book focused way, way too much on the tension/arguments between friends. It was basically underlined in every. Single. sentence. And seemed overly dramatic and immature.

Loved the concept of 3 longtime friends from college getting back together after some harder times in their friendship for a trip to Mexico. Yes, I'm in 40's so this hits home with trying to reconnect with friends we may have lost touch with. I think we've all been there at some point, just maybe not to the extreme that these 3 have been through. What I enjoyed is that their problems could be any of our problems and if you have ever been to Mexico, then you know anything like this truly can happen.

The book keeps changing perspective from each of the 3 friends points of view. The book also shares all 3 women's thoughts and reasons behind most of their actions, just not all, which is what keeps you hanging and turning every page. I just had to find out what happened to each of them and their ultimate friendship which is literally revealed the last page. I also "saved" this read while I too was visiting the exact same Mexican destinations in the book which made it that much more thrilling and the perfect vacation summer beach read!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced read in exchange for this review.

Ashley, Lauren, and Natalie are estranged friends. They are on a getaway in Mexico in an attempt to bring their friendship back to life. In the middle of all this, Ashley disappears. Natalie and Lauren work to piece together the events to find Ashley.

This book tries too hard. Let's all laugh at Natalie and Ashley's business - the BloMe Brush. It's part of why their friendship is struggling. Each character has something they are dealing with so they all drown their worries in tequila to forget. I didn't find much of a mystery read. Mostly it's just why these three women should never be friends, and no amount of tequila and sunscreen is going to mend their friendship. I didn't like any of the main characters and was glad when it was all over. I think the authors would have had a better book had they given the characters one or two likeable qualities so you could at least root for them.

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, this book wasn't for me. I struggled to connect with any of the 3 main characters; almost 40 year old women who take a trip to Mexico trying to reconnect and repair failing friendships. I think part of my disconnect stemmed from the pacing and back and forth nature of the chapters which skips POV between the characters and days prior to or after an "incident". I also tend to enjoy more verbal dialogue, and this book was fairly heavy with internal monologue which got pretty repetitive. One glowing positive I can shout about is the excellent use of detail used in the scenery... I loved all the detail given to the landscape and excursions.

I'll be honest - I didn't expect much from this book. It centered around three friends, and involved one of them dying. Okay, I thought, it was obviously one of the two friends, right? Possibly, but maybe not - and finding out what really happened was an adventure all on its own. With three main characters it was hard at first to keep track of who was who, who was WITH who, who had kids and who didn't; but as I got further into the story, it became easier to tell them apart and keep them organized. I have to say though, the last chapter was a surprise. I had envisioned a different ending entirely, and was slightly disappointed; that's why this one only gets 4 stars. All in all a good effort, and I will be reading more by these authors.

WOW - what a book! Girls Night Out was one of those books that is really hard to put down. The lives of these 3 women will draw you in and you will keep wanting more. I loved that it kept me guessing right to the end - and what an ending!

It is the story of 3 estranged friends - Ashley, Natalie and Lauren. Their friendships have been struggling recently so they head down to Mexico for a girls weekend to try to mend it. The ladies find it hard to reconnect, with lies being told and secrets staying secrets. They spend a lot of time drinking and then they meet Marco. They don't all trust him but he is their willing tour guide.

Then one night Ashley does not come back to the hotel and nobody knows why or where she is. Did she run away from her problems or did their new friend Marco kidnap her? Or could it be something worse?


I really enjoyed this book, a quick and easy read that keeps you interested til the very end. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book to read. My opinions are in no way biased.

Ashley, Lauren, and Natalie think their trip to Mexico is going to fix things between them but.....This shifts between each woman and in time to tell the story of a friendship that's gone sour. The business relationship between Ashley and Lauren has colored a lot of what has happened since college. Now there's a crisis. You might find some of this a little annoying but it's very readable and quite entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow! I absolutely love this book. The friendships/trials/tribulations of three longtime (20 years) friends who try to reconnect on a girls trip to Tulum, Mexico. Told from three different views and moving from recent past to current, it was an exciting, interesting read. We learn more about each woman, her issues and how their friendship is being impacted. I cannot recommend this book enough. #Netgalley #girlsnightout

*I would like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Wow! My first book by these ladies and I have to say it was amazing! A true page turner
3 college friends reuniting on a Mexico trip. The secrets that are exposed
I loved these ladies, together the three of them had so many qualities both good and bad.
The backdrop of beautiful Mexico made me want to grab a pina colada and fly down !
A fast and amazing read !

GIRLS NIGHT OUT
BY Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Three girlfriends go on a trip to Mexico with the hopes of reconnecting and getting back the same feeling of love they had for each other when they were young. The trip however does not go as they hoped and not only are hearts broken but values are reevaluated.
This book is about friendship, love, resentment and loss. I really enjoy a good thriller for the heart pumping adrenaline rush. However what I love the most in a book that I don’t find in many psychological thrillers is the level of depth in emotion this book took me. My heart broke while reading GIRLS NIGHT OUT. I cried, I wanted to call my best friend and tell her I love her . This book has stayed with me and will continue.
This is an amazing book…I loved it! Read it!

#GirlsNightOut#Netgalley

Girl’s Night Out is the perfect summer thriller! I devoured this story of three friends trying to reunite by going on a trip. After it becomes apparent that their professional and personal lives are at an impasse, everything is put on the line with one last night out. One friend does not come back... and an investigation into what really happened makes them all question the roots of their friendship and what it can survive. I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Quick, easy read. I found some of the characters difficult to connect with. The one I truly felt sympathy for was Lauren. I enjoyed reading the book and the ending was surprising. Will be reading more by these authors!

I have been on a thriller binge lately and when I was offered Girls Night Out by NetGalley I made the mistake of thinking it would be something nice and girly for a change. I was wrong! After the first chapter I was hooked and soon realised this was a Girls Night Out that I wouldn’t want to go on!
Like any relationship, long term friendship can be complicated. Things have been so tense for the main characters that they’ve taken a trip to Mexico together to try to work things out. It should be idyllic; beautiful surroundings, relaxation and cocktails with your best friends. When Natalie wakes up on the beach with no memory of how she ended up there and no idea what has happened to Ashley – it becomes obvious that the trip has not gone to plan!

A really gripping, multi-narrative tale, you’ve no idea who to trust, it keeps you guessing right until the end.