This is a very fast paced YA thriller that is very much Thelma & Louise. I received an ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A special thank you to the publicity manager for getting me the invitation to review the title.

This book is very intense at times and gives warning a few times that something bad is about to happen. I almost couldn't put it down and at times I had to take breaks.

Trixie is a 17 year old high school student and waitress who is about to take a short break from taking care of her mom who has early dementia to spend spring break with her best friend Lux, that she may have a crush on. They plan to camp at a nearby lake, from their small town in West Virginia. Lux lives with her dad and little brother after her mom left the family. Lux is treated by her dad like a babysitter or substitute mom. Trixie calls all the men who she comes across as hogs, especially her customers at the diner. Something bad happened to Trixie when she was 8. It's not described but she was so traumatized she gets panic attacks.

Lux decides she wants to go to a college bar even though they don't have fake ID's. The female bartender is nice, but gives them non alcoholic drinks. Something terrible happens and Trixie stops a sexual assault with a weapon given to her by a fellow waitress who is helping her take care of her mom. They run, and in a panic leave the weapon behind. They then start by running away driving west.

There are a bunch of interesting secondary characters and good representation/acceptance for LGBTQ- specifically gay / lesbian. I kept worrying about the Trouble Girls, as Trixie and Lux dub themselves. There's also a trigger warning for sexual assault/ campus rapes and men in power. Perhaps if the girls turned themselves in, we would have seen a more interesting story. The ending leaves us with the same way Thelma & Louise did- not the same ending but the same feeling of hopelessness that the MeToo movement may have changed things for privileged white , middle class and wealthy people but not for the working poor. Victims are still treated as if they are to blame and not believed.
Must read.

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
First off, this cover is GORGEOUS! The font for the title, the shades of purple ugh- just magical.
Trouble Girls takes you on a ride that you don’t want to end! It is dark, fast paced, and such a thrill to read. In this novel, we follow Lux and Trixie who are best friends. After a night in a bar their lives completely change and they’re on the run. We see them on a road trip throughout U.S cities and I loved every moment of it!

The plot was gripped right from the get go, and it was one of those books where I couldn’t stop reading once I started. Throughout the book, I really wanted to get to know the characters more, I feel like there wasn’t any character development for Lux and Trixie. If there was some exploration of the characters a bit more the book would’ve definitely been higher rated for me! Overall though, Trouble Girls is a wonderful book that all YA readers should pickup on release date!

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC copy of Trouble Girls!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Tw: sexual harassment, abuse, terminal illness, homophobia, vomit, alcohol and weed consumption, mention of conversion camp, misogyny, teen pregnancy, murder

Trixie and Lux are excited to finally get out of their town for the weekend but a night of violence changes everything and the girls will have to try survive on their own.

I LOVED this book! I could really feel the anxiety the two girls felt while they were escaping from the media and the cops. At times I had to put down the book and just breathe.

Trixie was passionate, impulsive and hopelessly in love with her best friend Lux. At first I was rooting for them, but reading further I realized their relationship was quite toxic because they completely isolated themselves from the rest of the world and they wouldn't let anyone into their little bubble.

I really loved the description of the places and I really felt like I was travelling alongside with Trixe and Lux.

The book was fast-paced and a total page-turner and I ended up devouring it in less than three days.

I highly recommend it to fans of Courtney Summers and those looking for an intriguing YA thriller!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy!

Firstly, a million thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Content and trigger warnings placed at the end.

"Trouble Girls" follows two 17-year old girls' journey across the country as they flee from a crime they committed in self-defense after being sexually assaulted. The two girls originally planned to get away for a single weekend, but what occurred forces them to extend their trip as long as they can, wanting to run from the consequences, hoping they will not get caught if they just keep getting farther away.

In the first chapter of the book alone, two things struck me: 1) the author has a fantastic way of creating a voice for the main character that immerses you into the story, the character seeming very believable and real, and 2) the way the character refers to men and views them is very well-aligned with my own, and with any girl who has ever been the victim of misogyny or oversexualization (so, any girl who is paying attention). Her extreme discomfort, fear, and hatred for men is unfortunately the reality for many of us.

The depiction of the rampant misogyny, rape, sexual assault, and the way victims are treated after admissions of their trauma was heartbreakingly realistic. The way it is challenged by the two main characters and by their supporters is something very important and that absolutely needs to be said. I found the commentary of it all satisfying, because it reflected my thoughts very well.

To me, both characters seem extremely human. they are young, merely teenagers, fleeing from a traumatic experience for fear of jail, and the empathy I felt for both of them during their situation was fierce. I thought the ups and downs they experienced in mood after the fact was an extremely realistic depiction of what it is like to be in denial about something you have done. I felt their desperation as if it was my own, bone-deep and frazzled and horrifying. Their pining for each other is something I felt deeply, too; the inherent ache of loving and yearning for someone so much it hurts. In such a depressing and hopeless situation, their solace in each other was something I was glad for. This, at least, they could have.

The only thing that threw me off was the ending. **SPOILER** I felt extremely dissastisfied not knowing about the girls' fates after they were finally caught. On the one hand, if things went badly in court, it would be something that unfortunately reflects the reality of many women merely trying to keep themselves safe from disgusting men and would explain why women are afraid to speak up about their assaults. It would certainly be something that calls attention to the movement even more, although this is not the outcome I would have preferred. On the other hand, if the book ended in the girls being properly defended in court and not being jailed for their justifiable actions, it could be satisfying and a comfort for women who have suffered in similar situations that have never been able to come forward about their experiences or /have/ and received no justice despite it. It would be a heartwarming story about women coming together in an effort to be taken seriously, to be allowed justice for their trauma, and their efforts being paid off in the end. It could show that if people stand up for what is important and they are loud or passionate enough, maybe change is possible. Since the ending did not contain either of these things, and cut off the second they are caught, I found myself wondering: was the point of the book merely just their escape and myriad of emotional ups and downs? I personally think a lot more impact could have been made with a different ending; there is room for it in the length of the book, after all, since it is only 272 pages. **END SPOILER**

Regardless of the ending, I found this book to be well-written, important, cathartic and satisfying at many points, and realistic, so I give it 3.5 stars.

Major TW for sexual assault, rape, misogyny

This arc was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

DNF at 33%

Trouble Girls follows Trixie, who is desperate to escape her small town and is in love with her best friend Lux. The two of them go on a trip for the weekend that gets extended indefinitely after a violent encounter with Lux's would be assaulter.

While I loved the concept and idea behind this book, unfortunately the way it was executed and the writing style just wasn't for me. At the 33% point, the plot felt aimless and repetitive to me. I didn't really understand the basis of Trixie and Lux's friendship and I found myself constantly getting frustrated with their decisions. I think there is an audience for this book out there but it was filled with a little too much teen angst for me.

Trixie works at a diner to support herself and her mother, who has severe dementia and is moments away from burning the house down. The bright spot in Trixie's life is Lux, the pink-haired, vivacious girl next door Trixie has known her whole life. Also, Trixie has a massive crush on Lux, but isn't sure Lux knows or reciprocates. Lux has her own issues: an absent father who enforces stringent rules and leaves Lux as the primary caretaker for her younger brother.

The two plan a weekend getaway. It's supposed to be a break from their bleak realities. When things go sideways in a college bar, the trip turns from weekend getaway to life getaway. Trixie and Lux hit the road with $2000, a beat-up hatchback, and no definite plan as they attempt to outrun their actions and lives.

I wanted to get into this book, but the writing wasn't for me. The characters didn't grab me and I found the story too outlandish to get into. The allusion to previous harms and Trixie's PTSD irritated me (I wanted to know what had happened to her far before the details came). Trixie's smoldering crush was equally frustrating. It's a short quick read, but it's also full of triggers and anxieties, so proceed with caution. Do not recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trixie and Lux have both endured past traumas that have defined them. From dealing with sexual assault to the death of a parent, both girls are simply trying to make the best of their bad situations. They cannot wait to escape to the lake for the weekend, but what starts as a fun girls' weekend at the lake quickly takes a dark turn.

This modern-day Thelma and Louise duo with a romantic twist rushes readers across the country as Trixie and Lux seek to find a way to survive. But just how far would you to go protect the person that you love? That's the question that Trixie continues to ask herself.

4.5/5 stars!

A really good book though it was slow paced in my opinion. Still very interesting and well executed though!! Overall, solid 3 star read. Though I did get bored during reading it during some points.

Book Review for Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin
Full review for this title will be posted at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

I have to admit, the comparison of this YA to Thelma and Louise is what made me request it! I remember being haunted by Thelma and Louise after watching it (years ago), and I was curious to read a YA remake!

Trouble Girl certainly exceeded my expectations! Lux and Trixie were off on a weekend road trip, leaving troubled home lives behind. They just wanted to have fun, but when a fraternity pig "hog" tries to take advantage of Lux, the girls turn into fugitives on the run.

There is a timely discussion of #Metoo, as well as the way social media covers allegations of rape and sexual harassment.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This book - the cover and the back cover? Truly amazing, I could stare at it all day. And the plot, it was riveting and kept me on the edge of my seat. How relatable was this book? It felt very appropriate for present-day times. And make it all sapphic? Yes. Will absolutely recommend this.

I'm really sad I didn't enjoy this more. I would like to preface this by saying that I've never seen Thelma and Louise, but going off of the IMDB summary I would say this book certainly delivered as a Thelma and Louise retelling. I also want to say that as a 22 year old, I'm not the target audience for the book.

I didn't appreciate that there were no chapters in the book, however I'm not sure if that was the ARC formatting or if the final copy will be like that as well, so I have ignored this complaint in my review. My biggest issue with this book was that I did not vibe with the writing. It felt incredibly repetitive and I think the story easily could have been 100 pages shorter. I also didn't connect with either of the characters, but particularly Lux. She didn't really seem to have a personality besides being the object of Trix's affection. I would have loved to get more background on their friendship and on Lux's character in general so that I could be more invested in their relationship. Being bisexual, I have no complaints with the queer representation in general, I only wish I had felt more invested in Lux and Trix's relationship, as that was the big selling point of the book for me.

I also felt like the overall message of the book was a little disjointed. It was very clearly inspired by the MeToo movement, but Lux and Trix's motivations are kind of all over the place. I would have preferred to either expand on the Trouble Girls persona they developed and make it a major storyline or cut it out completely and just focus on the two of them on the run. In addition, while I understand what the author was going for, I don't need the main character to call men "hogs" every paragraph to understand the message about rape culture this book was going for. It ultimately felt repetitive and cheesy to me.

Overall, I loved the concept, I was ultimately just underwhelmed.

The blurb of a "Queer YA #MeToo reimagining of Thelma & Louise" is absolutely accurate for this book. I wasn't a fan of the lack of chapters, though admittedly it kept me reading. While this book touches on many important topics like rape, it does so through a lens of privilege that keeps the reader distanced from their impact. I enjoyed the prose, but the plot became repetitive pretty soon into it.

There was a strong start but unfortunately by the end it sizzled out. Too much left unresolved, I don't really like the use your imagination approach.

Trouble Girls is a total blast. I flew through this story. I was completely immersed and invested in the characters and their journey. I loved Trixie and Lux's relationship. They had such a beautiful connection that made you fall in love with them. Also their actions in the story felt realistic. This story could have easily been cringey but the author made the characters feel real. I loved the twist on Bonnie and Clyde. Overall, I LOVED Trouble Girls and I can't wait to read it again!

Unfortunately this was a disappointment for me. It started out strong and potentially 5* with a clear location and defined voice, but things started to fall apart both plot and character wise after the incident in the bar. I felt the book started to wander and the story lost certainty of itself, and the characters lost their edge. For a lot of this book there are only two characters, but we hardly know anything about Lux, who despite the author telling us (never a good sign) that she isn't a manic pixie dream girl, she really is. She has no personality. Her relationship with Trixie made no sense. She somehow hardly contributed to the story at all.

This book was such a wild ride. Trixie and Lux are such complex characters. They were having to make such big decisions, when they were honestly still kids. The pacing in the beginning of book was a little slow for me, since it's mainly a road trip. It really picked up in the second half as they became more and more desperate to flee and stay together.

The shenanigans in this book were so stressful to me. I'm sure that's what Julia Lynn Rubin was going for. My logical brain made the opposite choice of whatever the girls chose. There were so many red flags that the girls ignored out of desperation or stupidity, who knows. Trixie and Lux were brave, tenacious and full of determination. Their story felt so real to me, like I was there too.

I really enjoyed this book and I think a lot of people will too!

*ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

The book is a dark but necessary story about the lasting effects of trauma and rape culture. Some parts were difficult to read, and this won’t be an easy read for sexual assault survivors, take care during this read!

I did enjoy this book and especially the writing, however I found it to be quite predictable, always heading toward the same end, with some side quests and characters that didn’t seem to really have a point to them or neatly wrap up at all. We get a lot of vagueness from the main character, and her version of the truth is all we really get to see.

The wonderful friends-to-lovers relationship between Trixie and Lux was by far the most compelling part of this story, and I can’t help but wish we got to know these characters a little better.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Lux and Trixie are a modern day, LGBTQ Thelma and Louise. A fun weekend at the lake starts at a bar and ends in a murder that they never could have anticipated. Let’s just say that Lux and Trixie never make it to the lake. The murder of a frat member has them on the run. Its a wild adventure and a love story of two girls and their ability to stand by each other through thick and thin. I enjoyed that it incorporated the #metoo movement and shed light on sexual assault and the mental anguish that it causes. It was a page turner and although I enjoyed the book it did fall a little short for me. I would still recommend it to any YA lovers who want a adventurous page turner.

Okay, you had me at "a reimagining of Thelma & Louise" - holy smokes! This was a fun, wild romp through an extremely quick paced story about a couple of best friends looking for a bit of fun away from home. There's an overarching theme of feminism and how poorly our society regards women - and the subsequent anger a lot of us feel as a result from it. That said, I do feel like the message could've been driven home a bit more by the characters themselves; they came off a bit more complain-y than 'take action-y', and I wish that hadn't been the case. Still, I found myself relating to a lot of their feelings despite this being YA, and this one kept me turning the pages til the very end - very entertaining!