Reckless Girls read like one of those indie beach horror films or a darker Lifetime movie, which was honestly fine for me. Sometimes you just need some thrills as escapism! The plot seemed set-up a little towards the final girl side of things which was also pretty cool - quite a cast of female characters, you can decide who was strong one.

Even though for over half of this book I was having issues knowing where or if it was going anywhere, I enjoyed the travel and locale descriptions. That was enough to keep me reading because I love the ocean, deserted islands, boats as well as the bits of eerie foreshadowing peppered in subtlety a time or two. I knew something was going to happen sometime I just couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. I did try to piece together parts that were given to us within the “before” or flashback segments of various characters so that made it interesting.

I have thought awhile about my issues with character development with this book. I didn’t really feel I was able to connect to any of them, which could have been an age issue for me (they are all early twenties and I’m late forties) as well or how they acted overall. It’s all up to whether that’s important to you or not. We didn’t get a lot of substance about them from their past either, and what we did, I didn’t like because as people they seemed flat and dangerous or just screwed up. Not much you can do with an asshole being an asshole! The flashbacks were only so much content to keep it moving and centered on only a few scenarios important to the story and why they all ended up traveling to where they did. One of the characters was randomly thrown in and seemed out of place too, and though maybe needed in some regard, I had wished he’d been written a bit differently. The abundance of female characters all felt a bit lost, reckless (oh, the title!), and honestly, all the same. I kept forgetting who was who (except the main one, Lux) they were so interchangeable. But they all were certainly messed up in some way. Some were fighters but it all depends on your personal preference for redemption, revenge, or just plain criminal. Maybe even continuing building Lux just a bit more would have helped. It started but then halted a bit. I enjoyed she was a reader, a traveler, an adventure seeker!

I did like the ending for the most part and was satisfied with how it fit to the book and how it led up to it. Pretty wild though! Some things I didn’t expect! There were a few shockers (though I’d have wished for a few more twists), red herrings, and some action violence scenes ripe enough to make it a horror story. There was definitely murder and mayhem. Who doesn’t like murder and mayhem on a deserted island?

I’d say mostly I wanted her to start some twists earlier and create more mayhem and feelings of dread. I say this as a horror reader and editor of course, but if my thriller reads start to go that way, I’d rather them immerse horror fully! I wanted to be more sucked in to the first half of the book. Personally, I would have liked to see maybe more sinister chapters about history of island and how it affected the characters (if it did) and be more interwoven into the full plot and story. But overall, she did a pretty good job connecting loose dots to keep the book moving. In the end she did what a thriller outline asks her to do and she didn’t get derailed into anything not moving her plot forward.

This was a 3.5 read for me (and a 3 from me means I liked it but there were flaws for me), because I couldn’t quite give it a 4. Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Agatha Christie are some of my very favorite authors (and used in advertising this) but it didn’t quite come up to that par. It did scratch my thriller itch, though I wanted more substance and more intrigue. As a gothic fan, it did give good atmosphere of that in places. I don’t mind it being rounded up to a 4 as I think a good amount of readers will get what they desire from it:

a good, quick escapism read which evokes feelings of sitting with a tub of popcorn and watching a film on Shudder.

I’m glad for my time spent reading it and I will definitely read more from her. It wasn’t what I expected but it was still well-written and the ending was cool. This was my first, though I do have her first book sitting here I bought last year and look forward to checking it out.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy for review consideration!

I like Reckless Girls better than the Family Upstairs.

The mystery element is a less unpredictable in this one and the build-up of the atmosphere trancends from the pages.

I found myself flipping the pages in most chapter but some parts felt a bit unnecessary.

Overall, a great experience and looking forward to more from Rachel Hawkins.

These characters were insufferable. I stopped and started this book so many times before finally giving up once they made it to the island. I could not find anyone to root for.

I wanted to love this one. I tried so hard to love it. But it just didn't work for me. It had all the makings for a stellar story - a group of entitled twentysomethings with shady pasts who sail to a creepy deserted island in the south pacific for a restart. But I felt like nothing happened throughout the entire book. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it didn't.

The writing is descriptive and I did feel like I was on Meroe with the reckless girls. That was probably my favorite part of the book. But unfortunately, the story just didn't work for me.

I love psychological thrillers but not crime type mysteries. This book did not disappoint. It kept me guessing and wanting to read more.

I LOVE secluded island thrillers - and this was (for the most part) a fun one! I really enjoyed the history and mystery of the island and it felt instantly claustrophobic and atmospheric as this group of random travelers comes together to find an off-the-grid paradise... which soon turns to panic as a mysterious lone sailor arrives, and everything starts to unravel.

I definitely could not figure out what each of the characters were hiding and I automatically just assumed they were all hiding something, as one does. But as twists and turns literally start coming out of nowhere - the end sort of fell apart for me.

I really enjoyed most of the story, but felt like the last 20% was a jumble of connections and plot holes and was rushed a bit too quickly for a satisfying resolution. I think had things been fleshed out just a bit more, and not so hurried this could have been pure perfection. But all pickiness aside, it was a fun and compulsive read that I had a hard time putting down - and is entertaining if you just want to escape and not think to much about what the heck is happening!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
 
✨Reckless Girls – Rachel Hawkins

this book was everything i needed and didn't know i needed. it was the perfect escape for me & this harsh winter weather! ☀️🚤
 
👍🏼 : this was a fun and refreshing take on a "locked room" mystery! i was completely invested the entire way and HAD to know what was going to happen. i liked the dynamics of the characters, the before and now chapters, and i LOVED the island/Hawaiian scenery. the beginning is a slow build, but the way things are laid out and written will keep you interested in what's to come!
 
👎🏼 : the ending didn't super do it for me TBH. it felt a bit rushed, forced and slightly overly dramatic. this is where it lost a star for me. i didn't feel satisfied with how it all played out, after everything we'd been through with the characters.
 
RECOMMEND: yes! if you're somewhere cold (hello Minnesota being -25 degrees ❄️) and wanting a thriller, this is the PERFECT get away! the Hawaiian atmosphere is the escape we need🐠

SYNOPSIS: go in completely blind!!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022, and I liked it. It has a NOW/BEFORE dual timeline, which I thought was a little confusing at times. I felt like the last few chapters were rushed, over-the-top, and unbelievable. I’m also not sure what to think of the epilogue as I feel like it still left some questions unanswered. This will be a great beach read as long as you aren't on a deserted island yourself! Thanks Netgalley and St Martin Press for the eARC!

✨𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝐖✨

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐬

I was immediately hooked when I started reading this new release! I went in completely blind, which I recommend doing if you plan on reading. 🌸

👍🏼: I loved the atmosphere of the story as the characters sail out to a remote island. This was a great escape to beaches & warmth in the middle of winter here in upstate, NY. There were also lots of twists & turns with alternating perspectives which I always enjoy in a mystery/thriller!

👎🏼: The story became slower in the middle, but did pick up at the end. The last few chapters were definitely a wild ride!! Overall though, I’m not sure I was a fan of the end or grasped the whole concept of the book 🤷🏼‍♀️

Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend if you’re a fan of this author or looking for an escape to a remote island with some fun twists & turns 💖

Thanks to @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the gifted e-ARC! This one is out NOW ✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I went into this blind and that is 100% how I recommend going into this boat murder mystery. Lux is such a diverse character. I was a little confused by the random posts about Meroe Island but I believe that was just adding context to the creep factor. Robinson Crusoe was mentioned multiple times and I assume that was a person who explored deserted beaches? Still unclear about that. Disliked Nico. Loved the ending. Lux is a survivor.

I also really loved that characters were not what they seemed. This was a great thriller/suspense. Anyone looking for a mystery rec that takes place in an island, this is IT.

First I would like to thank St.Martins Press for the widget of this one in exchange for my honest review.
•
And honest I shall be.
This was a DNF for me…. I tried to explore out of my comfort zone with this one as it is a mystery, and it was just not it for me, I only got to about 40%… and gave up.
•
I understand the whole point of books like this is the poor decisions the characters make for the sake of the plot… but I could not get on board with it….
•
I enjoyed the writing style
And the plot and setting were well developed
With the exception of Lux the other characters just fell flat for me. And as a primarily character driven reader that was ultimately the reason this was a DNF.
•
The book was WELL WRITTEN. And the pacing was great!
So if a Murder mystery on an island off the coast of Hawaii…. dive in!! ;)

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for giving me this physical ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 04 January 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Lux & her boyfriend Nico agree to sail two 20-something tourists to an isolated (& potentially haunted) island off the coast of Hawaii. Upon their arrival they find a luxury boat has already docked belonging to Jake & Eliza. Everyone hits it off until another interloper arrives.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the 70% slow & suspenseful build up
- the old diary entries, letters & emails that teach us about the island
- slowly uncovering the character dynamics
- creepy & claustrophobic island setting

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- several loop holes which you need to suspend your disbelief for
- the last 30% is so outrageously over the top

Rachel Hawkins’ newest novel is set on a beautiful, deserted island off of Hawaii. Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, have been hired by two wealthy twenty-somethings, Amma and Brittany, to sail out to Meroe Island, a jungle filled island with a mysterious past of shipwrecks, cannibalism and murder. When they arrive at the island, they realize there is another couple already there. Initially the group gets alone great but as more time goes by, the isolation becomes claustrophobic and strange things begin to happen.

The character descriptions and use of flashbacks help add depth to this plot by telling the backstories of each person. The island itself is another character in the story complete with sinister noises, a maze of overgrown jungle and a secret water oasis. The increasing tension in this novel made me want to keep reading!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this novel before its release.

"A sort of madness sets in when one is away from society for too long, when one looks out to the horizon and sees only sea and sky.”

Go ahead and call me Natalie Imbruglia, y'all, because when it comes to this thriller: "nothing's fine, I'm torn." Which is super disappointing given how invested I was from the jump. Like tweeted the opening line invested. But, alas, this one crashed by the ending and burned by the epilogue.

I'll admit that's a tad too harsh, but I haven't had enough time to separate myself from this story so my emotions — and opinions, clearly — are still super strong.

There are things to love about Hawkins newest read: that cover, the atmospheric island setting, a solid red herring, and the first third of the novel.

However, a week or so after these characters dock on murder.…I mean Meroe Island my interest washed away with the tide. Namely because the likability of the characters dropped with each passing day. At one point in my notes I just wrote: "character (censored for spoilers) retaliates by (activity censored for spoilers) with character (censored for spoilers) because terrible people are terrible."

I also think the toggling of perspective, timelines, and tenses made it hard to keep the twists surprising. By the time the secrets are unraveled by the characters, the reader has more than likely already put the pieces together.

Ultimately, while this didn't work for me, I do believe it's a quick & easy read with enough promise to keep me interested in future works.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an earc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The writing in this book is incredibly gripping; it had me right from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down.
The villian(s)? strangest whole theory I've heard. The ending felt super messy and I didn't care for it. After reading I just had that wtf was that?! feeling. So a three star from me!

I really liked twists near the end of the book. It made me like the book a lot more than I did. I also really liked the past and present storyline. However, I struggled with a few parts of the book. Some parts of the book were fairly slow and why do books need to add infidelity to create the conflict? I guess this doesn't do it for me, but I'm guessing this may work for others.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really liked this thriller! I thought the tone and pace of this one was excellent! I was hooked from the beginning. I thought the ending was a little weird and just towards the end when the island made them go crazy and see things. Overall I thought this was a great thriller with excellent character development,

Get ready for a sail into crazy town with this one!! Full of a cast of characters with their own secrets and hidden agendas, you won’t know what is just around the corner!!

What starts as a bucket list trip to a deserted island for two weeks turns into more than anyone on this trip bargained for! There were some aspects to this one that seemed forced, but overall it was a page turner! And the ending- I love when a book makes you say, O SNAP as the story wraps up.

None of the characters were overly likeable- but I was still interested to see how each one’s story would progress. A quick read with a surprise ending! I liked this one, but I wouldn’t say I loved it.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC to read and review.

𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦!

After reading so many great reviews about this book all I have to say is you need to read it now!
Addictive, suspenseful, unputdownable and fantastic, it kept me turning pages until the very end, loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this gifted copy.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins releases tomorrow January 4, 2022.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘎𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Jaw is officially dropped..I did not see that coming!! Squeeaalll, such a good, good read for my third review of 2022! Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St Martins Press for the review copy!!

Have you ever travelled the world? How did ya do it? Did you sail or fly? Have you ever wanted to just escape after a bad thing happened, like your family being wiped out in a tragic car accident? One of our characters Lux and her boyfriend, Nico are really wanting to fix their boat and sail away but, the boat is in need of repairs and their money situation isn’t great. Until a couple of girls give them an offer they can’t refuse. Sailing to Meroe Island has some bad luck but arriving they see how beautiful it is and their imaginations turn wild. Fun in the sun and sand, what could go wrong?

I absolutely loved this read! I could not put it down! The story was well written, characters were easy to remember and the anticipation was amazing! The ending, I never saw coming; absolute pure genius on Rachel’s part. A true ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ novel that I’m recommending to everyone! Its available at your local bookstores so, please go check it out! I promise you’ll be on the edge of your seat the entire read!!