I read Rachel Hawkin's The Wife Upstairs last year and really got into it. Her book Reckless Girls pulled me in just as quickly.
Lux is working as a maid in Hawaii after she and her boyfriend, Nico, move there to travel around the world. However due to a issue with the boat, the two of them are forced to work to pay for repairs. Then Nico gets an offer from two tourists, Amma and Brittany, to take them to a remote abandoned island. Soon Nico and Lux agree and they head for the island.
This was a great suspense/mystery book. I really got into the characters and the title Reckless Girls fits so well because there doesn't seem to be a single good decision in the whole book.

This was my first read of 2022 and it did NOT disappoint, I finished it within a day!
The things I loved: It’s a first person POV, with a timelinee jump from past to present. It really takes you on a journey of how it all led up to the events that transpired.

It’s a whodunnit mystery, in which you might expect more than one outcome, and the slow burn in the beginning will make you anxious to flip the pages and find out more.

With some unreliable characters, some iffy backstories, and the tough decision of who you’ll trust, and who you definitely won’t.. Reckless Girls promised a page turned, and it delivered.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins was the perfect thriller to start the new year with.

I read The Wife Upstairs last year and really enjoyed it, so I knew I wanted to read Reckless Girls as well.

I read this one quickly it pulled me in from the beginning. The island setting was the perfect escape on a cold winter day!

Lux meets Nico while waitressing in California and she ends up following him to Hawaii, hoping to eventually sail around the world on Nico’s boat. Plans don’t work out and Lux is working as a hotel maid when Nico takes a job to charter two friends to a deserted island with a spooky past. When they arrive they find a boat with a couple already there. The six become quick friends, but danger is lurking around the island.

A mysterious creepy island and curious young people who want to go to it, it is the PERFECT plot! This story does take some time to get into, there is a lot of build up to the twists and turns.

When I go into a book and the main character follows her boyfriend to Hawaii and then they go on a boat trip to an island with a mysterious past with two strangers, I am not always a fan, but it just works with this story. At times I just wanted to scream at main characters but in the end I ended up really enjoying the twists that the story had.

There is a huge build up and you may wonder where the story is going but once it all comes together you will not want to put it down!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for my ARC of this book.

#FirstLine ~ Sometimes I wonder if people on vacation think they're actually on another planet.

This book was SO good. I was engaged from that first line. I could not help but put younger me in the place of the characters. I was constancy thinking about how I would have handled myself throughout the course of this unforgettable story. This book was jam packed with adventure, thrills and intrigue, as well as a few twists and turns that I DID NOT see coming! The ending was, Whoa!!!! I think everyone needs to read this book! Reckless Girls would make a perfect book club choice.

First off, how gorgeous is this cover!? I loved the cover for The Wife Upstairs and love the choice of continuity despite not being a series!

Although I found this to be a bit of a slow burn, I did still find it incredibly compulsive and intriguing!

I’m a fan of locked room mysteries and this totally was a refreshing switch up of a typical snowed in cabin being swapped for a creepy island with some eerie vibes and legends!

I enjoyed being whisked away to an island and ultimately found this to be a fun read! I’m interested to see what Hawkins does next!

I read The Wife Upstairs last year and absolutely loved it, so I was super excited to get the chance to read Reckless Girls and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The story focuses on Lux, a down-on-her-luck housekeeper/waitress who is "stuck" in Hawaii with her super hot, super rich, and not super motivated boyfriend, Nico (their yacht is damaged - yes, really). In order to pay for repairs, they agree to take two college friends, Brittany and Amma, to a remote atoll with a super creepy past. What could go wrong?!

Listen, I like my thrillers like I like my action movies - fast paced, exciting, suck-you-in storylines. I'm not too concerned by less than plausible story lines and a few plot holes - I want something fun that I can binge in an afternoon or two. Rachel Hawkins is really good at writing female main characters with complicated pasts and revealing their issues through alternating timelines (something I've learned that I love in books - if you love a good flashback, pick this up). Yes, the main characters sometimes make shake-them-by-their-shoulders dumb decisions (even though they know better!) and that can be frustrating! Lux pulls a few of those in this book (so if that makes you insane, you've been warned). And shady but hot dudes (read, Nico) are not my jam. But I loved the slow burn reveal and the creepy "what is really happening?!" vibe. Like I said - suck-you-in-storylines. And I really like locked room (ahem, island?) mysteries, so if you like that niche genre as well, you will like this one.

If you're a fan of thrillers for entertainment and "whaaaa?!", I think you will dig this book.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for access to this title in exchange for my honest review.

I was looking for a thriller. I picked up Reckless Girls looking for a book that would hold my attention and keep me guessing. I was kept guessing, I enjoyed reading the past and putting it together with what was currently happening. The story was not as much of a thriller as I was hoping for but I still enjoyed the book.

I really enjoyed getting to know Lux. She was a unique character who was just trying to enjoy life. She connected with Nico in the hopes of seeing the world with him while using his boat but then the twists started coming. I liked that she questioned the rest of the group while at the island and she did not take everything at face value. I felt for her that she was alone in the world and kind of stuck in a situation that she did not see coming. The rest of the characters are selfish, controlling, and up to no good. Even when they were getting along and having fun, I could feel that there was an underlining reason for being on the island.

The setting of the island of Mereo was interesting. I like that it was a unique island and the author used plenty of word to describe it so I could easily picture where the story was set. I struggled to connect with any of the characters, even Lux. As the twists and turns came, especially the ending, I struggled with how it was all coming together. I liked that I did not see the ending coming at all, but it just did not work for me.

Reckless Girls is a easy read, I read it in just over 24 hours. It is a unique story with many twists and turns.

Another winner from Rachel Hawkins!
Wow. What a terrific ending to 2021, start of 2022! I was busy so I had limited time while reading the beginning of this book. The first several chapters are setting the stage of Nico and Lux’s relationship and lives. Lux was working at a bar in California after she had to drop out of school when her mother became ill with cancer. She was dreaming of studying English Literature and was set to do this when everything fell apart. She left to go home and care for her dying mother, with no help from her absentee father. Once her mother passed away and she was waitressing, she was introduced to Nico, a young man who was interested in sailing to Hawaii and then sailing the world. He is a rich boy who has walked away from the expected role he was meant to play in the family law firm, instead seeking his dream of sailing. They start a relationship and meet in Hawaii to start a life together. While there, Nico is in need of finances to repair his boat and stock it, when he meets a pair of college-aged girls who ask if he would be willing to consider taking them to a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. At first, Nico and Lux are somewhat hesitant and then the money offered decides for them.
Soon, the four of them are headed out to a deserted island. Then, the story really gets going. Things happen. Then more things happen…all on this remote and deserted island with a spooky history since it was named for a ship that wrecked in its waters.
This story is terrific and keeps you reading, turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what happens next. A mixture of thriller, suspense, revenge story, closed “room” mystery - there is something for many readers here and it will not disappoint! Great atmosphere as well.
Highly recommend this one!
#RecklessGirls #Netgalley #StMartinsPress

While at your office job or during freezing cold temperatures, have you ever thought about how nice it would be to just escape it all and sail down to a tropical island? Reckless Girls will make you rethink all of that real quick. I went into this book completely blind so I really had no idea what it would be about except for the beachy cover. This book had a ton of twists and I liked how well “the before” weaved in with what was unraveling in present day. Lux is our narrator and she’s going through a huge loss when she meets Nico, a handsome young guy with a boat who whisks her away to Maui. Soon they meet a pair of friends named Amma and Brittany who offer a lot of money to take them to a deserted island called Meroe. Once there, they realize that island life isn’t all its cracked up to be. There is a sinking, eerie feeling throughout this book, one that makes you think something horrible is going to happen at any moment. I don’t love when characters seem to always make the worst decisions (which is for sure the case in Reckless Girls) but I thought this story was different than anything I’ve read before. And the ending definitely took me by surprise! This was like a real-world version of Lost with plenty of drama and mystery to keep you entertained.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for a variety of reasons. Since it's released in the beginning of January, I was hoping that it would be a thrilling tropical retreat from my current cold, snowy environment. I was intrigued by the tropical, isolated setting, but felt like the characters were extremely unlikeable. Typically, I love flashbacks because they provide more insight / depth to characters, however, I feel like those parts seemed disjointed and added more confusion rather than clarity. I felt that the twist was predictable and not that exciting.

I will say that it did function well as an audiobook because there weren't too many details or characters to remember. I would definitely keep this book in mind to offer to library patrons for those that are in the mood for quick-moving, easy to read, and don't mind unlikeable characters -- but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review. This book releases today (1/4)!

This is a review of the audiobook.

Deciding to spend 2 weeks on a very remote island, with a disturbing history, somewhere in the Pacific, really doesn’t sound like a good idea, but reading about someone else’s adventure there works for me.
I liked how Hawkins has the book chapters flip back and forth between “Now” and “Then”; giving tidbits of information/insight about the characters. Reckless Girls is a quick read that will leave you chilled.
Thank You to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and a Rachel Hawkins for the chance to enjoy this ARC.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I was immediately intrigued by Lux as a character and needed to see how her relationship with Nico would pan out. This was one of the few books where I felt interjections from other characters' perspectives actually worked and added to the story. There were so many layers to the mystery and I loved the descriptions of the island. There were lots of twists I did not see coming and this book really had me on the edge of my seat. Reading this book has definitely made me want to give The Wife Upstairs another try because I truly cannot get enough of Rachel Hawkins' writing. I'm already looking forward to rereading Reckless Girls in 2022!

It was ok.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for my advanced copy of Reckless Girls.

Let me preface this with the fact that I really enjoy Rachel Hawkins books. I read both of her 2021 releases ( The Wife Upstairs & The Ex Hex ) and I really loved them.
I am impressed with her ability to write books in a variety of genres.

3 Stars is not a bad rating for me. Its the 2 stars and DNF's you have to look out for.

I just did not enjoy this one as much as I would have liked and that makes me sad.
I have other book friends who liked this one a lot more than I did so please don't let my opinion persuade you not to give this book a try.

Things I Did Enjoy:

*The Setting- In Maryland we currently have half a foot of snow on the ground. Reckless Girls takes place on a tropical island.

*The Audio- I listened to this audio on Scribd. Reckless Girls is narrated by Barrie Kreinik. She is awesome. She has narrated other titles that I have enjoyed in the past. Including: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.

*The Drama- Especially the relationship drama between Lux and Nico. It takes up a very short portion of the book but I was like oh my damn. The last 25 percent of the book is nuts and it was fun and easy to follow.

Overall- Middle of the Road. I look forward to picking up all of the things Rachel Hawkins decides to publish in the future.

Have not finished reading it but I like it so far. Will share my full review once I am done. I read The Wife Upstairs last year by the same author and was one of my favorite reads of 2021. Cant wait to finish Reckless Girls.

I absolutely devoured Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. This new release follows Lux, unmoored and dissatisfied, aspiring to set sail with her boyfriend Nico and travel the world like they’ve always dreamed about. When college best friends Brittany and Amma hire Nico to sail them to a remote island with a sordid history, he convinces Lux that this is the perfect opportunity to kickstart their journey. Meroe Island is breathtaking and secluded, but the foursome finds that they’re not the only ones searching for isolated beauty. Golden couple, Jake and Eliza, and a third unwelcome visitor all appear just as secrets, pasts, and natural dangers threaten to tear the carefully constructed tropical paradise apart.


As the first person narrator, readers dive inside Lux’s head where we find a nuanced voice, filled with intuitive but occasionally perverse thoughts. Reading from her perspective made the story all the more enjoyable and even though I was able to predict where things were headed, the ride was still an entertaining one. Meroe itself made for an exquisite backdrop, with its history of death, cannibalism, and madness serving as a reminder that shiny appearances are not always what they seem.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced suspense with a group of deliciously immoral characters, then look no further than this one!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reckless Girls is an atmospheric, slow burn thriller about six twenty somethings vacationing on a deserted island with a dark past.

I went into this book pretty blind and I definitely recommend doing the same! This was definitely a slow burn book, but I loved how the atmosphere and setting slowly became darker as the story went on. I especially loved the inclusion of articles and emails that hinted at the dark past of the island. I could not put this one down and definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a beachy read!

Mild spoiler warning: I really appreciated that the author gave us a solid ending. I feel like a lot of thrillers would have ended more open, but I liked that we got a more closure with the epilogue!

Read this if you:
🌺 Love atmospheric thrillers
🌺 Want to travel the world via boat
🌺 Like books with flashbacks

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy!

Reckless Girls was an atmospheric, slow-burn mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The story begins when Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island for an adventure-packed, “off the grid” getaway. The island, Meore, has a dark history of making those who inhabit the remote island go insane. When the group finally docks on Meore, they are surprised to see another couple already on the island. The group of six quickly hit it off and settle into a peaceful balance. But the delicate balance comes crashing to a halt when a mysterious stranger sailing by himself joins the group. Tension builds, secrets are spilled, and it feels like the island is starting to close in around them. When one person goes missing and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if she will make it off the island alive.

I really enjoyed this slow-burn mystery. It reminded me of a modern and tropical version of “And Then There Were None”. I thought the atmospheric setting really helped build the tension through the story. I enjoyed the slow unraveling of each characters’ secrets and the novel had just enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. Overall, this was a super fun and bingeable mystery!

Huge thank you to Saint Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.

Absolutely love Rachel Hawkins in any genre she writes. Reckless Girls was no different. I hung on every word and read it in two days. A wild thriller for fans of smart, snappy writing.

I was happily surprised to like this one more than I anticipated! I shared in stories that I saw some less-than-glowing reviews about it & I’m happy I ended up giving it a chance.

Was it my fav thriller ever? No. But I did end up really enjoying it. It does have some really unlikable characters & an interesting last 25% (I’d say a little unbelievable if we’re being transparent) and a few small things I wished would’ve been a little different but overall, it’s really eerie, twisty and kept me intrigued throughout the story.

This will be a perfect & easy poolside/beach read this summer (with the most beautiful, summer vibe cover!)

BUT also to note- catch me never ever going to any tiny deserted, haunted islands ever 🤣

Thanks @netgalley for my e-copy in exchange for my review! ✨