First of all, do not read this as we are nearing the cold winter ahead, you will be dreaming about that hot sun on your skin and the warm ocean.

Reckless Girls is a fun locked room suspense/thriller with copious amounts of drama to keep you entertained. I loved the setting and the mix of unlikable characters. Although nothing much really happens for most of the book, you get enough build up to keep you interested. This is definitely a grab a tub of popcorn, sit back and tune out type of book. Perfect for an escape or after a heavy read. 3.5⭐️

The whole story was underwhelming and the characters are bland and boring. I expected something more from Rachel Hawkins. The story line development was slow. I didn't like it as I had anticipated.

Thank you to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set on Meroe Island which is a desolate spot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Six twenty-somethings are embarking on the journey to this island and they will be cut-off from civilization. They start to feel like the island is closing in on them. One person goes missing and another turns up dead. The remaining friends begin to wonder who else will be swept away from this island. I would like to thank NetGalley, Macmillian Audio and St. Martins Press for a Kindle copy of this book. I enjoyed listening to the audio and following along with the book. It was an excellent experience and the narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did a great job. I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and was looking forward to reading Rachel's next book. I was not disappointed and read the book in one sitting. I found the characters very interesting and well-developed. The plot was unique and held my attention to the very end. The colorful cover is very eye-catching and well designed. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, you don't want to miss reading this one.

After the death of her mother, 25 year old Lux moved to Maui to travel around the world with Nico, her charming boyfriend on his boat. When she arrives, she finds out their plans are being put on hold as The Susannah needs a new engine, that he can't afford. Now, months later, Nico comes to her with great news... Two college girls, Brittany and Amma are offering him 50 grand to sail them to the isolated Meroe Island. Lux is hesitant at first, but reluctantly agrees to join them on their trip. When they arrive on the island, they discover that they're not alone. A beautiful couple has already docked, and made themselves at home. Jake and Eliza become quick friends with the group, but then a third stranger joins the party, making everyone uncomfortable and blowing hidden secrets straight out of the water.

I loved this WAY more than I thought I was going to. Although the plot was pretty obvious at times, there were times I had no idea where it was going to go next. The story is definitely not plausible, but you can't help but want to know more. I read this in one sitting, it was extremely addictive, the writing style is so easy to get drawn into and I couldn't stop turning the pages. I was so invested in the story and what was going to happen next with these characters. I loved discovering the secrets everyone was hiding and who was trustworthy on the island. None of these characters are necessarily likable, but you can't help but be drawn to them and their interesting personalities. The story is told in both the past and present, which I found intriguing to learn the backstory of who these characters were. The main POV is Lux, but we also get some chapters from other characters as well. We also learn about the dark history of the island through letters, emails and text messages which was a fun way to tell that part of the story!

I listened to this on audio, and I think the narrator did a really great job with these characters and the overall creepy vibes of the island. Definitely recommend this one to thriller lovers, who love isolated island stories!

Lux is a girl in love! After recently losing her mother to cancer she meets Nico in Southern California and leaves her life behind to follow him to Hawaii. Nico’s dream is to sail around the world and soon it also becomes Lux’s dream. What was suppose to be a short stint in Hawaii to repair Nico’s boat turns into longer than expected and Lux is getting anxious to get their adventure started. Then enters two young women who want to hire Nico and Lux to take them to Meroe Island, a deserted and supposedly cursed island. Once there, they find it is not deserted and maybe all the talk about the island being cursed is real!

This book was amazing! I loved all the twists and how it all came together in the end. This book made me feel like I was sunning on the beach looking at the clear blue water. It is definitely a slow burn suspense but still keeps your attention.

Frowning after reading the first few chapters due to the potty mouth of the main female character with the odd name, Lux, I soon found out that the rest of the characters weren’t likable either. Her egocentric partner Nico, and the college girls that hire him for a lift to a remote little island in Hawaii all seemed immature to me. The entire cast of characters were deplorable, actually, in my estimation. This might be appreciated more by college-age readers.

The description of the area tells you of the history on that island and all the ominous happenings in the past.. It is told in dual timelines, a format I happen to favor, and that I found interesting for character development. Unfortunately, the thriller aspect didn’t cut it for me, where I could feel the impact of what the author was trying to portray. The tense, suspenseful atmosphere I expect in a thriller/mystery didn’t happen for me.

The personal relationships seem to take up most of the novel and lagged midway. I admit to skimming at times. Apparently, I am. In the minority in my opinion of this work. I admire Hawkin’s work, she is a fine writer. Don’t let my review stop you from picking up your copy on 1/04/22, like many others, you may just love it.

St, Martin’s Press is one of my favorite publishers and I want to thank them and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc and post an honest, unbiased opinion,. Sincerely wish I could say I liked it better.
2.5 stars from this reviewer.

Well that took a turn I wasn’t expecting. Super quick read with a ton of unexpected twists. The characters are well written and flawed. It’s great to see how each character fits together and how they interact with each other.

CONTENT WARNING: death of a parent, cancer, blood, gaslighting, drug use, death, murder

As the days get chilly and the nights get chillier, I figured that it was the perfect time to start reading a book set on a hot, tropical island. And while I went into it expecting to like it, I found that I enjoyed it way more than I thought I was going to. This was the kind of book that I basically finished in a single sitting, since I couldn’t put it down and found it so easy to read.

I loved Lux’s character, and found her to be especially realistic. She’s in her early 20s, but facing some challenges that I found myself hoping she’d work out. And I was surprised to see how much I identified with her struggles — she was a caretaker for her dying mother, and the book talks about the sense of relief, grief, and that strange feeling of being adrift after her mother’s death. But all of this definitely sets Lux up for the situation she finds herself in on the island. And it also allows her to see who she really is:

“What am I when you strip everything else away? I’m a motherfucking survivor.”

Lux and her boyfriend Nico wind up taking two women to the remote and deserted Meroe Island, only to discover that someone is already there. Two someones in fact, but they wind up being friendly and having a great time as a group. Until a seventh person comes and crashes the party, completely changing the vibe. And this is where everything starts to fall apart.

Although this is a great example of a locked room mystery, it’s also the story of Lux’s journey of self-discovery. I loved seeing her come to some difficult and uncomfortable realizations as she grows into who she really is. A lot of the characters are morally gray, and I wasn’t quite sure who was truly behind what was going on until it all came out towards the end of the book. I loved how the story ended, and I’ve now got a new author to follow up on backlist books from. Because this one was done fabulously.

I really enjoyed the ride reading Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. This was a twisty, dark and emotional read. Developing complex relationship and interweaving backstories and current situation, Hawkins creates a plot that will make you think. There is certainly a good amount of thrill factor too. The Hawaiian setting was particularly charming considering I read this in the middle of the winter. The warmth of the atmosphere was a good juxtaposition to the cool nature of the characters.

This was great! I love thrillers at sea and this was well done (better than the Wife Upstairs). I liked the character development as well.

I absolutely loved this book! As long as you read it for fun and not as the next Pulitzer Prize novel, you will not be disappointed with the drama and deserted island setting! Have nothing but positives for this one!

🌊⛵⛵🌴Riveting suspense😲

I really loved the ominous atmosphere the author created for this sea adventure gone horribly awry. I read it it one day because the story pulled me in and wouldn't let go until I knew the fates of the seven souls who converged at a deserted, isolated Pacific island with a macabre history and just never saw what was coming!

Secrets, deceit, guilt, revenge and a deep-seated anger all combine to provide the motivation for violence and tragedy. Each of the seven travelers who reach Meroe Island reveal their true colors as civilization is left behind and their isolation sets the stage for the perfect payback.

There's no explicit steam though lust and relationships play key roles in the story. The violence is not overly graphic. I truly found it a totally engaging read.

Recommended.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This is the second book I've read by Rachel Hawkins, so I came into it with high hopes, and I must say, I'm blown away.
Reckless Girls is the story of Lux, who moved to Hawaii to be with her boyfriend while he fixed up his boat so they could sail the world together. The costs were covered by two female travelers who needed him to charter their journey to a desert island. When the 4 of them got there, there was already another couple on a boat there. While it seemed disappointing to have to share the island, they became fast friends.
Until things go bad, quickly.
This book had my heart pounding through most of the second half and had plot twists I didn't see coming. I loved every minute...and I'll stick to resort vacations, too.

I read this along with the audiobook version. This is something I really like to do now as it makes reading that much more enjoyable. This story was unpredictable and fun. There was a sense of dread when a new character was introduced to the group and it played out in a super interesting way. The characters had some flaws and were sort of likable. It was a fun and quick read, the narrator was great and it was a good time. I'll be recommending this one.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I am a huge Rachel Hawkins fan. I have very mixed reviews for this book. I can’t say I was super into it until the last 30% of the book. The author definitely knows how to write a twist and the twist was great. I was just kind of bored getting there. I think this would make an awesome movie though.

Yes! Rachel Hawkins did it again. Her first book was great but I loved this one even more. The flashbacks added the perfect touch to this story. But once we got to the island, my hands were glued to my iPad. I was flipping through the pages so quick and that ending was perfect. I didn’t expect that to happen and just loved all the twists and turns. Highly recommend this one for when you have a snow day because you won’t want to put it down or do anything other than finish this book.

After reading and enjoying The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, I knew I needed to read Reckless Girls!

I do love the trope of people stranded on an island. This book features Meroe Island, long rumored to have a history of murder and cannibalism. The main character, Lux, is excited to get away to the South Pacific location, even with the dark history of the island. Her boyfriend is hired to take two young women to Meroe Island and Lux is along for the ride. Once on the island, they meet another couple, and they all quickly bond and enjoy their time in the sun, on this island, drinking and eating and having a great time.

Their dreamy fun is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a stranger who lands on the island. And then all the secrets begin to come out and their sunny time turns much darker.

This was a fun read, I enjoyed the pace of the story and the unfolding of the secrets. It’s very atmospheric and you can easily visualize the island and imagine yourself there.

Synopsis:

When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She’s also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape.

Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. But what they don’t expect is to discover another boat already anchored off Meroe’s sandy beaches. The owners of the Azure Sky, Jake and Eliza, are a true golden couple: gorgeous, laidback, and if their sleek catamaran and well-stocked bar are any indication, rich. Now a party of six, the new friends settle in to experience life on an exotic island, and the serenity of being completely off the grid. Lux hasn’t felt like she truly belonged anywhere in years, yet here on Meroe, with these fellow free spirits, she finally has a sense of peace.

But with the arrival of a skeevy stranger sailing alone in pursuit of a darker kind of good time, the balance of the group is disrupted. Soon, cracks begin to emerge: it seems that Brittany and Amma haven’t been completely honest with Lux about their pasts––and perhaps not even with each other. And though Jake and Eliza seem like the perfect pair, the rocky history of their relationship begins to resurface, and their reasons for sailing to Meroe might not be as innocent as they first appeared.

When it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in on them. And when one person goes missing, and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if any of them are going to make it off the island alive.

Reckless Girls sails out and you don't get your sea bering legs until the end. This exotic thriller is set on a notorious island where bad things happen to those who visit. It has group of strangers meeting at this exotic locale, cursory backstories with wave after wave of twists.

Hawkins thriller alternates between before and now building the intrigue as to "why" they've ALL come together. The cast of characters are deplorable and skillful with deception. The underlying suspense will drag you under!

This novel is fast-paced and easy to devours in one sitting.
I have a questions that is plaguing me about the plot. HELP I drowning with this issue.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy.

I didn't like this book. I found it creepy and macabre. Like witnessing an accident, the story kept me riveted and it was well written. The book is mainly told from Lux's point of view, with flashbacks from all four women. All of the people have pasts that impact what happens on the island. I didn't care for any of the amoral characters. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This book gives a darker perspective of life and people.

I was breathless and absolutely enraptured by this book! The way it was written was just as much fun to read as Rachel Hawkins’ last book, The Wife Upstairs. I easily devoured it in less than a day and loved every delicious twist and turn! It was a really fun combination of a women’s fiction psychological suspense thriller and Lord of the Flies! I absolutely recommend reading Reckless Girls!