I’ve been a fan of Rachel Hawkins for years, so whenever one of her new books pops up it’s an automatic yes for me. I’ve watched Rachel talk about her Boat Murder book for a while, so I was thrilled to have the chance to read this.

Lux and Nico grab the opportunity to fix up their boat and accept a charter from Brittany and Amma, two college friends looking for adventure and to escape a tragic past. They quickly befriend another couple who is staying at Meroe Island and things are going well in paradise…until they aren’t. Each person is hiding something, and people start dying. Is the island’s nefarious past influencing them or is it something darker?

I loved Lux, the main character. I liked how much she had overcome in her past and how strong a character she was. I very much enjoyed the remote island setting. I like books where the characters get what they think is heaven, but it turns out is actually hell. I also very much enjoyed the slow reveal of exactly how the characters are all related and the secrets they are keeping from each other.

The one thing I did not love is how the island and it’s dark past are explained and the island becomes another character BUT that thread kind of drops and we never really know if the island’s evil is what affects the rest of the characters. I feel like the island’s effect could have been more closely linked.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this book. I am kind of tired of thrillers because they all start to feel the same after a while, but I thought that Hawkins did a great job of writing a twisty thriller while also keeping it lighthearted and easy and fun to read. The island setting was a great twist on a gothic novel. I remain a huge fan of the author and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Isn’t the cover gorgeous? The Wife Upstairs was a blue background with pink flowers, but more muted tones. Reckless Girls is bright and vibrant to match the island vibe of the book. I really hope Hawkins next book follows this cover pattern.
The story has a lot going on, with different narratives to follow. The main character is Lux, who really is a lost soul just trying to figure out her life. The other narratives follow Amma and Brittany, two girls traveling the world as a way to escape their trauma, and Eliza, who is a scorned woman trying to rise from the ashes. All together they are some messed up ladies, or reckless girls.
Everyone meets on Meroe Island. The island has a macabre history of cannibalism, deadly wildlife and seclusion. With a set up like this, i figured the story would go dark and maybe slightly supernatural, but it didn’t. I was really disappointed with this, but had to remind myself that isn’t Hawkins style. But if it was….
At times the story was really thrilling, with bodies being discovered and secrets being uncovered, but a lot of it was backstory which calmed it down. I did find some characters unnecessary, taking away from the direction of the story. I wanted this book to be intense and as vibrant as it’s cover!!
Rachel Hawkins is a great story teller, and the book was a very quick read. I definitely would put her in the lighter thrillers category, which is great for a palate cleanser from the books I normally read.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Reckless Girls is a bit of a disappointment, following up on Rachel Hawkins’ previous thriller, The Wife Upstairs, which I adored. This one has its good points, but it ultimately falls into some of the pitfalls of a certain brand of thriller that can be very hit-or-miss for me.

The setting is the best part. From Maui, where the group start out, to the boat journey to the remote Meroe Island and the environs of the Island itself, the imagery provides equal amounts of beauty and darkness.

However, the story is very much about rather wealthy, superficial characters. Lux stands out in her naïveté about the world around her, but that only adds to my struggle to like her. This book leans into Gothic archetypes, and her characterization in the face of all that was going on certainly did not help.

Even if I didn’t feel overly attached to anyone, I still found myself pretty intrigued with what was going on, and willing to flip pages at a brisk pace to reach the conclusion. If nothing else, it’s a pretty wild ride, and in spite of its flaws, I didn’t hate it. It does require a lot of suspension of disbelief, but keeping that in mind, it’s pretty solid.

While I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped, given my brief track record with Rachel Hawkins thrillers, I have high hopes for her next book in a similar vein. If you’re looking for a slightly bonkers, slightly Agatha Christie-esque thriller, you might like this one more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins and St Martin's Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Such in intense thriller that kept me sitting at the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved to hate most of the characters and the twists were totally out of left field, but so very good. I loved the ending and would 100% recommend this novel to anyone. I would definitely say this is a favorite of mine for this year. It's amazing.

An enjoyable, escapist vacation read for fans of Ruth Ware, but not as thrilling or twisty as Ware typically is. I found the premise and characters intriguing, and there’s a solid set-up, but the pacing is a bit off; nothing really happens, then it all happens abruptly all at once. Many of the more significant plot developments feel under-motivated, but I suspect they would have been fine if the spooky island atmosphere had worked better for me. I just never got totally caught up in the idea that this island was somehow particularly, atmospherically, eerie.

Still, it’s a fun, fast read, with a tropical flair that makes it especially ideal as a beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Rachel Hawkins and all of her work. I was so excited to see she had a new work of art. We start off with some history about Meroe Island and it's dark history. How is such a beautiful island full of so much ugliness? We learn about a couple living in Hawaii who take a pair of women to the island. The trip is a little rough but once they reach the destination, things are off to a great start. They event meet another couple. What could go wrong? Well, once we get a climpse into the pair of women and their twisted friendship, we start to assume what may happen. This was such a fantasitc story. I found the transition between the characters' back stories, the time on the island and the history of the island smooth.

I wanted to love this book but, I just didn't. The premise was exciting but the ending was a little off, to me. Also, I just don't enjoy the rough language.

Imagine you get to spend a few days on a remote island. Sure the island has a past history from WWII and a bad reputation but what could really happen on a deserted island?

This is what Lux, her boyfriend Nico, and two girls who hired them to take them to the island thought. When they get to the island they find another boat already there. Luckily everyone gets along.

The book alternates between the present and the past of many of the characters. They all have pasts they are trying to recover from. I absolutely loved this book and read it in 3 hours. Reading about their pasts helped understand the current dynamics. I won’t spoil the ending but it is perfect for the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense and thrillers!

This book was non-stop action with compelling characters, intrigue, suspense, and an absolutely gorgeous setting. Definitely a great read on the beach or while on vacation.

This book felt like a road in the Adirondacks, talk about tuns! This book was so fun to read.

A couple of wealthy girls hire Lux and her boyfriend Nico. Nico had a boat that they were going to sail around on, however it needed repairs. The payment for this trip was the repairs plus some. Once the boat was sea ready, they set off. When they got to the island the two wanted to be taken to, there was a boat already there. It soon became their own private party between the two boats. Sharing food and drinks each day. Then something unexpected happens!! BUT you will have to pick up the book to find out what.

Wow! This book had me hooked! I was so glad I downloaded it onto my phone as every moment possible I would steal away and read! I haven't read a book that kept me guessing like this in so long! Well done Rachel!
I received an ARC but this did not affect my review whatsoever! Make sure you add this book to your TBR list!

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc of RECKLESS GIRLS by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for an honest review! This one publishes Jan 4, 2022!

I enjoyed this one more than The Wife Upstairs! This one takes place on a deserted island where many, many years ago, a bunch of people got stranded and bad things happened… well flash forward to present day and it is basics like what an episode of Lost would be like (I haven’t actually watched Lost, but I’m sure lots of crazy things happened in that show!)

This book is so crazy! One crazy thing after the other it seems! Probably the biggest mistake made was boarding the boat that takes them to Meroe Island, which is deserted… for good reason. Bad things happen there! 7 people are there at one point… and by the end of the book, only one person is alive 👀

None of the characters are very likeable, at least in my opinion. But that might just add to the craziness that happens in this book. Also, there are so many secrets that are kept… but then slowly revealed by the end of the book. Which just shows that you can’t really trust anyone.

If you are looking for a wild, crazy ride to a deserted island, read this book! The craziness is almost unbelievable, but like, I couldn’t stop reading? It was a fairly quick read!

I found this to be a little slow for a thriller - it didn't have me turning the pages like I usually do. I think it was also difficult to feel invested with any of the characters. Due to these reasons as well as a MAJOR plot hole, this isn't a book I can recommend.

Recently I read The Wife Upstairs and I thought that was a good domestic thriller. As I liked the style of writing I thought I'd love Reckless Girls. I did not. The premise sounded good but I honestly didn't like any of the characters well enough to get invested.

Lux and Nico are two of our main characters and I didn't dislike them but couldn't warm to them. Lux is the narrator of the story. She meets Nico in San Diego shortly after her mother died. She's ready for a fresh start and Nico is a charming goodlooking fellow who she decides to follow to Hawaii.

They plan to sail around the world but financial setbacks means they get stuck with menial jobs in Hawaii for a while. Then Nico gets an offer of big money to sail two young women, Amma and Brittany, to a remote island called Meroe. Lux is invited along by the women and they all get along like a house on fire. The young ladies have big secrets which will be revealed near the end. Anyway, when they get to this remote island there is another couple there. This rich couple who also get along with Lux, Nico, Amma and Brittany.

It had it's twists but I found it anticlimatic. Prepare for some mystery and murder. If this were my first novel by Hawkins I wouldn't seek out more as I did after reading The Wife Upstairs. Obviously this my opinion as there are planty of 4 and 5 star ratings for this book. Just didn't do it for me.

Publication date January 4, 2022 by St. Martin's Press. Genre: General Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book. I was not compensated for the review, all opinions are mine.

3.5 stars which I will round up to 4 because I thought I knew I how this book would end.

I also love secrets, twists and turns that go along with a situation you know is not going to end well.

Reckless Girls is a fast paced read that had me turning the pages to see what would happen.

When Lux and Nico are approached by two girls to take them sailing to an island that has a eerie reputation with secrets of its own and all for the tune of 50,000 you know this is not going to end well.

They aren't the only ones on the island and now the secrets and surprises kept me guessing.

Rachel Hawkins always has a surprise in store for you and Reckless Girls is no exception.

Well worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an enjoyable read.

This book flew by. The prologue grabbed my attention and I couldn't put it down. I loved the setting and the idea behind the book. Young people traveling by boat to an undeveloped island. Each character had a past and a reason for deceit. There were alternating timelines to delve into each characters background. The ending was not good for me. I didn't like how and where the characters ended. It was disappointing because I loved the first 80% of the book. I also didn't like the cover. It was too cheery for the mood of book. So this one is hard to rate, though I really enjoy this author and look forward to her next book.

Ever since her mom passed away Lux’s life has been in limbo. She’s moved to Hawaii with Nico, her boyfriend with promises of sailing the open seas to anywhere their heart desired. Except they haven’t exactly been sailing, and instead she’s stuck on the island with what feels like no way out. That is until Nico meetings Brittany and Amma, who offer to pay him $50,000 to sail them to a deserted island and join them on their two week long off-grid vacation. Of course him and Lux jump at the chance to bankroll their sailing adventures, and who wouldn’t want two weeks free to do anything. Only problem is that another boat has beaten them to Meroe Island, and it might not be quite the paradise they were all expecting.

There are quite a few POVs and jumping timelines in this book and Hawkins does put the majority of the focus on the female characters, which makes sense once you go through the story. Realistically though, the glimpses into the past didn’t make a ton of sense to me as you were reading the book and for 90% of the book I could have done without them. Lux was probably my favorite character to learn about and she certainly is positioned to be our main focus. While Hawkins does a great job of developing the characters and giving them back stories, I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and maybe I’m just getting old but they make such dumb mistakes and I had a few eye roll moments. Next thing ya’ll know I’ll be yelling for the kids to stay off my yard.

This is a fun thriller and was one of my most anticipated for January 2022. I will say that I rounded up to ★★★★ from 3.5 because it was such a fast read. However, it’s not going to make any ‘Best of’ lists for me, as I found it to be a bit forgettable after finishing. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read, but it’s not one that sticks with you especially if you read tons of thrillers. Bonus points though for it having an interesting twist and it being such a fast read.


Reckless Girls comes out January 4, 2022. Huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy, in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof_books.

Reading Between the Wines book review #127/115 for 2021:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: Reckless Girls
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)
RELEASES on January 4, 2022! GET YOUR COPY!!

Sipping thoughts: The Wife Upstairs was a really good book and so was this one. I did not know what to expect and where the story was heading. It is one of those stories that once everything is revealed you are like, duh! Why didn’t I see that coming or figure that out! One thing is for sure, I did not like hardly any of these characters throughout the story.

Sipping synopsis in seconds: Boyfriend/Girlfriend. Sails boat with 2 strangers to remote island. Everyone is just strange. Background stories sound a little sus. Flashback to before and after. Wait there more people on this island. All 6 hang and party. I know there isn’t another person on the island. Why is he so weird? Missing person. Missing items. A dead body. Lies revealed. Flashbacks make sense. Mayhem.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress and @ladyhawkins for an advanced copy of @RecklessGirls.

#RecklessGirls #StMartinsPress #RachelHawkins #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Let's sail to a beautiful, yet deserted island with a dark past and creepy vibes. What could possibly go wrong? Hmm...

Yet, when Meroe Island's newest visitors arrive, they find themselves not alone. With nowhere to go and not much to do, eventually the secrets, betrayals, and possible motives come to light.

Classified as a suspense thriller, I kept waiting for something (literally anything) to happen. Outside of one twist near the ending I did not foresee, the suspense, the build-up, and action I anticipated after reading the summary never came. Interesting enough, the book was fast-paced and held my attention.

The characters left me wanting more backstory, more depth, given their actions were often predictable and unlikable. Between the unnecessary swearing and lack of respect for his girlfriend, Nico won the prize of most hated character.

In hindsight, maybe it is best to go into this book blindly. Do not read the summary. After all, that is exactly what these reckless girls did.

I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more tension-filled reading a book before! Reckless Girls is riveting! Flipping between the Before, Now and ending in The After, it follows Lux, Brittany, Emilia, and Amma as they adventure to a remote island with Lux’s boyfriend Nico and Emilia’s boyfriend Jake. I loved the primal-ness of this, and the setting was just perfect. One second it felt like paradise and then a nightmare. I loved the Now is in Lux’s POV but the Before sections are glimpses into everyone’s past. It is tense and eerie. Even surrounded by people, Lux feels like an island of her own and I just loved getting her perspective throughout. I loved how complex everyone felt, all hiding something while living intimately on this remote location. There were some predictable bits, but I really was into this! There’s suspense, friendship, betrayal, and loss on this slice of eerie paradise and I couldn’t put it down!