Lux and her boyfriend Nico are hired to sail two women, Brittney and Amma, to a remote island in the South Pacific. When they arrive they meet Jake and Eliza who are piloting his luxury catamaran. At first the six enjoy the wonders of being "in paradise" but their vacation quickly turns into something much darker. Hawkins tells the story from multiple viewpoints and uses flashbacks to unearth the secrets that each character hides. I liked the backstories and the revelations of how the characters fit together. There was also an interesting twist that totally surprised me. The conclusion of the book was a bit too abrupt for me. The language was sometimes unnecessarily rough but overall it was a good read. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but it went a little downhill from there.

What I liked:
• Alternate timelines and glimpses into the characters’ pasts.
• Fast paced story (I read the book in less than 24 hours).
• The deserted island setting.

What I didn’t like:
• The ridiculous, far-fetched ending.
• The love triangle bit.
• The creep factor didn’t really happen for me until right at the end and then it was over.

This was an entertaining read, but not one that will stick with me.

I received this book from NetGalley publishers and very glad I got the opportunity to read it.
I haven't read many of this authors books will need to start..

Eager to escape tragedy in her personal life, Lux jumps at the chance to join her boyfriend Nico, who’s been hired to sail college bffs Brittany and Amma to the remote Moroe Island. The four become fast friends, and when they arrive to Moroe, are surprised to see another boat moored on its shores. Its owners are a rich couple, happy to share the island and their extensive resources, and everything is idyllic until a stranger disrupts the balance in paradise. Suddenly, someone is missing and someone else is dead. Will anyone escape Moroe alive?

If you were hooked by Rachel Hawkins’ previous release, The Wife Upstairs, Reckless Girls won’t disappoint! It’s a locked room mystery, set almost entirely on the shores of a remote island. Rife with red herrings and allusions to secrets being harbored by each of the characters, you’re never quite sure who to trust and what their motives might be.

I know I say this often (should I have tshirts made???) but every single one of the characters was unlikable, particularly Lex. She makes dumb decisions (following Nico to Maui in the first place is just the first of many) and I found myself disliking her more and more throughout. As the group dynamic collapsed, I honestly wouldn’t have been shocked (or disappointed) if they all died.

The ending was a bit too far of a reach for me, and I’ve read a few reviews that said similar. It’s unexpected, so Reckless Girls earned an automatic three stars, but I’m not sure it’s the direction I would have chosen

Overall, we recommend Reckless Girls for a before-bed read! Warning: You might find it unputdownable!

I don’t read many thrillers but I really enjoyed Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. The fast pacing kept me engaged as I tried to work out what was coming next.

The story is told in multiple POVs. Before is where we get the back story of all the ‘Reckless Girls’. Now is told from Lux’s POV. In the after is the epilogue.

The twists and turns kept me guessing on a few things. On other things, I was able to figure it out as I read. Both didn’t take anything away from my enjoying the story.

Reckless Girls is out on January 4,2022. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

"From Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, comes Reckless Girls, a deliciously wicked Gothic suspense, set on an isolated Pacific island with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

ONE ISLAND

Beautiful, wild, and strange - Meroe Island is a desolate spot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. It’s the perfect destination for the most adventurous traveler to escape everything... except the truth.

SIX VISITORS

Six stunning twentysomethings are about to embark on a blissful, free-spirited journey - one filled with sun-drenched days and intoxicating nights. But as 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, sending them on a dangerous spiral of discovery.

COUNTLESS SECRETS

When one person goes missing and another turns up dead, the remaining friends wonder what dark currents lie beneath this impenetrable paradise - and who else will be swept under its secluded chaos. With its island Gothic sensibility, sexy suspense, and spine-tingling reimagining of an Agatha Christie classic, Reckless Girls will wreck you."

I love it when authors explore other locals where the Gothic can reside!

I had high hopes going into this one after loving The Wife Upstairs, but I admittedly was a bit disappointed by Reckless Girls. I love a thriller that jumps around in the timeline and the description throughout the book really made you imagine the island. I get that the ending was supposed to be super twisty and shocking, but frankly I found it chaotic and not in a good way. It was still a fast paced and fun read.

3.5/5

Creepy, slow burn suspense novel that has you gripped until the end. Story is divided between current situation on the island and flashbacks providing background on some of the characters. I wasn't surprised at the "reveal" but more like it confirmed my suspicions.

Unfortunately this wasn't my cup of tea. I enjoyed certain aspects of the story, mainly the low level creepiness from the beginning, but there were too many plot holes that kept me distracted. Also, there wasn't one character that I liked, and definitely have zero interest in spending any time with them on a deserted island.

I kept thinking there was going to be some connection to The Island of Dr. Moreau since the island is called Meroe Island. Kept waiting for the mutant animals/humans to show up.

The cover is beautiful, but doesn't fit the tone of the book and I think it will confuse readers looking for a summer beach read.

WOW what can I say about this amazing book? Rachel Hawkins is one of my go to authors so when I was offered Reckless Girls I accepted without reading the description! I went in with no idea of what was going to happen and I loved that! Rachel writes such engaging stories that once I start reading I can not stop until I devour the whole book. Rachel fills the pages of Reckless Girls with secrets and surprises. I love love loved the way the story was told in parts by flashbacks. Sometimes flashbacks can get confusing but it was totally Rachel's jam!

The Reckless Girls tells the story of Lux, and her boyfriend Nico, hired to take two college friends to Meroe Island, a very remote, uninhabited island in the South Pacific. Lux had been lured to Hawaii by her boyfriend, with the promise of sailing and adventure. Instead, she had gotten a dead end job and a broken boat that Nico (despite being rich, and having easy access to money if he wanted it) has chosen to deny his family's wealth and make it on their own. Lux is disappointed with her life, so when the opportunity to take Amma and Brittany to Meroe comes up, both Nico and Lux jump at the chance to go. Boat fixed, they are on their way to Meroe. However, nothing ends up how any of them expect.

Reckless GIrls is engaging, and instantly pulls you into the story. Most will be able to identify with Lux, dreaming big, but life falling short of what she wanted. She is witty and vulnerable, feeling, at times, that her boyfriend is losing interest in her. We can all relate. We also can relate to the need for adventure and doing something new that draws Lux to this trip. The characters are relatable, and it is easy to understand their motivations and why they do what they do.

This book is full of surprises, with almost all of the characters hiding their own secrets, and having their own agendas. All is unraveled through a series of flashbacks, first with Amma and Brittany's relationship then with Eliza and Jake's (the mysterious Australians that are also vacationing off the beaten path at Meroe Island). The flashbacks shed light on the motivations and the back story of the characters, information that is essential to understand why some of them did what they did.

Overall, this is a worthwhile, page turning read, that will have you saying "just one more chapter!!" until you are done. The fast pace made it an easy read, and I would highly recommend for those who like domestic thrillers, and those who enjoy books where not everything (or everyone) is what they seem.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

You can always count on Rachel Hawkins for a suspenseful ride and a twisty ending! Lux McAllister is drifting since her mom passed away. She decides to follow her boyfriend, Nico"s, dreams instead. Sailing to Hawaii & working at a hotel to pay for his ship's repairs so that they can sail the world together. But they've ended up in Maui a bit longer then Lux would have liked. When Niko is offered a ton of money to sail Brittany and Amma to Meroe Island, an isolated tropical paradise, they jump at the chance for adventure. But Meroe Island isn't what it seems. And they're not as isolated as they thought they'd be.
Jake and Eliza, a golden couple, are already there. And as much as Lux wanted the isolation, she gravitates to these new friends. She is finally at peace. Until a creepy stranger shows up out of nowhere and throws their tenuous group into a tailspin.
The ending is so good, it's almost criminal. :)

*Thanks to MacMillan and NetGalley for this ARC.*

I read one of Rachel Hawkin's series for younger readers, so when I saw she was writing thrillers for adults, I was excited! And I think she's honestly the perfect choice for this genre, her writing has always read as a little "dishy" if you will, and that style really lends itself well to the "thrillers with girl/wife in the title" genre. So yeah, I was not disappointed! It's definitely got some elements of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie happening, except the characters and the way they interact is very "now'. It did take a while for the bodies to start piling up, but a flashed-forward beginning keeps the tension high. Honestly, the best thing to compare it to might be White Lotus - it definitely has social commentary around privilege that made The White Lotus so fascinating and there's that "who is the proverbial coffin" mystery happening. Anyway, I think fans of the genre will like it, and it's a good read for those of us (like me) who don't read thrillers too often! 4 stars - I really liked it.

The synopsis for Reckless Girls sounded like it would be a few misfits, some with dead-end lives and some with a golden parachute that when put together get into some mischief that makes for a fun read. A stint on Meroe island sounds like a dream trip but when you add a few strangers and unwanted guests into isolation, things are bound to go off course. While Reckless Girls is an easy read that kept me entertained and engaged, the plot was slower than I expected; picking up towards the very end. I really enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and was hoping Reckless Girls was going to be another fast-paced, 'what is happening 'type of read. If you're looking for an easy read that keeps you entertained Reckless Girls comes out January 4, 2022 and would be a fun post-holiday read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early read of this book!

Lux is living with her boyfriend Nico in Hawaii. They are trying to earn enough money to fix his boat and set out on an adventure at sea, but things are going slowly. Until two young woman – Brittany and Amma – approach them and offer to fix their boat in exchange for a ride to a near-by deserted island that they read about in an adventure magazine. Despite some misgivings, Lux and Nico can’t pass up the opportunity to get their boat fixed. But when they get to the island, there is another boat there already. Four becomes six, which at first seems fine. Jake and Eliza are friendly and fun and willing to share their booze. They spend their days hanging out on the beach and exploring the small island. Then another boat approaches but this new guy doesn’t fit in. Suddenly, someone is dead and someone is missing and it becomes very clear that more than one person on the island has been keeping secrets. This is a fast-paced read and I especially enjoyed the play on the “locked room” mystery set on an island. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, if you liked Lucy Foley’s The Guest List or Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10, then give Reckless Girls a try.

📚 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 📚

Reckless Girls
Rachel Hawkins
Pub Date: January 3, 2022
@stmartinspress

I can’t believe I am starting on my 2022 ARCs. It seems like we still have tons of time but it’s quickly approaching a new year. Thank you St. Martins Press for my advanced copy of Reckless Girls in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t hate this book at all but I felt it lacking in areas.

Things I liked:
I’ve expressed many times that the locked room trope is my favorite among thrillers. While this isn’t a typical locked room, the isolated island and unreliable characters gives it the feel of it.

I liked the timeline and how we get flashbacks of the past to shape the present.

I however felt the writing was geared to more of a ya audience which makes sense since she was previously a ya author.

I am no prude and use my fair share of vulgarity but it felt like a lot of curse words were thrown in just because she wanted to use them. It didn’t feel authentic.

I hate that it was mostly a miss for me BUT it did move very fast and can easily be read in a day.

I loved so many things about this book - the setting was amazing, it was fast paced and kept me turning the pages quickly. However, at one point I looked down at my ereader and saw that I was 70% through and none of the major plot points from the synopsis had happened yet! I found the end to be kind of haphazardly thrown together and the final act had me rolling my eyes. Overall I really enjoyed the experience of reading this book, but the ending just left me a little disappointed. 3.5 stars rounded up!

After enjoying the last two books I read from this author, I had high hopes for her latest. I'm bummed to report that Reckless Girls fell well short of my expectations. I didn't like any of the characters, easily figured out the twists, and found the storytelling disjointed and messy. I'll check back in on further books from this author, but this one was a miss for me. 2.5 stars.

An interesting story that asks the question what would you do in order to survive. The scenes are set in the past and the present to show how the characters ended up in their present dilemma. Lux and her boyfriend Nico are hired to take two girls from Hawaii to a remote island in the Pacific. There they meet a couple and another guy. The story takes several twists and turns as the characters are each keeping dangerous secrets. It becomes a fight for survival when death comes calling one by one.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I am rounding my stars from 3.5 to 4. Rachel Hawkins spins a tension filled tale set on a deserted island. Lux has been seeing Nico for a very short time when the two of them decide to move to Maui together and then from there sail around the world. Before they can start off on their adventure Nico agrees to take Brittany and Amma to Meroe Island for two weeks. The four arrive to Meroe Island to find Eliza and Jake already there enjoying the solitude. The six become friends and things are great until another man shows up. Then things start to spin out of control.

I really enjoyed the slow build of tension Hawkins accomplished. I knew bad things were coming but was not sure what they would be. I did think some of the things that transpired at the end came out of nowhere and did not seem in line with the characters. I believe the reader is supposed to attribute this to the island causing people to lose their minds. I also wish some of the characters had been a little more fleshed out. Nico and Jake are supposed to be stereotypical spoiled rich guys, but I think a little more background on them would have been better. It would have helped have a better handle on Nico and Lux's relationship to know more about him.

This would be a great beach read if you are somewhere warm this January when it is scheduled to be published. And if you are not it transports you to somewhere tropical in your imagination at least.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins follows Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, who are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific. 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.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book and sped through it. While it did give me And Then There Were None vibes which is one of my favorite books, I found the characters in this book annoyingly stupid. There weren't any characters I was really rooting for and I wish that there were more twists spread out throughout the book rather than just at the end. This was an enjoyable but pretty forgettable read for me.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.