Not going to lie, but I have read so many isolated islands thrillers that I am pretty much terrified to go to any island. :)
Rachel Hawkins is at her best here! As with all of her novels, she creates characters with personalities that you can 100% relate too. She also knows how to create just enough tension in her stories to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC

“There are always options. Particularly when you let go of the version of yourself that got here in the first place. You can cling to the before, or you can try to live in the after, you know?”

What did I just read?! This was a fast-paced, crazy “boat murder” book as Rachel Hawkins dubbed it. The deserted island setting was fantastic, especially with its morbid history and the fascination of all the characters with this spooky but “hopefully perfect” tropical destination. Although it was fast-paced, I felt like nothing much really happened in the first half of the book, and then more thrilling events took place in the second half. None of the characters were very likable… they’re sleazy, entitled, and disloyal, leaving me wondering who I was really cheering for or what I wanted the outcome of the book to be. My head is reeling a little bit from finishing this… whew, what a whirlwind!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this ARC!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins takes place on an isolated Pacific island with a sinister history. Lux McAllister and her boyfriend Nico have dreamed of leaving Hawaii aboard their sailboat, a trip around the world. When Nico is hired by Brittany and Amma to sail them on his boat to the remote island in the Pacific called Meroe Island, for two weeks, and Lux is invited, it seems like a dream come true for all of them! But each passenger seems to be running from something in their past. Meroe Island has a history of shipwrecks, murder and cannibalism…but it also looks like paradise from a far. Assuming they will be the only island occupants, they arrive to another boat already docked, Azure Sky. The owners seem nice enough, and the island is certainly big enough for six people, All six seem to be getting along great, free spirits enjoying the top shelf liquor brought by the couple of the Azure Sky, relaxing on the beach, exploring the island and it’s history. Everything is just perfect until the disruption of a new guest sailing alone but looking for a good time. With the darkness brought on by this seventh person, the friendships start to unravel, revealing not everyone has been completely truthful in their relationships.

Brittany and Amma haven’t been honest about their past, the relationship of the wealthy passengers, Jake and Eliza seem to have a more sinister history between them, even Lux begins to question her relationship with Nico. It seems the reasons they all met on Meroe Island may not have been a coincidence after all. When it appears the guests will be stuck there for longer than they expected, the big Island starts closing on on each of them. When one person goes missing, and another is dead, could the island be cursed after all?

I really enjoyed this book from the start, it had a great base, loved the idea of a deserted island, but not a fan of the characters. I absolutely loved the authors previous book, “The Wife Upstairs”, but this one didn’t measure up. The middle of this one seemed to drag a little. I easily lost interest and struggled to get to the end. Now the ending was completely unexpected, which bumped my rating to four stars. I was surprised a little by it, some of it I guessed, but it was not what I imagined at all. I enjoyed the island vibe, albeit a dark one, but very gothic Gilligan’s Island like. I wish I could have liked at least one of the characters a little bit, but I may have had a real problem with the twisty ending.

I would like to thank Netgalley, St Martin’s Press and Rachel Hawkins for an advanced reader edition of this book in exchange or an honest review.

This book blew me away! I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. It has a creepy island, shady characters, and lots of suspense. Although I wouldn't want to visit the island, I loved the vivid detail of this beautiful location with a sinister history, The main character, Lux, is a great character. She's been through a lot but is still very determined and strong.

I think I was expecting so much more from this novel because the description really hooked me. However, I knew I was heading into the disappointment pool when nothing happened until the second half of the novel. Reckless Girls is a slow but interesting journey into a tale filled with suspense and mystique.

The characters are not that likeable, but they are fleshed out enough to get a sense of each character’s moral compass. And for the most part, each character’s personality stays true till the end.

The story is told in the first person by the main protagonist, with a front story and a backstory, which makes for an engaging read. The backstories augment the front story in an unobtrusive way for an atmospheric experience.

The plot isn’t straightforward as there are a number of twists that kept me guessing till the end where everything comes together in a somewhat enigmatic finale. Not the best ending in my opinion, but good enough for a three star rating.

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I love me a good mystery/thriller! Although I figured out a few of the twists before they were revealed, there were a couple that snuck up on me which kept it from being too terribly predictable. The setting of a deserted island is something that I haven't seen in many of the books that I personally read and I'm missing the sunshine now that it's almost wintertime.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an eARC.)

This had some creepy vibes, but it just didn't live up to my expectations based on the blurb. The pace was much, much slower than I anticipated based on others in this genre, and it just didn't work for me.

Review:
Before The Wife Upstairs, I only knew Rachel Hawkins as a teen romance author. I'm proud to say this fellow Alabama native is just as good, if not better, at thrillers than her romances.

I really enjoyed the whole journey for this book and I thought these six twentysomethings women were the perfect choice for this story. I love any story that takes place on an island, but I'm gonna have to make sure to steer clear of any that sound like Meroe Island.

What I loved most about this book were the twists in the story I didn't see coming, and I feel like I really can't give anything away with this review so I'm playing it safe and saying, If you like thrillers or mysteries you are gonna wanna read this one!

Synopsis:
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.

A remote, tropical island setting and a plethora of evil intentions are the focus of Rachel Hawkins latest psychological thriller. Two women charter a boat owned by a young couple and the four make their way to a remote Pacific island, where they unexpectedly encounter other visitors. Personalities clash and someone ends up dead. Dual time periods shed light onto the nefarious intentions of the characters and add abundant suspense. This is a multilayered, smart suspense ideal for fans of Ruth Ware and Shari Lapena. Fans of Hawkins’ first book, the Wife Upstairs, will not be disappointed.

Lux meets Nico in San Diego and she goes with him to Maui because he promises her that they will sail and go on adventures around the world. But once they get to Maui she ends up as a housekeeper to save up money to fix their boat. While there Nico is given a job opportunity of sailing two female best friends, Brittany and Amma, to a remote island in the Pacific. The job opportunity is too good to pass up and Lux and Nico decide to take the job.
However, when they get to the island they find out it's not deserted after all. A wealthy couple, Jake and Eliza, are staying on the island and the group starts partying and having a good time until a stranger comes to the island and the character's true colors come to light.

This book was very twisty. The setting of the deserted island was creepy and sinister and it was paired perfectly with the character's secrets. I enjoyed that this was a quick thriller and I hadn't predicted the ending. But unfortunately I didn't love this one. None of the characters were likeable to me. The last 10% of the book was a whirlwind with a lot of details that I found the conclusion too far-fetched.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for a honest review.
3.5 stars

This book was a total rollercoaster ride. I absolutely loved the story and the solid ramp up to the climax of the story. The character development was great and I loved the different POV's in this book. Some of the twists I saw coming but soem I did not. This book was pretty fast paced and I loved that. I appreciated that quickiness of this book and had a hard time putting it down.

I was really excited to get an advanced reader copy of Rachel Hawkins’ Reckless Girls after thoroughly enjoying her last book, The Wife Upstairs. I listened to the latter book as an audiobook, and the narrators of that book really, really sold the story for me. This time around I read Hawkins’ Reckless Girls, which left me wondering if I would have enjoyed it a bit better if I had listened to it as an audiobook. I used to have a lot of difficulty listening to audiobooks and paying attention to them, but after realizing I could listen to them while doing long drives and long walks, I decided to give them another try.

I had high hopes for this book, especially after reading the first 20-30 pages. The lead character, Lux, hasn’t had an easy life. Lux dropped out of college to care for her mother who is dying of cancer. Lux’s father is completely out of the picture, as he left Lux and her mother to start an entirely new family. When her mother passes, Lux, left with a pile of medical bills, is broke and heartbroken.

Lux finds work as a waitress at a diner in Southern California where she happens to meet a handsome, trust-fund man who goes by the name of Nico. Nico has had some sort of falling out with his rich family and has decided to renovate a sailboat to sail across the Pacific Ocean on his own to Hawaii. He is basically “slumming it” for fun in contrast to Lux who is literally living a life of poverty. Lux falls in love with him, and agrees to help him with his sailing trip and sailboat project.

Nico and Lux make it to Hawaii, and Lux is working another low-wage job as a resort housekeeper. Nico is still repairing the boat. Lux and Nico are living with another couple to make ends meet. An opportunity to sail a pair of wealthy young women to a smaller nearby island for a good amount of money arises, and Nico takes it. Little do either of them know they are in grave danger.

What I liked about this mystery is the setting. The tropical island with a mysterious history is a good backdrop for the story. I also liked the character development of Lux. However, I did struggle to keep track of what was happening with the two women’s backstories at times. There are a number of other characters who also come into the picture on the island, which somewhat detracts from Lux. Hawkins spent a lot of time upfront writing about Lux, so when the narrative shifted to the women on Nico’s ship and people who are on the island, I was like wait, let me hear more about Lux!

I will save the twist for readers, but needless to say the trip does not end well. I found the ending really satisfying, but it definitely left me wondering if there is a sequel in the works!

Thanks to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced reviewer copy of the book!

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

After her mother dies of Cancer, Lux follows her new boyfriend, Nico, to Hawaii in search of adventure. When he suggests that they charter his boat to the deserted island of Meroe for a couple of girls in search of the ultimate getaway, she agrees to join them. But how well does she really know Nico? Is there something sinister about this island? What could possibly go wrong?

I really enjoyed the first third of this book. I was immediately engaged in the plot and couldn’t wait to see what would happen once Lux and Nico arrived on the deserted island. Unfortunately, the island is where this book lost its steam. Lux makes many connections between her predicament and pop culture. She references Gilligan’s Island, Castaway, Lost, and Lord of the Flies and had me questioning which direction the plot was headed. I kept waiting and waiting for something to actually happen, but by the time it finally did, I didn’t feel that it was quite as exciting as any of these suggestions. The ending is also very over the top and calls for a lot of suspension of belief.

I am starting to think this author is just not for me. Many other reviewers have enjoyed this book, so please check out their reviews as well.

3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for an honest review.

Lux McAllister’s life hasn’t turned out the way she had planned. Mourning the loss of her mother and living in Maui with her boyfriend Nico, they aren’t exactly rolling in the dough despite Nico’s rich family. When two women hire Nico to sail them to a remote island for $50k, Lux decides to throw caution to the wind and join them despite her reservations.

When the foursome arrives at Meroe Island, they find that it’s already inhabited by a rich couple, Jake and Eliza. Soon the drinks are flowing, the sun is shining and the six of them are having the time of their lives. Then when a mysterious stranger
sails to the island, things start to unravel and secrets start coming to light.

At first I was intrigued by this storyline and the secrets in the characters’ pasts but unfortunately, Reckless Girls fell flat for me. I didn’t care for any of the characters, they were superficial and the dialogue left much to be desired. The ending was abrupt and too unbelievable for me.

On a positive note, this book was a quick read and may be well suited for readers who are new to the thriller genre.

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

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I enjoyed Hawkins debut last year, so I was excited to see her follow up. It started out good, but the further it went along I was just bored and it read YA. Sorry.

Read this if…you like a complex revenge plot and are up for a thriller with “Lost” vibes.

Three pairs of travelers converge on Meroe Island, a beautiful atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is rumored to be cursed. Lux tags along with her sailor boyfriend, Nico, when he is hired by Amma and Brittany to sail them to the infamous Meroe Island. The two twenty something women are traveling the world together as a way to assuage the grief that tries to consume them after experiencing devastating tragedies. The foursome meet Jake and Eliza, a well-off couple, who are already at the island when they arrive. At first, the idyllic island is the paradise the travelers imagined it would be, but things quickly take a turn for the worse when they become stranded on the island. The island itself is dangerous, but the group quickly realizes it’s each other they must watch out for if they want to survive.

I am putting Rachel Hawkins on my auto-buy list after this one! Her novels are always such a fun ride! This one was fast-paced and twisty. I like how it alternated between past and present, slowing revealing the backstories of the reckless girls. The suspense was great and the setting was everything I’d ever want a creepy island to be. The ending felt a tad rushed so I’m taking off a half star, but other than that, this was a great thriller!

My rating: 4.5/5

A big thanks to Netgalley, the author, and St. Martins Press for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about secrets- the kind people vacationing together shouldn’t keep.

I didn’t intend to read this yesterday, but I opened it & got sucked in. I love books like this- where the environment is as much a character in the story as any member of the cast. Usually, I feel like they’re set in cold, wintery spaces- but this was a sunny thriller with a definite sense of impending doom artfully woven onto every page. There were a couple elements that straightened my suspension of disbelief a bit, but overall such an enjoyable read!

Thank you so much netgalley macmillan audio & St. Martin’s Press for the Alc & eArc!

This one was such a fun novel to read! It was really interesting how the novel took place on a deserted island (you would never catch me there!). All of the characters were really interesting and I was very curious on what was going to happen (you knew it wouldn't be good).

I wish that the ending was a bit slower. I found that it went by very quickly and there wasn't any details on the motives of the characters. Wish there was an extra chapter or two explaining why they did what they did (and how).

Overall a solid mystery that I quite enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This had total Lost vibes though I am glad it was also very different.

I kinda figured where this was heading only because there were so many hints at it. It was still rather enjoyable besides the fucked up characters.

I'm definitely interested in checking out her previous book now.

If you are a fan of mysterious remote islands, shady characters and revenge you might like this.

Who doesn't love a good boat murder book? "Reckless Girls" is a fast, engaging read that takes place on a deserted island with a cast of characters who are each not what they seem. The writing gets a little cliched -- the word "reckless" is used over and over again, lest we forget the title of the book -- but the plot carries the book along beautifully. A weird, twisty book that was a delight to read in the cold of winter.