This is my first Rachel Hawkins book but CERTAILY will not be my last! At its core, Reckless Girls is a modern day Robinson Crusoe -- Lux and her boyfriend are hired by two women to sail to a remote island in the South Pacific. When they get to the island, they meet another couple -- Jake and Eliza, and the six of them settle into life off the grid complete with lots of booze and fun. The fun is cut short with a stranger arrives on the island, and when someone goes missing and another person turns up dead, maybe being off the grid isn't as good as it sounds.

Rachel Hawkins did such an exception job of weaving together each person's story together to create one cohesive narrative. She also creates such compelling characters that you simply MUST continue to read to know what happens. I could not get enough of Reckless Girls! A great read for 2021!!

Calling the girls in Rachel Hawkins latest novel "reckless" is like saying Hurricane Katrina was a little rain. Taken individually- Lux, Eliza, Amma, and Brittany are at turns spoiled, selfish, entitled and manipulative-not unusual for twenty something's on vacation-but as a group they are an unnatural disaster. While there doesn't appear to be a thread that ties all of these women together (Amma and Brittany hire Lux's boyfriend Nico to take them to a remote location in the south Pacific on his boat the Susannah, and just happen to run into Eliza and her boyfriend Jake on their boat the Azure Sky), that's just Miss Hawkins crafty writing. Memo to Lux: a guy with a boat named after an ex girlfriend is probably not a good long term investment. Reckless Girls moves at a lightning pace with layers of tension on every page. The trick is sorting the good girls (and boys) from the bad-not an easy task since none are gonna win a citizen of the year award. Reckless Girls is fun in a demented sort of way. You know disaster is coming buy you'll enjoy the warm ocean breezes and unspoiled beauty until then.

Excellent book right from the start

Several characters meet on a deserted island, three days' sail from Hawaii, that has a morbid past Some are from wealthy families; others were haunted by losses of loved ones. The story is told in present time alternating with the back stories of the characters. Some of the twists were pretty obvious by half-way through the book, but it was well written and the characters were interesting.

There were a couple of things that didn't ring true (seemingly unlimited amount of food and wine, including fresh strawberries that seem to be in great shape many days after being purchased), but this book grabbed me right from the start. I spent a day finding time to read it from start to finish, and I abandoned the last two books I started 1/3 of the way through because they dragged, so I am hard to please.

I think this will be the next big hit.

This is an atmospheric thriller told in the 1st person by Lux, a woman who’s had a tough life, and is with a guy who seems perfect—rich, handsome, has promised the world to her. They end up taking two girls on a tour to a deserted island. They’ve said they are college friends, but there’s much more to the story. The book is interspersed with several other third person POVs.

I loved this novel. The writing is crisp and the descriptions of the island add layers of creepiness to the story, and I enjoyed the characterization. This is a slow burn suspense with a SHOCKING ending. I definitely didn’t see it coming! Thank you to netgalley and st Martin’s for the eARC. Opinions are my own.

4.5 stars. This book left me absolutely speechless by the end. I really enjoyed The Wife Upstairs so I wanted to picked up Rachel Hawkin’s newest book, Reckless Girl’s, as soon as I saw it. Beautiful white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, a deserted island all to yourself, the perfect place to unplug and unwind for two weeks, what could go wrong? Could be the sketchy history of the Meroe Island from WWII when a shipwreck left 30 men stranded and only 8 survived. Could be the really nice couple, Eliza and Jake, already anchored there when Nico, Lux, Brittany and Amma arrive.

This book is a whirlwind of a beautiful vacation with some twists and happenings. The characters were pretty average but Rachael Hawkins immersed me on that beach. She did such an amazing job that when I picked up the book I was right there on that sandy beach or in the jungle with them. Highly recommend picking up Reckless Girls. It is the perfect beach read or if you just need an island escape.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The suspense in this book was incredible, it had me on the edge of my seat and scared before anything ever happened. It’s so well written and the flashbacks gave just enough information to keep me satisfied with knowing but also wanting to then know even more. The final events on the island were a bit over the top and I would have liked a little more clarity on the final scene. Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely read more by this author!

I didn’t feel personally invested in Lux or Nico. Nico starts off as disinterested and Lux starts off needy. They’re together by circumstance. I read through 25% and decided it wasn’t for me. However, the right reader will definitely enjoy this book if it carries on the way it has, at a solid 4 stars. We will likely put copies in our libraries, especially with the beautiful eye catching cover.

Reckless girls and privileged men travel to a remote island in the South Pacific in what seems like the perfect destination to escape the world and start a new adventure. Rachel Hawkins’ explosive thriller is not just a fast and exciting read but an immersive novel that will leave you thinking about the book all day long. Lux and her boyfriend Nico are hired by two young women to sail The Susannah to the remote Meroe Island for a unique Instagram perfect adventure. The passengers are college friends Brittany and Amma with a seemingly unbreakable bond but hide secrets from their hired crew and even each other. Meroe island is paradise, but the dense jungle hides dark history including a shipwreck and acts of cannibalism and possibly even murder. The island may not be the hidden gem Brittany and Amma were expecting, as they arrived, they find the island already occupied by Eliza and Jake a wealthy couple on their fancy catamaran called Azure Sky. The group become fast friends with wild parties and wilder tours in the dense jungle. The arrival of a new stranger on the island creates waves within the group, and paradise turns to nightmare when people start to go missing, and even someone is found dead! Cut off from the world, can the group trust one another when everyone holds a secret?
Hawkins’ books have quickly become one of my favourites, a guaranteed read that will thrill and entertain with shocking twists. A read-a-like to Lucy Foley’s The Guest List and for fans of the characters and twists in Liv Constantine’s novels. An atmospheric thriller with a unique premise and detailed descriptions of a beautiful setting with tragic characters will be the perfect page turner during the cold winter months. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

I was curious to see what Rachel Hawkins would come up with next after the success of The Wife Upstairs. Reckless Girls is a much different type of novel. Lux is a girl who doesn't have many prospects in life except for the dream of traveling around the world with her boyfriend. Both Lux and Nico end up taking a job of sailing two travelers from Hawaii to a deserted island called Mero Island for a one and a life time experience. The island proves to be in control of their adventure more than they are.

What I liked: Hawkins did really well crafting her characters and slowly introducing more of the mystery of their past. The climax of the novel was surprising and we are as shocked at what was truly going on as our main character. I also liked how it took all the way through the novel to find out why the title is Reckless Girls.

What I didn't: The first half of the novel was a little slow in my opinion, with much of the excitement and action falling into the second half. Though it was worth it, I think some readers could lose interest before reaching the best parts of the story.

Oh this one was SO good! I love a good creepy setting book and Reckless Girls did not disappoint! I thought Rachel Hawkins did a great job setting the scene and making me feel like I was there too. I really liked how all the characters were developed, I felt like I had just enough but also still wasn’t sure who the fully trust. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not figure out the twist before hand. Highly recommend this one!

Reckless Girls follow Lux and her boyfriend Nico who are hired to sail to the ominous and deserted Meroe Island by young twenty somethings Brittany and Amma. Upon arrival to the island they find another couple already there. Jake and Eliza are traveling luxuriously on their yacht. The group starts to bond and suddenly everything is turned upside down when a new arrival hits the beach as well. Things spiral from there as we try to figure out who’s hiding what and secrets start to come to light.

What I loved about this book is it kept me guessing the whole time. I couldn't predict where it was going and that kept me from putting it down.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Reckless Girls” is a quick, enjoyable read that left me guessing until the end. In this engaging mystery, Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women, Brittany and Amma, to Meroe Island. The island is an off-the-beaten-track paradise, but when the group arrives, they find it is also already inhabited by two other sailors, Jack and Eliza. They quickly become friendly and settle in to enjoy a laid-back vacation together. Things start to take a turn when another stranger arrives who sets off alarm bells of concerns. The stranger isn’t the only one who appears to be harboring secrets, however. Bits of the pasts of each of the parties emerge, slowly unraveling into the present. When the first dead body turns up, things start to take a turn quickly.

I love a good mystery, and Rachel Hawkins has done an excellent job with this story. The lush scenery jumps from the page, easily drawing the reader into the apparent fun tropical paradise. The island lends itself to the initial party atmosphere, and it develops fully into an isolated threat to survival. The characters are not all as they first appear, and the interweaving of their past and present is done brilliantly. It lends itself to the slow unravelling of both the story and the characters themselves. I’m usually pretty good and figuring out the ending of a book beforehand, but Hawkins caught me by surprise.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel by Rachel Hawkins. The book was a fast-paced, easy read that I devoured in one sitting. I love that I didn’t see the ending coming. I enjoy a good twist, and this one was well set up throughout the rest of the book. This was my first book by this author, and it was so good that I’ll definitely be seeking out more of her work. If you enjoy a good mystery, or just want an easy, fun read, pick this book up now!

I was so excited to get my hands on this digital ARC, as I absolutely loved Rachel Hawkin’s previous book The Wife Upstairs. This book was very intriguing and kept me guessing the whole time! I loved the ending!!

Reckless girls draws you in and won’t let you go. Lux is an incredible character that makes you feel her journey on this abandoned island. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had no inclination of the twists that were woven into this story! I love when a book isn’t predictable!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

#eightiethbookof2021 #arc

CW: murder, death, violence, discussion of drunk driving, drug use

This book tells the story of Lux, who tags along with her boyfriend when his boat is chartered by two women to sail them to a notorious deserted island rumored to have a terrifying history. At first all is well, but when they get to the island, they discover they’re not alone, and Lux realizes that her companions are not as they seem.

The first 40% of this story is pleasant enough, and then boy, does it ramp into overdrive. I raced through the second half of this book, dying to know how it would play out. I really enjoyed the characters, and although I did guess something slightly before it was revealed, I didn’t guess it early enough as to be annoyed by it. I enjoyed most of the revelations as they came, and this was a truly interesting story to me. I think I may skip a tropical island vacation after this.

Thank you to #@netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advance copy. (Pub date 1/4/22) #recklessgirls

Rachel Hawkins has written another winner with Reckless Girls! Hooked from the beginning, I couldn't stop reading this novel. It gave me "Then There were None" vibes and had a fast paced and intriguing mystery that I couldn't look away from. Rachel Hawkins is definitely an author to watch out for!

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars

Wow this book is the definition of 0 to 100 real fast! I knew I didn't like Nico or Amma from the get go but wow the really surprised me with the depths of their shiftiness. I loved all the reveals of all the terrible things everyone had done to each other because it really keeps you on your toes. I also always love a fake love to get revenge subplot in a bookend it is one of my favorite tropes so I loved seeing that play out with Jake and Eliza. Lux is also one of those characters that you can't help but root for even as she does bad things like cheat and kill Jake/Eliza. The ending seriously left me with chills

This was a great summer read. I agree with some of the other readers that the book started off a bit slow, but once it got going I didn't to put it down. The author did a great job of describing the island. I could imagine that I was there from her description of the island, the water, the sky and the boats. It is definitely is a page turner that will keep you captivated once the story gets going and leaves you guessing till the very end.

Wile the idea of running away to an atoll in the Pacific sounds wonderful, there's no way I'd choose to travel with this group. The handsome captain, his girlfriend and 2 strange women set off without checking the weather or testing the equipment or new repairs. Idiots? They arrive only to find another couple there which now makes for 6 odd personalities to mesh. Along comes number 7 and all hell breaks loose.

As a grammar snob, my teeth were on edge from the moment it was mentioned that the engine was busted, not broken. Throw in a half dozen 'me and him' references instead of 'he and I' and my disinterest was complete.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Also, I hated the title and almost didn't read it due to the title. These are not girls; they are women.

Wow. Wow. WOW.

I’ve read one other book by Rachel Hawkins. I thought The Wife Upstairs was so good. But this one? GREAT. It follows 6 strangers who decide to go on an adventure to a tiny deserted island. Once they get on the island, lies and deceit start to come to light pretty quickly. When I say that this story is intricately woven together… I’m not lying. Every single detail in this story plays into another detail seamlessly. I have no idea how people write stories like this where every single thing lines up exactly how it does. This is a psychological thriller. It’s fast-paced and kept me intrigued from the first paragraph. It deserves all of the stars!