I discovered The Hike by Lucy Clarke while browsing netgalley last week. I was in the mood for something fun, quick, entertaining, and super binge-worthy. I wanted a popcorn thriller, really. I’m happy to report that it checked all of those boxes, but I wouldn’t exactly call it a thriller. It’s being marketed as one, and it falls under the thriller, mystery, and suspense genres on Goodreads, but only the last 25% of it felt thriller-ish to me. The main focus of the novel was on the longtime friendship and complex dynamics between four women: Liz, Maggie, Helena, and Joni. I loved how the chapters flipped from one character’s perspective to the other. It gives the reader an opportunity to learn about their pasts, and what life struggles they’re dealing with currently.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Multiple perspectives
- Female friendship
- Hiking, mountain climbing, camping
- Norwegian wilderness setting
- Adventurous destination trips
- Light, easy thrillers

Overall, this novel was a winner for me. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, and I inhaled it in just a few sittings. It was my first read from the author, definitely not my last, and I’d love to check out her backlist. Any recommendations for me? The Hike doesn’t release until August 29th, but be sure to get it on your radar NOW! The Hike gets a solid 4/5 stars from me!

I really enjoyed The Hike by Lucy Clarke, this was the second book I have read by this author and was not disappointed. I would describe this book as a survival thriller. Four friends decide for their annual getaway to hike in the mountains of Norway. This was a fast paced thrill a minute story that kept me reading till the end. Thanks to Netgalley for this arc.

What a brilliant book! This is my second book by Lucy Clarke and it did not disappoint! This psychological thriller will keep you glued to the pages. This story is told in multiple POV’s and is interspersed with different timelines — what unfolds is a complex, deep and page-turning thriller which you won’t want to put down. I loved the flawed characters and their complex relationships. Definitely recommend for thriller lovers who like adventure to be a part of their reads!

A big thank you to Harper Collins + Netgalley for allowing me to be an early reader for this one!

Best friends looking to escape their live in a deadly situation- what could go wrong? Lucy Clarke has a gift for writing women’s friendship and exotic locales, so it keeps the tropes fresh. 4.5 beach read stars rounded up.

The glittering, snow-laden Norwegian backdrop of The Hike was utterly transportive and emotive, but despite the sublime beauty of the landscape, I found it difficult to deeply care about these four women, partly due to a lack of characterization and not enough distinction between them. I did enjoy parts of this book, but overall it felt a bit far-fetched and the big reveals weren't that monumental. I do think a LOT of people will enjoy this book, and also Lucy Clarke's writing, but it ultimately fell flat for me.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I was fortunate to receive The Hike by Lucy Clarke to read and review. The novel takes place in Norway where 4 friends in their thirties gather for a 4 day hike -- a long girls weekend. These women have been friends for years and take a vacation together each year.. But this is the first vacation involving strenuous activity and physicality.

However, only one of the women is prepared--she has worked out and has done all the planning. The other three women half-heartedly embraced this hike and are not prepared. This begins the novel and ultimately The Hike. They are warned by some locals that this is a dangerous hike and that others have perished in the past. Thus begins this thrilling action packed novel. Each of the characters has her own back story--a single Mom, a woman who may be pregnant but doesn't know yet, a rock star who is tired of the touring, and the perfect Mom and mother of two who is struggling in her marriage.
The novel develops each character by giving each chapter the lead to one of them so we get a glimpse into their past and present struggles. But, it is during the hike that the thrills begin. From injuries to getting lost and trying to find their way out of danger, that is the gist of the novel. There are some "bad guys" too that add to the excitement and knowing who is truly "bad" is part of the story. It was a very entertaining read. Fast paced and interesting. The scenery was fantastic-with ocean scenes and waterfalls.

Lucy Clarke has become one of auto read authors. Loved the hike. This is a must read for any fans of psychological thrillers.

Four best friends take an annual girls’ trip together, and this year, it’s Liz’s turn to choose. She is in desperate need of an adventure and something different, so she chooses to go to the mountains of Norway on a hiking adventure, which the other three women are not enthusiastic about. All of the women are trying to escape from their normal lives and most are hiding secrets they don’t want the others to find out. What they don’t expect is to find out that a woman died on the exact same trail last year, and that the killer might still be on the trail with them.

The Hike is my second book by Lucy Clarke and like One of the Girls, this focuses on female friendships and the secrets that we keep from even our best friends. This is the first “survival thriller” that I have read, and I expected it to be a bit more exciting. I found it to be a slow burn and for most of the book, was wondering when something exciting was going to happen. Once the group were on the mountain, things did pick up some but I wish there was more of that story. By the end, things felt very repetitive but the chapters are very short and kept the pace of the book moving quickly. It was frustrating to read how ill-prepared the women were on such a dangerous hike which at times made the entire story seem silly and far-fetched.

I found The Hike to be an average thriller that I’m sure Clarke’s fans will enjoy.

A special thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one a lot, and flew through it fast, but didn’t love it as much as Clarke’s earlier thriller One of The Girls. The suspense was amazing, the scenery and descriptions of nature were gorgeous, but the plot twists were a bit too unbelievable which turned me off. A good thriller but I didn’t love the ending.

🥾THE HIKE by Lucy Clarke🥾

📆Pub date: August 29th, 2023
➡️Swipe for synopsis
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: E-book
Read if you like:
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Alternating POV
🌊Atmospheric settings
📖Thrillers with a locked room vibe

Thank you so much @putnambooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy of The Hike! This book pleasantly surprised me and I read it in a 24 hour period. This follows a group of women going on a hiking trip in the remote Norwegian wilderness. The setting was amazing and set the tone for the book, and it gave it a real “locked room” feeling. I loved the short chapters and alternating POVs, if you like Lucy Foley you will like this format!

The story was thrilling and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. It managed to go in a direction I didn’t see coming but was pleasantly surprised by! I recommend picking this up when it comes out in August!

this book is a new author for me! this book def made me feel all the feels and take my time! I totally related to the main character and would recommend this book for anyone looking for something new

One thing about Lucy Clarke, you’re going to get a unique story line, all her plots are so different than your domestic thriller.

The Hike - set in Norway, immediately gives an ominous feeling. 4 best friends meet for their annual holiday, this one different than the rest. A strenuous 4 day hike in Norway.

I really liked this book, very slow burn but it kept my attention.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC

I ended up really enjoying it. There are some sneaky things that happen in this book and they always catch me off-guard, no matter how many times I read them. It's just not something that enters into my brain as a possibility until it's been revealed! Every. Time. lol. I was pretty ambivalent towards all four of the women. They each had their strengths and weaknesses and ended up making a good team. I liked this one a lot more than One of the Girls.

A tense thriller with moments of humor and glimpses into the complexities of being human in relationship with other humans. Full of heart racing twists and turns, you won't be able to put this one down!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC! This story Is mysterious, it’s fast paced, it’s layered, it’s everything I love in a book! The deep dive into the complex nature of female friendships was unexpected for a title labeled as a thriller. While there was a thrilling storyline, and the atmosphere has the reader on edge, the core of the story was warm-hearted and tied up too nicely in the end, leading me to feel mislead by the thriller genre label. That said, this book was fantastic, I love the writing on top of everything else, and will be picking up more from Lucy Clarke in the future!

This wasn’t a bad read by any means, I just found it very predictable. I enjoyed the writing and the premise was solid. I found it to be a bit slow in the beginning, but it did pick up about 1/3 of the way in. I recommend for those who enjoy thrillers.

Keep your enemies close and your friends closer or is it keep your friends close and your enemies closer? You can decide after reading this book. Four friends living completely different lives meet once a year for their annual girls trip. This year it’s Liz’s turn to pick the destination and she picks to go wild hiking and camping on Blafjell mountain in Norway. Once at the hiking lodge, the women learn that a local woman has disappeared just a year ago hiking the same mountain, but the woman forge on. But, plans don’t always turnout the way you plan. Soon the woman are met with natural disasters and unwanted company. You will think you have it all figured out- THEN BAM- the story turns completely around. You’ve got to read this one!!!

I enjoyed the book, but felt like it drug for the first 80%. I didn’t predict the ending or the cocaine drug running.

I was worried that this would be too similar to “one of the girls” but I was wrong. This was marvelous and brilliantly written.

Lucy Clarke keeps getting better and has mastered multiple POVs and dual timelines.

Lucy Clarke always takes us away to a far away place that most of us will never see. In her last book, “One of the Girls” she took us to a Greek island and while reading, I envisioned myself sitting by the pool having drinks with my best friends, while taking in the beautiful scenery. In her amazing new book, “The Hike”, Liz, Helen, Maggie and Joni traveled to Norway to hike a treacherous mountain that has a history of danger and the unknown. Liz organized the trip for her best friends and she was the only one who was completely committed to the journey. Personally, I would have passed on this trip and chosen a fun week at the beach. I felt bad for Maggie because she had to leave her precious daughter Phoebe, with her ex-husband. She had no desire to hike anywhere and had second thoughts about going at all! As the women prepared for the hike with their brand new hiking boots and heavy backpacks, I began to worry about their safety.

All the women had secrets they were hiding from each other and it was just a matter of time, as tensions grew, that they shared their stories around the campfire. While reading, I had the sense that someone was following them, lurking in the lush forest, waiting for the right time to approach them. Was this person friend or foe, offering help or leading them further into the darkness? The mountain held many secrets and as they forged ahead, seeking shelter during a storm, they stumbled upon something that would change their lives forever. Would they make it to the end of the hike, or would the terrain be too difficult? Would they all still be friends after the biggest secret is revealed? Ms. Clarke had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book and once again she surprised me with a shocking and heart pounding ending!