This was a fantastic thriller that would definitely be a great beach read, if you’re not on a boat.
Lux and her boyfriend Nico are hired to take two girls on their boat over to a mysterious island. Once there they meet a second couple and then things start to occur which causes Lux to question everything.
This was told in two time zones and I loved how the story in each unfolds.
Not all the characters were likeable but as more is revealed you understand them more.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lux and her boyfriend are hired to take 2 women on their boat to a remote island. They don't expect anyone else to be on the island so are surprised when they meet Jake and Eliza. Jake and Eliza seem to be the perfect couple and everyone appears to get along. When someone new comes to the island Lux starts to realise that things are not what they seem and being on the island means they are cut off from civilisation.

I really like the desert island trope and the sense of unease that this can cause. This book spent a long time setting up the story/characters and the actual action/mystery didn't occur about 60-70% in the book. Despite this, I did enjoy the story. The writing style had me hooked and I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I did feel that the ending was a little disappointing but overall I had a good time reading this.

Lux and Nico live in Hawaii, an idyllic setting, whilst they save money to repair their boat and sail the world. An opportunity comes up to skipper a boat to Meroe Island, a remote atoll two days sail from any landmass, accompanying Amma and Brittany. They find another yacht already there, and quickly get to know Eliza and Jake, the rich generous boatowners.
There have long been rumours about bad luck and Meroe Island, but the six laugh it off, partying on the beach and swimming in the beautiful waters.
The story is told in flashbacks to Lux's previous life as well as to Brittany's and Eliza's, so it is clear that something is going to go dramatically wrong at some point. When it does, it all escalates quickly, leaving everyone unsure where they stand now.
There's quite a lot of build up til the action starts, and some of the coincidences are too convenient for even the most trusting reader, but all in all, an entertaining book that took me to a remote island on a grey morning.

I wasn't a fun of the previous book but i liked this one as it's riveting and gripping.
I liked the setting, the characters, and the plot kept me on the the edge.
An entertaining read even if a bit slow at the beginning
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another great read. Rachel Hawkins is a brilliant author and I always look forward to new releases. 4 stars

This book follows a group of 20-somethings as they travel to (and eventually unravel upon) a totally remote island somewhere in the South Pacific. The group eventually succumb to the isolation of the island as rules and social standings are abandoned and insanity seeps in. The setting of the completely cut-off paradise island was my favourite thing about this book and definitely heightened the tension between characters. Ultimately, I was left surprised with just how dark the story became.⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤⁣
- the premise: a murdererous, suspenseful thriller set on a remote island where lots of the characters go insane is v fun. Gave me The Beach vibes.⁣
- fast-paced (to an extent - there's quite a few flashbacks which although integral to the plot slowed the pace down slightly). Overall definitely one you could devour over one weekend. ⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤⁣
- the title😖 - I think it'll put a lot of people off ⁣
- the dialogue at times. A lot of swearing which read a bit unnaturally & just felt like overkill. ⁣
⁣
Overall, an exciting, not too cheesy thriller that I would definitely recommend

1. This book had an intriguing premise and quite the promising start, alas…

2. It slowly but surely turned into a tedious, kind of silly, beyond belief -not in a good way- ride.

3. I have nothing against bad people doing bad stuff as, when well executed, can make up for a memorable story; one of my all time favourite psychological thrillers is ´Gone Girl´ after all.

4. I wouldn’t say that the ending of this book was predictable because it wasn’t…but you know what’s worse than predictable endings? Ridiculous ones :)

5. I went into this book expecting an `Agatha Christie´ kind of thrill but all I got was a messy story in a magnificent setting; the island was my favourite part.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. An engaging read that lured me in from the start, well written with good characters and best of all an exotic location in which the drama unfolds! Enjoyed this book and was hooked to the twists and turns to the end. A good read!

Loved this authors previous books so was excited to get to read this one. The premise sounded fab. This book is deliciously dark and intriguing. It’s suspenseful and I loved the way the ending came together. I would rate this four stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Fiction and the author for the chance to review.

If you get a buzz from reading exhilarating domestic-style suspense then don't miss out on Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. Nico Johannsen has a boat, the Susannah, and a new girlfriend called Lux. They are in Maui, pondering over repairing the Susannah, as well as working as a cleaner at the Haleakala Resort, in Lux's case, whilst Nico is employed at the marina. When they land a job to take besties, Amma and Brittany, whose charter boat arrangement has gone awry, to the deserted island of Meroe for a two-week, off-grid adventure holiday, they head off excitedly as it could lead to the trip they've hoped for. With lies, revenge and masterful misdirection, along with times of anxiousness and an undercurrent of unease and foreboding, Reckless Girls was a riveting read. I was hooked from the beginning and surprised by the twisty ending. I look forward to reading more from Rachel Hawkins.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley, and this review is my unbiased opinion.

I love a closed room thriller, whether it be a deserted hotel, a tropical sanctuary escape, in a snowy isolated cabin or a remote desert island!

This one was no exception.

I loved the way the tension built and built in the present with new characters arriving and how the past was told with the new characters’ back stories.

The present was told in the voice of Lux and you could feel her anxiety and panic building as each chapter progressed.

Such a edge of your seat thriller; by the end I didn’t know who to trust and the twist! I saw it coming right at the last minute and I was shocked to say the least.

The characters had great back stories and I loved how it all came together for the climax to to novel at the end.

Definitely one I’d recommend

“There is something so sinister about that fin, slicing through the water like a blade, disrupting the tranquility of this perfect place. … and I’m struck by a sudden, dark thought. I don’t have to beat the shark, I just have to beat her.” - Lux.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Reckless Girls’ by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for an honest review.

Lux and her boyfriend Nico are currently in Hawaii after setting sail on a trip they’ve been dreaming of. Yet Nico’s boat is in need of repairs and he doesn’t have the funds to fix it. Then two college students, Brittany and Amma, hire Nico to sail them to the remote Meroe Island. He uses their fee to fix the boat and Lux accompanies them. After all, there’s no way she’s about to let Nico sail off with two attractive women!

Meroe is a tropical paradise though there’s no fresh water and it has a dark history of shipwrecks and murder. When they arrive they are surprised to find another boat, a luxurious catamaran, anchored in the natural harbour. It is owned by the wealthy Jake and Eliza Kelly. They swim, drink, flirt, and explore. Various things happen, which I won’t go into to avoid spoilers.

In flashback chapters we learn more about the characters’ backstories and of course being a psychological thriller, everyone has secrets and there are plenty of shocks and twisty twists before the final page.

Yes, ‘Reckless Girls’ is a bit bonkers in places though that suits this kind of escapist thriller. Pour a fancy cocktail and settle down for some mayhem on a tropical not-so-much paradise.

Reckless Girls ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lux hasn’t had the easiest life so it’s not surprising that when the gorgeous Nico offers her the promise of escape and adventure in his sailing boat she jumps at the chance to join him.

While in Hawaii they meet college friends Brittney and Amma who offer them a suspiciously high amount of money to take them to a deserted island off the beaten track so they can experience living ‘off grid’ for a few weeks.

However, things soon take a sinister turn which leaves them wondering if the curse of the island is actually real.

The characters were great and loved the exotic location, was such a page turner and I whizzed through it over the weekend. Would recommend to those who enjoy an action packed thriller.

Another must read from the author.

I loved the feeling that not everything that is shiny and sparks is actually a nice and carefree lifestyle.

Lux has just taken the opportunity to live that carefree life with her new boyfriend and they embargoed on an adventure on a beautiful Hawaiian island with two reckless young women.

Escapism is at its best in this book for the settings and description. But likeable characters? Not for me. Not even one. They are all a bunch of crazy people who hide secrets after secrets.

That ending did surprised me in the best way and it makes me want to read more and hopefully we get that story one day.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins will give you all the summer feels. You will be wanting to be on your own private island sipping cocktails and swimming in the sea. I'll skip the sharks, poisonous fish and murder.

Reckless Girls is a fast-paced and fun read. It is ideal for escaping the cold and miserable winter weather and it is entertaining to boot.

"Salt water and blood taste the same.

She'd never thought of that until now, until she was drowning in both, blood gushing from the wound in her temple, the sea running into her mouth.

Both are warm, tangy.

Both threaten to consume her.

It hurts, water rushing in where there should be air

But after the pain, there's a kind of peace. Its over now. All of it

She slips under.

She doesn't come back up"

Lux is thrilled when her boyfriend Nico is hired to take two young girls to a remote island off the coast of Hawaii and she gets to go along. Meroe island has a dark past including cannabilism and shipwrecks but none of this is evident in it's beauty.

Lux is a likeable character, her boyfriend Nico is a grade A douche, it is obvious from the beginning that he is shady. Lux's mum died a few years earlier and she is estranged from her dad so when she met Nico she had no hesitation in following him to Hawaii.

"I'd come to Hawaii for a guy - which I realize, sounds stupid - but I feel like any woman who'd had Nico Johannsen ask her to meet him in Maui would've bought a plane ticket on the spot."

When they met Nico and Lux had made plans to travel together but Lux is beginning to suspect that Nico would be happier staying where he is. Nico is from a rich family but refuses to take any money from them to fix his boat, he is more than happy for Lux to work as a maid in a hotel to pay to fix it.

Amma and Brittany are the two friends who want to be taken to Meroe island, They have been travelling together for a while but tensions are mounting and they are both hoping this island will provide some much needed relaxation. When they all get there other people are already on the island and by the end of the trip they will wish they had stayed away.

Reckless Girls is a dark thriller with a really good twist and strong female characters.

"The world takes a lot from us, doesn't it? Women like us. Women who don't get things handed to them. Women without a lot of options. So sometimes, you have to take back . You have to create your own options. "

3.5 stars

Reckless Girls is the first book I’ve read by Rachel Hawkins, although I have read The Ex Hex under her pen name Erin Sterling. I really enjoyed the writing in the Halloween-y enemies to lovers romance that I thought I’d give one of her thrillers a go

The story follows Lux and Nico as they take a trip with two paying passengers to the island of Meroe. Meroe has a dark history however the tropical island appears beautiful on sight.

I really enjoyed the first part of the book. It was fast paced and really caught my attention. I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go, who was going to reveal their true selves and motives and how it would end.

When the foursome get to the island, they’re alone at first however that changes when another luxurious boat joins their party and four becomes six. This is when the mystery of Meroe starts to unfold and strange things start to happen. Cracks appear in relationships and it appears that every character has been hiding something from the others. I felt that so much started to unfold all at once there wasn’t enough depth to the second part of the story and that’s the main reason behind my 3.5 star rating.

I’ve read a few thrills recently from Tarryn Fisher and A R Torre and I think I’ll add Rachel to the list of thriller genre authors that I’ll auto buy!

I was keen to read this exciting sounding book by Rachel Hawkins, as I love "locked room" type mysteries, but for me, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

The book tells the story of Lux and Nico who, after meeting two mysterious girls, Brittany and Amma, join them in a sailing trip to a remote, tropical island. Lured there by promises of sunshine, sea and escapism, however the island proves to be anything but a paradise. Secrets and lies are unearthed and suddenly people begin to die and no one knows who they can trust.

I thought the beginning of the book held a lot of promise and I was intrigued enough to keep reading. The island descriptions are cleverly and beautifully drawn and I could easily imagine the hot, humid conditions, the dense claustrophobic jungle and the stunning beach and sea.

The tension is built well and there is a definite sense of uneasiness from the start, which deepens as the story progresses. None of the characters are particularly likeable, although I felt some empathy with Lux initially.

I felt the story lost it's way somewhat towards the end and the flashbacks in the book did leave me slightly confused in parts.

I would recommend this as a light hearted easy read from a sun lounger with a brightly coloured cocktail close by. I was expecting something a bit darker, hence the 3 star rating.

Thanks to the publishers HarperCollins UK and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reckless girls by Rachel Hawkins.
The holiday of your dreams…
When Lux and Nico get the chance to sail to a remote island off the coast of Hawaii, they’re thrilled. It’s the trip they’ve been dreaming of their whole lives.
A tropical paradise…
Despite a dark history of shipwrecks and murder, the island is beautiful. But they’re not alone – another group is already there.
No one will hear your screams…
It’s not long before cracks emerge, and someone goes missing. Then a body surfaces, and Lux starts to wonder if any of them are going to make it back to shore alive…
A good read with good characters. I liked Lux. I didn't trust Nico. 4*.

I was excited to read this new thriller by Rachel Hawkins and I must say I wasn't disappointed! What I absolutely loved about the book was the way the writing provided the reader with such a beautiful setting! The eerie surroundings in the gorgeous island were described so well, it gave you the creeps! It makes you want to go on a trip like the characters, off grid and remote.

The story was gripping in the beginning, it kept me curious to know more, but somewhere in the middle the pace dropped. I am unsure about how I feel about the ending because it felt like it was a little rushed with so many things happening one after another, suddenly, because the book was slow moving from the middle. And I am not sure I understand why it's called 'reckless' girls because I felt like the male characters were more reckless than the female characters. But it was a fun read nonetheless!

I loved reading this one and now I have a strong impulse to go cruising🤭 A good 3.75/5 star read for me!

I enjoyed this - it would be a great read for the sun lounger this summer. It's atmosphere and full of twists. Yes, there are certain cliches - unlikeable men, suspicious back stories, deserted island. But that's the genre and certainly didn't stop me getting engrossed. I initially found the back and forth of timelines a little jarring but soon got used to it and it increasingly made sense as the story moved on. The only thing I wasn't that happy with was the ending - I felt it all got a bit crazy and unbelievable. But overall, a great thriller, a quick read and very enjoyable for all those who love this genre.