Not my usual genre but I think it’s good to try new things and new reads. Certainly made me want to keep reading to find out what happened! Well done.

This book was a fast read. The authors were short and snappy. I read this book in just under 48 hours, with work and normal life getting in the way. The writing style really pulled me in and I just had to keep reading one more chapter. The author has a great writing style and she kept me entertained throughout. There were a lot of twists and turns throughout the book, with so much tension created in each chapter. I particularly liked the way the author wrote in two timelines, before and after, giving us an insight into the characters before they all met and embarked on their trip. The one thing I did struggle with on this book, is it felt very unbelievable. I know all fiction is just that, fiction. However, in the first few chapters, we learn that Lux has given up her whole life and moved to sail the world with a guy she has known less than two weeks and then meets another two girls, and is sailing off with them after not even knowing them for 24 hours. I know that this could happen in real life, but I did keep thinking throughout the book, would you really do this after knowing them for such a short period of time. As a thriller, this book is amazingly written and has all the elements that a great thriller should have. However, it was just that one small point that made me struggle to connect with the book fully.

I was hoping this would be a great read but I just got bored with it as it was a slow build-up and so I’m only giving this book two stars. It was such a shame as it sounded great but it wasn’t for me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Lux and her boyfriend Nico are living a young and fancy-free life, having sailed off to Hawaii to chase their dreams. While there, they are offered a looooot of money to sail a couple of gap year girls, Amma and Brittany, to the remote and completely off the grid Meroe Island, purely for a looksie. Alarm bells for Lux and Nico? Nope. Off they sailed and upon arrival, they met up with Eliza and Jake, a couple already docked there. Surely alarm bells are starting to sound now? Naaaah. They dance their first night away in a booze fuelled party looking forward to days filled with sunshine, beaches, sea, and more booze without any care in the world. Sounds like paradise doesn’t it? WRONG! Of course that’s not what happens. Things start to go pear-shaped from day one as the island (and ulterior motives) take hold.

A fun and bingeworthy read, the first half is a slow build up of character development and background on Lux as well as Brittany and Amma, told in the present and past timelines. The latter half has a bit more action as the twists are revealed and the somewhat unexpected ending comes out of left field. It’s light hearted and entertaining, with a splash of revenge and murder. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but their stories are worth your curiosity and I felt compelled to keep reading. The setting of the island is beautifully described and, despite what takes place on the island, has me dreaming of a beach, a book, and a cocktail with plenty of sunshine.

I’d recommend for a light hearted and entertaining read with a couple of dark twists laced with revenge and murder.

Lux meets Nico while waitressing at a San Diego restaurant. Interested in him, she follows him to Hawaii with the plan to sail around the world together. Well, things don’t go according to plan and she ends up working as a hotel maid in a luxury resort. But they still want to travel so when Nico is offered the chance to charter two friends to an island (you can insert the word ‘mysterious’ here), the pair see no reason why not. To be fair, Meroe island is very welcoming and the quartet quickly becomes a group of six, making friends with the newly docked Jack and Eliza. But what starts out being fun and frolics turns very serious and – as you’d expect – very deadly, very quickly. I appreciated the sense of claustrophobia throughout: yes, you’re on a boat but you’re stuck at sea; you’re on a gorgeous island but you’re not close to anyone, plus the character are dealing with their own issues. A real tantalising read.

Lux is living, at best, half a life: sleeping on a friend's sofa, working as a maid in luxury Hawai'ian hotels where the cost of a room is many many multiples of her monthly pay, and waiting for her boyfriend, Nico, to renovate his boat so the adventures he'd promised her when they met can finally begin.

Then Nico meets two gap year girls who've heard of a deserted island off the coast of Maui, and who will pay - a lot - for Nico and Lux to sail them there. For some reason, this obvious thriller set-up doesn't ring alarm bells for either Nico or Lux, and they duly finish work on the boat, load up with provisions, and set sail to the island, where they encounter first a flashy yacht and its two passengers, and then, later, a lone sailor. And it doesn't take long for things on the seemingly-perfect island to take a dark turn. Meanwhile, the main storyline is interspersed with another narrative telling the backstory of the gap year girls and their previous travels.

I had high hopes for Reckless Girls, having very much enjoyed Hawkins' The Wife Upstairs. But I couldn't get on with this: where I suspect I was meant to feel a creeping sense of danger, I mostly felt bored, and the multiple twists and turns took too long to get started but then stacked up rapidly, leaving me with a bad case of whiplash. The ending, at least, is extremely satisfying, but otherwise not the book for me. 2.5 stars rounded up.

After reading the description for Reckless Girls I was eager to get started as it sounded just like my sort of book but unfortunately it just did not hit the spot for me. It started off well then it got really confusing and that put me off. I can see from other reviews that I am in a minority and I am sure this book will do well, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

A hard-working, sincere and thoughtful woman, Lux embarks on an adventure with her gorgeous boyfriend Nico and their passengers aboard the “Susannah”. Brittany and Amma, young and beautiful but grieving from recent losses hire Nico and his boat to take them to the remote island of Meroe, off the coast of Hawaii. A beautiful couple aboard their sleek boat “Azure sky”, welcomes the four of them. At first, Lux and her mates seem disdainful of Eliza and Jake, but slowly they all start enjoying each others company. Meroe island, infamous for its macabre history, seems like a serene place to be.
The entry of another man, Robbie, however, hampers the peace of the others and they want to get rid of him. Secrets and tumultuous relationships soon emerge to the surface and things no longer seem heavenly. When one of them is murdered, Lux doesn't know whom to trust anymore and how to survive!

The web of stories conjured for Meroe, entangled with the stories of each of the characters make the perfect backdrop for a murder mystery. The title is deliciously apt and one will keep guessing about the truth of the “reckless girls”!

Rounded up I had SUCH high hopes for RECKLESS GIRLS. It was definitely one of my most anticipated thrillers this year - I love a “locked room” style murder mystery and the plot sounded like it was going to be full of suspense and creepy remote island vibes, but fell flat.

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. Despite a dark history of shipwrecks and murder, the island is beautiful. But they're not alone - another group is already there and it's not long before cracks emerge.

This was a fun story, I loved how it unfolded flipping between "now" and "before". I also really liked Lux as a character, she was the only character that felt real and properly fleshed out. A lot of the other characters felt flat, being stereotypical, like they'd been lifted straight from bad tv dramas, especially Eliza the English character. There was a lot of plot holes with the other characters too that let the book down but I'll keep my review spoiler free.

I also hate this book cover, I definitely would have browsed past it if I hadn't seen the US cover. I really enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and I'm disappointed that Hawkins didn't hit the mark with this in the same way.

I really enjoyed this book, was an easy and thrilling read. The premise of the story was new to me, and the idea of what can happen on a deserted island is fascinating!

The only element I didn't like was the end, I was disappointed that Lux appeared to be following in footsteps to basically con other girls, but, maybe that's the cynic and me and what she was really doing was providing a safe option for another young woman. Perspective I guess.

Would definitely read another from Rachel Hawkins!

https://lynns-books.com/2022/01/13/reckless-girls-by-rachel-hawkins/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Idyllic island is anything but.
3.5 of 5 stars

Okay, there are two sides to this review because whilst I enjoyed this in a number of respects there are other issues, I think primarily where I misled myself, that prevented me from absolutely loving it. In fact that’s not totally true, I think on reflection I was really enjoying this until certain events occurred that stopped me in my tracks. I also really think I was expecting something different, perhaps something a bit more sinister – and I had no reason to have such expectations other than my own overactive imagination.

I think for this post I’m not really going to discuss the plot much other than to say that a group of relative strangers head off to a remote paradise for an adventure. Unfortunately, not everyone is being totally honest and before you can crack open a coconut things are going very wrong.

What I really liked about this. There’s a lovely sense of tension almost from the get go. You know something is going to go wrong and that suspense and uncertainty about what form this potential mishap – or, lets face it, disaster – will take is enticing. So, even though the build up is slow in some respects it allows you to get a feel for the characters all the while knowing that something is lurking. I really think Hawkins manages to prod you into that ‘I got a bad feeling about this’ state of mind.

The setting is great. I mean it feels strange to call it a ‘locked room’ mystery because this is an island but the description works because basically it’s self contained. No escape! The island is mysterious. It has a history that makes it both intriguing and macabre. In one respect it’s a paradise with idyllic coves, crystal water and sandy beaches, on the other there’s the dark unwelcoming jungle with it’s claustrophobic feel, creeping vines, poisonous creatures and stifling humidity.

The characters themselves are, on reflection, really well done. At first I was tempted to say that I didn’t like any of them but really this isn’t entirely true. For the most part I liked Lux although her later actions changed that, I mean really Lux, could you be any more hypocritical! Anyway, that little tease aside, things clicked into place for me with all of them when I came to the realisation that they’re all pretty shallow not to mention excessively entitled. In that respect, as soon as they gathered on this island you could see the way certain threads were going to develop – it was inevitable. On top of that some of them are very much motivated by revenge and in fact take this to whole new depths which you could be forgiven for saying are definitely over the top.

The story definitely takes inspiration from other novels, it initially put me in mind of The Beach in that a bunch of young people wanted to find that special unspoilt place. It has elements of Lord of Flies in that the group splinters into factions and things start to go wrong pretty quickly. But, all that being said this is it’s own beast. I didn’t put together all the different pieces here and certainly didn’t see that ending coming at all.

In terms of criticisms. I actually enjoyed this but I found the ending a bit surprising and not at all what I expected – which could be a good thing really (in fact I think this style is very on trend at the moment with books and films going in a slightly different direction than you would normally think). Having given this considerable thought the only thing I would say is that similarly to Hawkin’s The Wife Upstairs, this is the sort of story where you need to adjust your expectations. It’s not totally believable, there are little plot holes, the characters are fickle and also a little overblown, like the author took the worst aspects of them and magnified them – but, now I’ve had time to consider that what comes across for me is that this is very much a novel with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Not everyone is likable here and equally not everything is realistic. I mean, would people really act like this – let’s hope not. Although truth is often stranger than fiction, so, be afraid.

I have to say that I’m very curious to see what this author comes up with next and given the way she writes I think next time around I’ll have a much better idea of what to expect – although maybe I should completely go into the next read with no knowledge whatsoever – maybe not even read the description.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Smart, gripping, surprisingly and darkly funny in the right places. A really fun read that I didn’t want to put down.

Paradise can be deceiving. Lux was hoping for adventure and new experiences when she spontaneously accepted Nico’s invitation to join him as he journeys the Pacific on his boat. But, when the boat is damaged it looks like the journey will end at the very first stop in Hawaii.

Then fortune seems to favour them as Nico is offered the money he needs to fix the boat in return for taking two travellers to a deserted island for a true get it away from it all break. And, they’re happy for Lux to come too. Two weeks on a deserted island with all the sun, sea and sand you could wish for. What’s the catch?

I loved the real sense of roundness we get from each of the female characters. As their back stories are revealed it reinforces the initial perceptions of women finding their way back from places of grief. Despite that, the characters have a sense of fun and connectedness that really carries this story through.

I was so excited to read Reckless Girls, especially following the incredible reviews for Hawkins' previous release, The Wife Upstairs, but unfortunately I was left a little disappointed by this one. The blurb was excellent and left me hyped to discover the mysteries and secrets of the elusive couple and island paradise but unfortunately the story didn't quite deliver. It did feel formulaic at times and, honestly, I probably should have DNFd this, though I'm sorry to say that as I wanted to love this one.

2.5 - Mixed feelings about this one. Loved the setting of the isolated creepy island. However, the pacing was a little off for me - it starts off pretty slow and then the last 10% or so felt really rushed. Also quite a few plot holes…why wouldn’t Amma say anything about knowing Eliza? Sadly didn’t compare to The Wife Upstairs.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Going off the blurb for this I thought I was going to really enjoy it.
Unfortunately for me, it all just felt a bit flat.
Whilst it was a quick easy read that you didn't have to put much thought into, I felt that the whole plot was just too dull and pedestrian and in no way would I describe this as much of a thriller.
I also didn't like the main character of Lux and found her to be whining and annoying.
Not that any of the other characters were any better. They all felt like there was no depth to any of them and the writer as just skimming the surface.
I did enjoy the deserted island setting of the book, but I feel like the author could have made more of the setting in terms of the plot.
Unfortunately this one just didn't work that well for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. This book was way too Lord of the Flies for me. It started out good, and I really enjoyed the characters getting to know each other. Then i got confused by all the back story and how it connected to everything. It does finally come to light. but doesn't seem like it was laid out the best. I finished but didn't really like it. Too gorry for me and just too many things seems unbelievable. The writing was good though.

I really enjoyed Rachel’s previous book The Wife Upstairs so was looking forward to reading this one. Thanks so much for the ARC!

It started out quite fun and intriguing and I was picking it up everytime I had the chance to keep going. Halfway through new revelations came to light, new twists…and I appreciate it’s a hard thing to wrap a thriller, make sure the storylines connect and it all makes sense in the end but I don’t think this one did. For one, it took way too much explaining at the end, a clever plot would be more straightforward and also, if made ZERO sense that the girl they met on the island was the one they had just left in Europe and Amma didn’t say anything, just acted slightly weird.

I won’t post this review on Goodreads or my websites. I prefer to not share my negative reviews so people can read the book and decide for themselves - I wouldn’t want to put off someone who might actually enjoy it!

A group of twenty somethings on a deserted - what could possibly go wrong?

I was intrigued by this book. It’s quite a rollercoaster that I binge read in just over a day as I found it impossible to put down. Brittany and Amma hire Nico and his girlfriend Lux to sail
them to Meroe an unpopulated atoll off the coast of Hawaii. They want to head there for a couple of weeks rest and relaxation. On arrival they find another boat there, a sleek catamaran piloted by Jake and Eliza. Now a party of six, they soon settle into island life, swimming, good food and plenty of wine. Meroe has a dark past, but here, Lux especially feels free and as if she belongs. Until they become a party of seven.

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.

When Lux McAlister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck n a dead end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb o board the Susannah and set out on an adventure. She's also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittney and Amma. The women say they want to travel off the beaten path. When they reach Merae Island, they didn't expect to see another boat anchored there. Jake and Eliza join the group of four. The new friends settle into life on the island.

I nearly gave up on this book as nothing much was happening in the first half. The second half was a bit better. I didn't like any of the characters. The twists kept me guessing to the end. The pace was slow in the first part of the book, then it picked up a little. I also felt parts were unbelievable. I wasn't keen on the ending either. I'm sure I will be in the minority with this book and many others will love it.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #RachelHawkins for my ARC of #RecklessGirls in exchange for an honest review.