Reckless Girls

3.75/5

Lux is on the adventure of a lifetime. The only problem is, it was supposed to just be her and her boyfriend, Nico. Instead, the couple is sailing two girls to an uninhabited island for two weeks of an off-the-grid vacation. They quickly discover that they will not be the only ones on the island; however, the glamorous other couple, Jake and Eliza, are friendly and the group settles into a nice routine. Until a mysterious stranger shows up rocking the dynamics. Then, one in the group goes missing. Another is found dead. Lux isn’t sure how long she will last on the island, but she has no way of leaving… 

This was a solid mystery/thriller that gave Lord of the Flies vibes. The pacing felt a bit off. About 50% was mostly suspense and developing the dynamics of the original six people, and then another person shows up. The second third of the book really picked up in pace and is where most of the plot points happened. The twists were a bit predictable, but that didn’t make the story less enjoyable. The characters could be a bit grating, but that also helped keep them all unreliable narrators. 

The story was creative and Hawkins was able to keep me hooked by adding in different perspectives and sprinkling in clues throughout the story. The correspondences home added an eerie aura to the island as vacationers and travelers recounted their time on the island, but I think the story could have been fine without these too. I would have preferred more in the main plot and resolution. 

This was another good thriller from Hawkins that will have you longing for a tropical vacation, but also remaining wary of your travel companions.