Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke | GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

Plot (via Goodreads):

For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it’s time to heal the old wounds between them. Where better to repair those severed ties than on a girls’ getaway to the beautiful paradise of Tulum, Mexico? But even after they’re reunited, no one is being completely honest about the past or the secrets they’re hiding. When Ashley disappears on their girls’ night out, Natalie and Lauren have to try to piece together their hazy memories to figure out what could have happened to her, while also reconciling their feelings of guilt over their last moments together.

Was Ashley with the man she’d met only days before? Did she pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or worse—could Natalie or Lauren have snapped under the weight of her own lies?

As the clock ticks, hour by hour, Natalie and Lauren’s search rushes headlong into growing suspicion and dread. Maybe their secrets run deeper and more dangerous than one of them is willing—or too afraid—to admit. 

Review:

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT is a dark and heavily dramatic mystery novel that is not only entertaining, but immersive. Not only does this one begin quickly without missing a beat and jumping straight into the spine-chilling morning that our protagonists realize one of their friends is missing, but Fenton and Steinke capture the anxiety-ridden hangover ingenuously. I knew this one was going to be special the minute I began reading it. What I didn't know was how much more complex this novel would be compared to what I was expecting. The plot seems simple, fun, and adventurous on paper, but beginning this novel I was finding that it was more weighty, dark, and psychological and exceeded my expectations.

What I found that worked with this plot to this novel was that it wasn't cookie cutter, didn't play by the rules, and featured two separate timelines (which I LOVE). The amount of tension between the women is semi-light at first and kind of progresses as the story continuous and makes it believable that anything is possible. I also really enjoyed that this was more drama instead of a thriller filled with ridiculous dead ends. This is cohesive, full of intrigue, and dramatically dangerous. The mini-story-lines about each woman's past and what they are currently dealing with is not only done realistically and avoiding cliches, but chocked full of amazing details.

This is an engaging, sharply written, and harrowing thriller that dives into the characters psyche, toys with its reader, and leaves no stone unturned. This is the perfect summer thriller to sit outside with a cocktail and get lost in. Smart, stunningly written, and elaborate, I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.

Rating: 4/5