The Girls Trip

by Ally Condie

From the author of Reese's Book Club Pick and instant USA Today bestseller The Unwedding, a novel of suspense and friendship about three friends who decide to disappear from their lives for a few days while on a trip to a national park—only to have one of them vanish.  
 
Hope, Ash, and Caro met at an online book club. Over the past two years, they’ve been there for each other in every way—except in person. When each of their lives reach a crossroads, they decide to meet in real life at the gorgeous Sonnet Resort at Eden National Park.  
 
Hope, an actress, has become entirely too famous and needs to get away from it all. Ash, a successful online entrepreneur, isn’t sure what has happened to her marriage. Caro, a doctor, has lost a patient and doesn’t know if she wants to carry on or start all over. And none of them are telling each other the full story …

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Adult, Adult Fiction, Suspense

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Ally Condie is a former high school English teacher who lives with her husband, three sons and one daughter outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves reading, running, eating, and listening to her husband play guitar.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Unwedding, so I was genuinely excited to get my hands on this ARC—and I am so glad I had the chance to read it! I appreciated that this wasn’t the typical take on a girls’ trip set in some sunny, tropical locale. Instead, Condie delivers a fresh, atmospheric twist that made the story feel unique from the start.

Some readers have described the plot as chaotic or scattered, but for me, that slightly frenzied energy actually complemented the story and themes. The various subplots worked together to keep the momentum up and kept me guessing in all the best ways.

The ending was especially strong—everything tied together neatly, and the final chapter wrapped up lingering questions in a satisfying, thoughtful way. Overall, it was an engaging, cleverly layered read, and I’m already excited to see what Condie comes up with next!

** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

2026 is going to be a great year for thrillers! I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were a little predictable, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. This was well-paced, I loved the different povs, and I was still guessing until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

[✨Poppy✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!
This was fun!
Three online book club friends, Hope, Ash, and Caro decide to finally meet in person at the stunning Sonnet Resort after two years of virtual friendship. Each woman arrives at a crossroads: Hope fleeing fame, Ash questioning her marriage, and Caro reeling from a loss. But beneath their smiles, each is hiding the truth from the others.
This was such a fun and quick read! Told through multiple POVs, it kept me engaged the whole way through!

[Mia 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ The start of this book was actually pretty interesting. It’s about three friends who met online and finally meet in real life at a gorgeous national park—but then one of them disappears. I liked seeing their friendships and all the secrets they were keeping from each other.

Once the plot really kicked in, things got kind of messy. The second half jumped around a lot, and some parts didn’t really make sense. The antagonist reveal felt really out of left field, and one of the side characters having her own secret agenda wasn’t made clear until the very end—it honestly should’ve been hinted at earlier because it felt super random when it finally showed up.

Overall, the book had a cool idea and the characters were fun, but the story didn’t quite stick the landing.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

[LibraryLaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I was invested in all three women's storylines. I really enjoyed this one!

*Thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lately, I’ve been going into my books quite blindly, so when I started The Girls Trip, I had no idea where it was going. The story takes some time to get going, and it’s not until around the 30% mark that things really start moving. The problem is that they then move at such a breakneck speed that I remained confused for most of the book.

But instead of that being a reason for me not to enjoy the story, it was quite the opposite. Were the main and secondary plotlines unbelievable, and the characters’ actions and reactions strange and even ludicrous? Yes. Was the storytelling disjointed, without enough backstory to support what it was trying to convey? Also yes. Was the main twist so out of the blue that I couldn’t have guessed it in a million years? Again, yes. Did I have a lot of fun while reading and practically inhale the book while trying to piece everything together? You bet.

This is the kind of popcorn thriller where it’s best not to nitpick or overanalyze every single scene or character motivation. In fact, the more I think about the story, the more convinced I am that it doesn’t make much sense. But sometimes, that’s exactly what you and your brain need: a couple of hours of mindless entertainment.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three best friends want to disappear for a few days each dealing with their own issues in life but then something goes terribly wrong.

I had a lot of fun with this one. It went in a direction I wasn’t expecting and kept me guessing the whole time. The characters were easy to connect to and I loved the alternating POV.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Teri LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started I had a hard time putting it down. I really enjoyed the plot and overall theme of the narrative. I was a bit disappointed by the ending but mostly because it didn’t follow the mental script I had laid out. This is my first read by this author but won’t be my last.

[Amber Rothermel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 star read.

For the first 70% of the book, I was sure I missed a few chapters. It felt like I missed an important part of the book that told me why the girls were suspicious when Hope went missing. Didn’t she just fall in the canyon? The cops involved also made it seem odd when it was a flash flood. Which again, made me think I missed something.

The characters were ok, nothing to write home about. The dialogue seemed odd as well. Especially the conversations with Ash, Hope and Caro. There were a lot of useless characters and useless sub plots that just kind of faded away as well. Spencer and his crew? Maybe they were meant to be a red herring? But it didn’t make sense.

I did like how the book was different POVs. I especially enjoyed the few in italics. It gave a different feel to be the book and made it a bit supernatural.

All in all, this book wasn’t for me. The premise had me so excited, but it sadly fell flat.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girls Trip by Ally Condie
Published by Grand Central Publishing — thank you to them and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

The Girls Trip is what happens when you mix digital-age friendship, remote national parks, buried trauma, and one extremely questionable group decision to hike off-grid. I went in expecting “Big Little Lies: Hiking Edition,” and instead got a wild ride somewhere between Real Housewives Lost in the Woods and Scooby-Doo with Trauma Backstories. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Did I also yell “What is happening?!” more than once? Also yes.

We’ve got three women—Hope, Ash, and Caro—who met in an online book club during the pandemic (aka, the great trauma-bonding era of our time). For two years they’ve been the kind of digital lifelines we all leaned on: the ones who know your secrets, your therapy breakthroughs, and your favorite meme format. But they’ve never met in real life until now. Enter: the Sonnet Resort at Eden National Park, a place that sounds idyllic on paper but might as well have flashing neon signs reading, “You will not leave here emotionally intact.”

Hope is a famous actress whose personal life is an absolute PR dumpster fire, and she needs a break—from her fame, her family, and possibly herself. Ash is a wellness entrepreneur who built her brand on peace and positivity while her marriage is silently imploding behind the scenes. Caro is a doctor whose recent loss of a patient has her reevaluating every decision she’s ever made. Each woman is running from something, but none of them are quite ready to admit it—not even to each other.

The first third of the book? Perfection. The air is tense with unspoken truths, the national park setting is lush and ominous, and Condie drops just enough hints to keep you turning pages like your Kindle is on fire. When one of the women disappears after a flash flood, things spiral quickly—from a girls’ getaway into a full-blown survival mystery with secrets clawing to the surface faster than you can say “cell service is out.”

But somewhere around the halfway mark, the narrative starts feeling like it packed three too many plotlines in its hiking backpack. Multiple side characters are introduced, backstories flood in, and we start jumping timelines and POVs like we’re playing a game of emotional hopscotch. It’s not that the pieces don’t eventually come together—they do. But you’ll need to commit to reading closely, remembering names, and forgiving a few moments of melodrama. A few subplots felt like filler, and some reveals lacked the gut-punch they were aiming for.

That said, Condie’s real strength lies in her exploration of the awkward, beautiful, and often messy transition from digital connection to real-life friendship. She gets that strange intimacy of knowing someone’s soul but not their coffee order. And when the masks start slipping, it’s juicy.

There’s one line that really hit me:
“We’re so used to performing ourselves online that when we’re finally face to face, we forget who we are without the filter.”
Oof. Tell me that’s not the most 2020s thing you’ve ever read.

There’s also something refreshing about having three flawed, smart, complicated women at the center. They’re not always likable. They make bad choices. Sometimes you want to shake them. But they feel real, and in a genre where female characters are too often flattened into either “strong survivor” or “beautiful victim,” it’s nice to have protagonists who are both—and neither.

Is The Girls Trip perfect? No. The last act is chaotic, and the final reveal walks the line between “Ooh!” and “Oh… okay.” But is it entertaining, bingeable, and a solid addition to your vacation-read list? Absolutely. It’s the kind of book you can knock out in two sittings—one with coffee, the other with wine.

If you loved The Unwedding, you’ll probably vibe with this one. If you didn’t, this might still win you over with its stronger setting and more developed characters. Either way, The Girls Trip is a twisty, moody, slightly unhinged ode to female friendship, the lies we tell to survive, and the fact that going off-grid never solves your problems—it just makes them louder.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, rounded up for ambition, atmosphere, and vibes

#TheGirlsTrip #AllyCondie #NetGalley #GrandCentralPublishing #BookReview #ThrillerReads #BookTokThriller #FictionReview #MysteryBooks #FriendshipFiction #NationalParkThriller #WildernessSuspense #GirlsTripGoneWrong #SuspensefulReads #DigitalFriendships #UnweddingFans #BookClubDrama #EdenNationalPark #GlampingWithSecrets #OffTheGridReads #PlotTwistsAndSecrets

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, I wanted to vibe with The Girls Trip. I really did. Female friendship? Secrets in a canyon? A famous actress hiking like she’s not made of Botox and brand deals? Yes please. But somewhere between the flood, the cryptic POV shifts, and me yelling “WHO’S TALKING NOW?” every other chapter, I started to feel like I was the one lost in the woods.

This book is like one of those group chats where everyone’s typing at once and nobody’s really listening. We’ve got Hope, the famous actress whose entire personality is “being tired of being famous.” Caro, a doctor who’s grieving something vague and medical. And Ash, who owns a wellness business and a broken marriage. These three met in an online book club during peak pandemic vibes, and now they’re finally meeting IRL for a trip to Eden National Park. Phones off. Vibes only. What could go wrong?

Oh right... everything. Because one of them disappears after a freak flash flood in a slot canyon and the rest unravel like your hiking boots when you forgot to double-knot. Except instead of grief or, like, actual emergency protocol, we pivot into weird flashbacks, random hotel staff with secret vendettas, and backstory whiplash that made me feel like I needed a map just to emotionally navigate. I swear there’s a point where it feels like someone added an entire novella in the middle just to explain why a side character is suddenly in her villain era.

I’ll admit, there were moments where I leaned in. The whole idea of digital friendship bumping up against real-world awkwardness? Super compelling. That first stretch of hiking tension before it all goes to hell? Chef’s kiss. And the way the natural setting mirrors how emotionally off-grid these women are from their own lives? Yes, ma’am, give me that literary symbolism.

But then the book throws in like seventeen plot threads, a handful of almost-twists, and one deeply confusing decision involving a letter (no spoilers, but… what?). It’s like it wanted to be a psychological thriller, a survival drama, and a story about pandemic-era connection, but it couldn't quite choose. I was genuinely surprised one of the characters didn’t turn out to be a ghost. That’s how unmoored I felt by the third act.

Hope, Ash, and Caro could have carried this thing. There’s juicy material here, like how we perform versions of ourselves for friends we’ve never actually hugged. But instead of going full character study, we go full Scooby-Doo finale with a side of “What do you mean you were behind the curtain the whole time??”

Would I recommend this? Honestly, maybe. If you're in the mood for a popcorn thriller with messy vibes and you don't mind a few loose ends flapping in the canyon wind, then sure, toss it in your weekend tote. But if you’re craving something tight, twisty, and emotionally coherent, you might come out of this trip wondering why you packed in the first place. Three stars, because I did finish it and I did enjoy parts. But yeah... I’m not bringing Hope, Ash, or Caro on my next girls trip.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect Both the Resort Manager AND My Own Group Chat

And hey, shoutout to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Y’all really said, “What if friendship, but make it suspicious?” Thanks for the emotional cardio.

[Shannon Mabrito · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unlikely group of friends meet by happenstance during a Covid era virtual event. They include Hope, a rich and famous actress; Carolina "Caro", an anesthesiologist from Salt Lake City, Utah; and Ash, a wife and mother whose pride in joy besides her family is her small business running a flower shop that has taken off the last few years, allowing her to bring in more money than her dentist husband.

They agree to meet for the first time after talking via phone and Zoom for the last two years, deciding on a location in southern Utah, where they can unwind, off the grid style. But tragedy strikes that none of the women accounted for, causing their trip to become a mess before it really truly began.

When you think of "girls trips" you think of pools, booze and bikinis, but you don't get any of that in this new novel from Ally Condie. Instead, you have three vastly different women coming together for one common goal: to get away from their current lives, and all that that entails.

Hope is your typical actress: rich and famous. But what differs between her and other Hollywood starlets is she doesn't WANT to be known only as Hope Hanover, actress. While she loves her career and doesn't plan on leaving it anytime soon, she still wants to be viewed as as a "normal girl". Caro, while intelligent and following in the footsteps of her doctor father, has lost confidence in herself after a horrible accident at the hospital a few weeks prior to the trip. It has completely changed her life, causing her to question whether or not she can return to her job at the hospital as an anesthesiologist. Worse yet, she can feel her husband, Dan, slipping away from her, slowly, something she isn't sure if she wants or not. Ash married young, and had her children young, causing her to lose herself completely in her traditional roles before finding her calling as a florist working out of her own backyard. She starts off "small", with no voice to carry her opinions, always falling back on what her husband, Wade, would want. But by the end of the novel, she comes into her own, finally seeing all of the horrible things that Wade has done to her in recent years, allowing her to finally let go of that portion of her life.

Their individual character developments really pulled the novel together in the end. I found it hard to focus on the back story, as there was so much going on at one time that it felt like my eyes were crossing, but ultimately, the climax of the novel and the final 10% or so of the book really pulled everything together, answering the unanswered questions I had up until that point. I truly loved Condie's novel, The Unwedding, and this one definitely held up to my expectations.

Thank you to Ally Condie, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions above are that of my own.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I eventually got bored with Condie’s YA stuff, but I enjoyed The Unwedding last year, until the ending. And it’s much the same here - the story was really compelling and I was dying to know what happened…and then it kind of fizzles.

The titular girls trip involves three friends meeting in real life for the first time - Ash, Caro, and Hope. They met by chance in 2020 during an online book club chat where they were the only participants. After that, they kept in touch, and finally decided to “disappear” together on a girls trip. They’ve left minimal details with their families, and plan to leave their phones behind in a lock box for the majority of the trip (it’s a glamping expedition near Eden National Park in Utah). Of course, as is always the case in these kinds of stories, all three women are Hiding A Secret From The Others. There’s a lot of build up, but nothing ends up being all that earth shattering (it’s a little reminiscent of the main character’s tragic backstory with the bus accident in The Unwedding - it’s a weird choice to provide some character development, rather than an actual *twist*)

There’s also Page, an employee at Sonnet (the resort they're staying at). Like the rest, she too is Hiding Something, and trying to hold together the resort in the absence of the manager. By the end of the story, I actually wished it had just been about Page, without the other 3 women playing such a substantial role. As it is, she’s ultimately a major part of the narrative, but she’s so separate from the rest that every time we switched to her perspective it felt jarring.

Anyway, the three women go off on a difficult hike known as The Underground. It’s supposed to be a two-day affair, where you hike through this subterranean cave system. But thanks to an unexpected storm, things take a turn for the worse and the dynamic trio is down to a duo. It’s hard to say much more without spoilers, but what started as an honestly compelling story about female friendship turned into a pretty boilerplate mystery, with a lackluster ending. I wish we’d either focused just on Page, with the other 3 in the background, or that we’d focused more on the friendship (it’s awkward! They don’t *really* know each other that well! Groups of 3 always end up unbalanced! Hope is famous and that can lead to weird interactions!) and left the mystery out of it entirely. It’s all too much. We need either a straightup mystery, in which case it should be Page’s story, or a more nuanced exploration of these friendships, in which case Page becomes a background player. As it is, it feels like we have two tenuously connected narratives shoved into the same book.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoyed the last mystery I read by Condie so jumping into this one was a no brainer. The concept of a girls trip with one of those girls gone missing and the mystery surrounding it was intriguing. Add to that they met in a virtual book club during the pandemic and I thought I'd be hooked. Unfortunately, the execution didn't pan out for me.
Hope, Ash, and Caro have been meeting monthly virtually for a book club since the pandemic when they finally decide to book a girls trip. The catch is that they decide the trip will be one where they go totally off grid and not tell anyone where they are. No cell phones, no social media, nothing but hiking in a beautiful area and bonding. But a flash flood finds one of them missing. But their trip was more than what they let on to in the first place and suddenly the girls are worried their plan has gotten out of control.
This one started off strong. I liked the characters at first. There was good back story to show us who they were and how they became friends. The idea of one of them being famous and wanting to get lost was a central theme that the other two decide to go along with. Their bond isn't just over books but over their lives and how they feel they've lost something of themselves.
I enjoyed the different points of view. It helped me get to know all the players in the story.
For the first 50% of this story I was engaged but a bit confused. I figured this would pan out since it's a mystery and I'm supposed to be a bit confused so the suspense builds and I become invested in what happens at the end.. But then the author lost me by introducing more plot lines seeming to appear out of thin air which just led to an increasing number of plot holes in the storyline. This lead to the mystery just not flowing well. and stuttering out. I didn't really care about the characters anymore or what was going on or even if the mystery would be solved. I no longer felt invested. And the big reveal was lack luster. The villain wasn't anyone we got to know at all in the story. It felt so random and thus, was unsatisfying for me. I really wanted one of the characters we got to know throughout the story to be the villain, or at least have a connection to that person.
Overall I wasn't impressed with this one. Though a quick read, the mystery just didn't hit as I thought it should making the story feel disjointed and having me rush to get through so I could at least see what happened in the end.
2.5/5 stars rounded to 3

[Hope Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one because the premise is so good. Three women who met online go on a girls trip together, all with secrets, and then one disappears in a remote national park. It sounds like the perfect setup for a tense, messy, character-driven thriller.

And honestly, the beginning delivers. The setting is isolated and a little creepy, the friendships feel just off enough to be interesting, and the mystery pulls you in right away. I was fully on board at first.

But then… the plot just keeps going. And going. And adding things.
At a certain point, it starts to feel like every character has five secrets minimum, plus a backup secret just in case. What starts as a grounded thriller slowly drifts into “okay but is any of this remotely believable?” territory. I’m usually fine suspending disbelief, but this really pushes it.

And then the ending shows up and basically says, “What if we revealed everything all at once?” It throws so many twists and explanations at you in such a short span that it feels less like a shocking conclusion and more like getting hit by a confetti cannon of plot. Some of it is interesting, but a lot of it feels rushed and not totally earned.

Still, I wasn’t bored. It’s fast, dramatic, and definitely entertaining in a “wait, what is happening now?” kind of way.

Overall, this is a fun but chaotic thriller. Great premise, solid start, but by the end it tries to do way too much and loses some of its impact. If you like twist overload, you’ll probably have a good time.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of The Girls Trip was so intriguing to me! I loved the idea of three women escaping from their lives and the atmospheric setting of Sonnet Resort and Eden National Park. The Unwedding was a lackluster read for me, but I wanted to give Condie’s adult novels another chance. Unfortunately, this story was also ultimately underwhelming.

I loved the friendship between Caro, Hope, and Ash! The loneliness of the pandemic and the forging of friendships across the country was so relatable. I loved the descriptions of the resort and the unsettling atmosphere of their hike through the Underground. The setting was poised to play a major role in the story, but the plot quickly took a different and unexpected turn.

I think the issue I have with Condie’s adult thrillers is that they lack a cohesive direction. She’s adept at crafting atmosphere and beautiful settings, but allows other elements in her plots, namely storylines with too many details, to overwhelm the narrative. The stalker plotline, Page’s connection to the story, the dynamic with Ash’s and Caro’s families, it was all just too much. The friendship between the women and the dangerous nature of the Underground were more than enough to carry the thriller. Condie needed to pick a direction, stick with it, and trust her characters and setting to carry the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Frankie Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this 5 starts because it had my complete attention. It's IMPOSSIBLE for me to put this down once I started it. The pace, the plot within the plot, the settings, the friendship between Hope, Ash, and Caro, EVERYTHING had me on a chokehold!

At first I thought is this a White Lotus fan-fic kind of thing because the women are very similar to the trio in last season including the vacation plans that turned awry; minus the narcissism and backstabbing. The friendship between the three is very touching, I also felt a little jealousy because as an adult woman, why is it hard to find friends that genuinely vibe with you? How their friendship came to be is organic, it started in some book club, and they just mesh well together, everyone is supportive of the other, and after this trauma bond, I'm sure they'll move in to the same assisted living facility a la Grace & Frankie when the time comes.

As for the setting, hiking in Utah is the perfect backdrop for the story. Nature and all its beauty can also be a savage neutralizer, a tragic flash flood kicked things off and also unearthed tragedies from the past that needed closure or best forgotten. I'm not a fan of Ash's storyline though. I feel like her marriage with Wade could've been explored more. The man is hateful and I wish there was a more explosive confrontation between the two.

Overall, 10/10 recommend this book!

[Mackenzie Busalacchi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Girls Trip is a descriptive, suspense-filled novel about friendship and past trauma. Three friends meet in an online book club and after two years, they decide to meet in person. The women are all facing difficult challenges in their lives and decide that a weekend at a peaceful resort in a beautiful national park is exactly what they need. In addition, a hike through the gorgeous Underground will add to their adventures. Unfortunately, the women are all hiding secrets, and when they get into trouble on their hike, not only are lies revealed but also lives are at risk.

While the premise was definitely interesting, I felt that the story fell apart at the end. There was just way too much happening at the end of the book, which caused the entire plot to become too unrealistic/unbelievable. Additionally, the characters, while developed, were all a bit boring. I did like how they met in a book club. I will say that I absolutely loved the descriptions of the resort and the national park. I've been hiking in that area, and I absolutely felt like I was right back there hiking with the women. Allie Condie is a genius with setting the scene and bringing the reader into her books. While I loved The Unwedding, The Girls Trip wasn't quite the book for me.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

Three women walk into a luxury resort… and instead of margaritas and matching robes, they unpack secrets, identity crises, and a whole suitcase full of what is actually happening right now?

Hope, Ash, and Caro met in the modern way, through an online book club. After two years of digital bonding, life throws each of them into chaos: Hope’s fame is suffocating her, Ash’s marriage is doing that slow, suspicious unravel, and Caro is questioning her entire career after a devastating loss. Naturally, they do what any overwhelmed trio would do, they book a picturesque getaway at the Sonnet Resort in Eden National Park.

Told through multiple POVs, the story pulls readers in fast, serving up drama, mystery, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. The first half glides along, then the second half plotlines multiply, twists appear out of thin air. The characters themselves are the glue holding everything together. Their individual journeys ultimately bring the story back from the brink of chaos. And in the final stretch, the book regains its footing, tying up loose ends and answering lingering questions just in time to leave a satisfying impression.

[Afsha (caffeineandcrime) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Girl's Trip - Ally Condie
Pub Date - 4/7/26 ; Grand Central Publishing
Rating - ☕️☕️☕️/5
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Three online friends—Hope, Ash, and Caro—meet in person for the first time at a national park retreat while each faces a personal crisis. Hoping to escape their complicated lives, they agree to disappear for a few days, but their secrets follow them. When one of the women suddenly vanishes, their getaway turns into a tense mystery where trust is put to the ultimate test.

My husband and I love national parks, so the premise of this story seemed very interesting. The first half of the story really grabs you and locks you in. After that I felt like I was confused a good chunk of the time. The author brings everything together well at the end, but I feel like I wanted more about the killer rather than the little bit we were given. The author seemed to add that bit and then move on instead of explaining more. Also there was a haunted POV? That seemed really random and didn't add to the story.

This one was a fast paced thriller so definitely one that will bust a reading slump, just not one I loved.

#bookreview #newbooks #mysteryandthrills

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"From the author of Reese's Book Club Pick and instant USA Today bestseller The Unwedding, a novel of suspense and friendship about three friends who decide to disappear from their lives for a few days while on a trip to a national park—only to have one of them vanish."

Hope, Caro and Ash meet on an online book club. They form a friendship and have a monthly book club online. They agree to meet for a girls trip in Southern Utah to hike the slot canyons. During that time they will go off grid and the married women agree not to tell their husbands where they are going. When a storm hits, one of them disappears and it becomes a search and rescue mission - as well as a fight for survival.

With The Girls Trip, Condie brings us something fresh, unique, and unpredictable. Rather than a tropical location - which I love - we get a well researched and atmospheric trip into a slot canyon. The three women are fully fleshed, and each one - an A list actress, an entrepreneur, and an anesthesiologist - have a secret they are keeping. As the trip goes on, the suspense, tension, and possible nefarious antagonists grows. I highly recommend adding this one to your hiking bag.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Ally Condie for the gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was great! I really loved the concept of these three friends trying to disappear for a while, only to have one really disappear. When things suddenly don't seem as originally planned for their disappearing act, the remaining friends begin to suspect that something isn't right and do some investigation. All of that was great, and I loved the twistiness of the ending.

What I struggled with was the writing voice. It was unconventional (third person, present tense) and varied from the chapters in the points of view of the three friends vs the point of view of the fourth women character (first person, present tense)...for no apparent reason that I could tell. One chapter was even omniscient point of view of all three main characters, which was very disconcerting. All in all, I enjoyed the plot of the book, as well as the characters, but I struggled a lot with the way the story was told. I would be willing to try further books by this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for this digital reviewer's copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 STARS

The Girls Trip was my first time reading Ally Condie, the premise hooked me immediately. Three friends vanishing from their everyday lives for a few days. With no phones, no explanations and no one knowing where they’ve gone, felt like the perfect setup for a tense, escapist read. The opening delivered on that promise, I was genuinely intrigued about what was taking place.
As the story moved, things began to feel a bit disjointed. It wasn't until the last third or so that personal histories and background layers really come into play. But unfortunately by that point, I found myself wishing those elements had appeared earlier to deepen connections and give the twists more impact. There are also several red herrings sprinkled throughout, some more effective than others.

While the concept is compelling and the early chapters pulled right me in, the uneven pacing and later structural shifts held this one back for me. But I did finish since I was intrigued enough to know what was going on.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

[Ria Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I work at the publishing house, but was in no way involved with the publication and creation of this book. I got an ARC at the office, and was not requested to review it in any way*

Really enjoyed this book! I don’t typically read mysteries or thrillers, but picked it up in an effort to branch out and was surprised by how into it I ended up being. I like stories of friendship groups, and have been looking for good reads about friends on going on vacations together so this was up my alley in that way.

The three friends were all well-written and distinct characters, their tenderness for one another came through well, their motivations felt complex. I really felt the tension as the plot developed, gasping a couple of times on the train as I read it. The end made me tear up.

Where I think the book could have improved are two main areas, that are admittedly nitpicks. One, the many switching points of view were a bit overwhelming and I think could have been simplified and reduced, or at least switched less often. Two, I was disappointed in the final villain reveal - it felt random and unearned.

[Blair Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the blurb for this one being about book clubs and them taking a trip to national parks I was 100% in. Now this is my first adult Ally Connie book. I have read her Matched series. I did enjoy it and I really had a ball with The Girls Trip. This is a multi-POV’s and the writing and Page’s pov really just pulled me in immediately. Then we keep going in between Hope, Caro, and Ash. These three meet online through a book club. They have been participating with each other for two years and decide to get away to the Sonnet Resort in Eden National Park.
In the end Ally Condie really ended up weaving the plots and subplots together pretty well. The pacing was pretty consistent accept for the beginning I would say it went by extremely fast and I really liked how the book was broken down into days. And I think that Ally Condie really did end up describing things very well so I could picture them in my mind with ease. Now I need to go back and read Ally Condie’s other books!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the complementary copy. All through and opinions are my own

[Marie Girulat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt thank you to @allycondiebooks and @grandcentralpub for the generous #gifted e-book.

This story drew me in. The first half flowed smoothly, while the second half moved quickly with multiple plotlines and twists that emerged unexpectedly. The bond between the women and the hike through the perilous Underground added layers of excitement to the thriller.

Told through various POVs, the story raced forward, delivering moments of drama, mystery, and intrigue that kept you turning the pages.

I especially loved the friendship between Caro, Hope, and Ash. The idea of forming new connections across the country during a pandemic felt realistic. The descriptions of the resort and the eerie atmosphere during their hike through the Underground were compelling. Although the setting seemed poised to take center stage, the plot unexpectedly veered in a surprising direction.

The stalker storyline, Page’s link to the plot, and the complex dynamics with Ash’s and Caro’s families felt a bit overwhelming. By the end, the sheer amount of twists made the story seem less believable.

Mark your calendar, this novel is set to be released on April 7, 2026.

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope, Caro and Ash are virtual friends. They meet during the Covid era in an online book club. Now two years later, they have decided to meet in real life. Well, no meet-up at Starbucks like I think most people would for these girls. They are going all out with a girl's trip to Utah for some hiking and camping. It's all fun and games until a flash flood comes through the park and someone disappears. I enjoyed the premise of having a personality that you sell online and then actually meeting in real life. And the setting was amazing. Almost made me want to pack up some friends and go do the same thing! But there is a lot going on in this story, like it wants to be several different things, such as a few other smaller stories that I wondered what they had to do with anything. I liked the survival part a lot and the big reveal at the end was fun. I had previously read The Unwedding from this author and enjoyed it and this one was as good.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Ally Condie and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cindy Bokma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the author's previous novel, The Unwedding, so I went into this with high expectations. It started out well, with three long-distance friends who met online via a book club, and are excited for a girls' getaway where they can meet in person and enjoy the beautiful outdoors at Eden National Park.

Each of them hides something that they don't share. There is Hope, a famous actress, who needs a break. Ash is an entrepreneur with a struggling marriage. And Caro is a doctor, haunted by the death of a patient.

Their happy trip takes a turn when a flash flood occurs, and Hope goes missing.

I was really into the book until halfway through, and then it fell flat for me. I don't blame the author one bit; I always blame myself, my mood, and a lack of sleep! I was slightly confused by some of the events and characters, and thought it dragged a bit. But I believe others will love it!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this had a pretty strong start with characters I wanted to know more. Who was trustworthy? Which one was the unreliable narrator? Could any of them be trusted? Were they all keeping secrets?

And while I did like this, it kept me turning the pages for sure. It was about the 70% mark where things not only picked up and got really interesting but also somehow started to get...weird? Almost like it both picked up and fell flat all at the same time. Too much was happening, but it was too little too late. It felt off and like the author was trying to get it over and done with. Not enough explanations for some things. They happened too quickly and felt undone, even though the story did have an ending.

Overall, this wasn't a bad story by any means, just felt a little unpolished and too rushed in the end. I did enjoy it and it is one I would recommend.


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Novel Suspects Insider’s Club, and NetGalley for the gifted ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up. This was actually my first book by the author. I really enjoyed the premise of this one and the first half of the book had my full attention. An online book club friendship turning into a real-life girls trip is such a fun setup, and I loved the national park setting. It had that isolated getaway vibe that made the first half really immersive.

While the story started out strong for me, the second half got a little messy. The plot speeds up and a lot starts happening very quickly. Some of the reveals felt like they came out of nowhere, and I found myself wishing there had been a bit more explanation and maybe a few more hints woven throughout the story. By the end, the story started to feel rushed and unbelievable. That said, I still enjoyed the story and I flew through it. If you like complicated friendships, secrets, and women trying to figure out what comes next in their lives, you might want to add this one to your TBR.