Hawkins was born in Salisbury (now Harare, Zimbabwe) in 1972. Hawkins attended Arundel School in Harare and Collingham College in London. She has also worked with "The Times" as a journalist. Her 2015 novel, "The Girl on the Train" was adapted into film by same name featuring Emily Blunt in 2016. Hawkins has also written four romantic fictions under the name "Amy Silver".