I have enjoyed Hawkins’ books in the past, but this one fell short a bit. It was a fast and easy read, the ending was satisfying, and the location was beautifully described, but I struggled to be real engaged in the story. It just didn’t suck me in like I was hoping it would.

I liked this book. It had an interesting plot and the two main characters were well written. I really liked the narrator who made the story even better by the way she read the book. This book has twists and turns that keep the reader guessing about what is going on and what will happen next. It is a great beach read that you will not want to put down. The ending surprised me but it worked quite well. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a good mystery, with a great narrator (audio book), and characters that will intrigue you.

Okay… real talk: I really wanted to love The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. The cover? Gorgeous. The premise? SO promising — murder, secrets, a spooky Italian villa? Yes please.

But sadly, this one just didn’t do it for me. I made it about halfway and found myself constantly putting it down, which is never a great sign. The dual timelines felt a little disjointed, and I couldn’t quite connect with the characters or the pacing.

There were some interesting themes and a few beautifully written moments, so I can totally see how others might vibe with it. It just wasn’t the immersive, twisty thriller I was hoping for.

DNF at 52% — might pick it up again someday, but for now, it's a miss for me.

A very belated review and sadly a disappointing read. It was a fine premise but not really a thriller or suspense. We do have a mystery (kind of) and an unreliable narrator but nothing to write home about. A three star read but the ending soured it. I've enjoyed her two previous mystery/thriller/suspense books, so I will continue to pick up her books in the future. This one was a swing and a miss.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Villa has an engaging narrative where intertwining the past and present kept me hooked. The twists throughout the story add a layer of intrigue, skillfully connecting a mysterious history with the characters' modern-day lives. While the pacing occasionally slows, the strong character development and suspenseful plot make it a solid read, earning it a well-deserved 3.5 stars.

I LOVE Rachel Hawkins books and this was probably my favorite of hers. I aaaaate this book up and actually went out and bought a copy for my shelves. It’s definitely a slow burn, but I appreciate a good story and this was just that.

Mysterious and atmospheric, this dual timeline story about a rock band and a house with a tale to tell is a winner. Spend your time in Italy as Rachel Hawkins weaves a fascinating story of love and betrayal, music and art.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, I allowed the book to be archived before I could download it.

I plowed through this book in less than a day. I loved the dual storylines and time periods. Daisy Jones with a murdery twist. So good. This author never disappoints!

“Houses remember”

A gorgeously-narrated audio book, providing a sumptuous peek into the lives of two pairs of women, one in current day, and the other in 1974. In each case, the story told by one of the women is intricate, richly textured, and compelling - in particular as it relates to their complex, seesawing relationship with an intimate female other.

First, we have Mary Godwick, nineteen years old in 1974, an insecure and somewhat desperately loving partner to the older Pierce Sheldon, a musician who is both polyamorous and self-centered. Mary’s relationship with her same-aged stepsister Lana is perhaps even more fraught - being both extremely close (almost co-dependent) and uncomfortably suffocating - in ways she has not completely come to terms with.

And then there is Emily, (Em), a thirty-five year old cozy mystery writer, whose nemesis and absolute best friend (in equal parts) is the wildly successful self-help guru Chess Chandler.

When Em and Chess vacation in a gorgeous and evocative Italian villa, known as Villa Aestas, deep in the Umbrian countryside, their lives suddenly intersect with a similar visit undertaken by Mary and Lara, some fifty years ago. A previous visit which resulted in murder.

Both Mary and Em will soon be revealed to experience transformational change - which will involve the decades old infamous murder, a long and checkered road to female empowerment, and more than one twist and turn in a plot lavish in its telling.

An absorbing story, perfectly rendered in audio, with the narrator’s silky delivery complementing stunning Italianate visuals of warm yellow walls, cypress trees and one of the most evocatively compelling settings this reader has encountered in a while. Without giving the plot away (no spoilers here), the author weaves her thematic ribbon gleefully, (suggesting, as the timelines and stories intersect — one can only hold a successful woman back for just so long) as we slowly come to learn there may be more to each heroine (much more) here than originally expected.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, the publisher and an audio ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

I really struggled with this book. It's one of the first audiobooks I listened to and I found myself very confused at the beginning of the book. There were several times where I had to repeat sections to help make sense of the back and forth chapters and different timelines.

I also had a very hard time liking any of the characters and could not connect with the voice of Julia Whelan for Emily. I love Julia Whelan as the narrator for other books, but I don't think it suited Emily's character in this one.

This was my first Rachel Hawkins book and hope that I end up liking her other books a bit more than I did this one.

A solid 4 star book. I really love Rachel Hawkins's writing style in this one - such as how she adds “other sources” like interviews and newspaper articles to tell the story so you get some details without her putting it in the narrative. It would have been 5 stars, but I got a little tired of the present day story between Chess & Emily. I always love Rachel Hawkins’s characters, but the characters in the Villa and Reckless Girls are kind of spoiled and despicable brats. I really do like how all of her characters have a little bit of a morally grey area which makes them suprising & interesting, but the characters in The Villa might be my least favorite of any of the books I've read so far. I’m still mulling over how I feel about the ending. However, even in Hawkins's YA books such as Hex Hall & Rebel Belles, her ends are always suprising yet satisfying. Overall, I think this one is my least favorite out of her thrillers, but still very much worth reading.

"The Villa" by Rachel Hawkins had me enthralled from the first page. This isn't your typical haunted house story. It weaves together two timelines: a luxurious girls' getaway in present-day Italy, and a rockstar-fueled summer in the 1970s at the same location. The way Hawkins connects these two narratives is intriguing and suspenseful.

As Emily delves into the villa's dark past, the secrets that come to light are shocking. There's a murder, a budding rockstar's rise to fame, and the inspiration behind a bestselling horror novel – all with a gothic twist that kept me guessing until the very end.

The characters are equally captivating. Emily, our present-day protagonist, is a likable narrator whose determination to uncover the truth keeps the story moving. The 1970s characters felt like they leaped off the page,each with their own hidden agendas and vulnerabilities.

While the blurb mentions inspirations like Fleetwood Mac and the Manson murders, the story itself doesn't rely heavily on these references. It has its own unique atmosphere that's both thrilling and suspenseful.

Overall, "The Villa" is a masterful blend of past and present mysteries that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. If you're a fan of gothic thrillers with a touch of historical intrigue, then this book is a must-read!

I really enjoyed this twisty, suspenseful, dual-timeline novel.

I enjoyed the perspective of Mari, staying at an Italian villa in the 1970s with her lover, step-sister, and friends. We also had the perspective of Em in the present day, staying at the villa with her friend after separating from her husband.

There was a murder at the villa when Mari stays there in the 70s, and it is somehow connected to the events of the present timeline.

Hawkins does an excellent job keeping the tension high as these the events unfold across these two timelines. I would recommend to fans of mysteries and suspense stories.

I went on a bit of a Rachel Hawkins kick with two back to back audiobook listens from her and I loved it! Hawkins has such a great knack for bringing the drama with her thrills!

The Villa centers around two friends who are both writers and a mysterious history surrounding the Italian villa which they are living in for a few weeks. Readers get swept away with the history along with our main character, Emily, as we get the chance to read excerpts from a diary. I loved the mix of the two stories together and the fun ways that Hawkins links them.

This story has plenty of drama between both storylines to keep readers coming back for more. I felt connected and invested in both. The twists are addictive and well-placed to lure readers into binge reading this book.

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for an egalley.

I always live a great murder mystery and this story has a great setting, a villa. It was really interesting to hear how reuniting as friends brings back some dark memories.

I really enjoyed this Hawkins book more than her others, likely due to the beautiful setting and a timeline that bounced back and forth with sharing memories.

This is a dual timeline suspense told from two perspectives, this slows down the pacing but does help with a plot that keeps you guessing. There a lot of intrigue, a cast on unreliable and unlikeable characters and a great setting in 1970s Italy.

This was good but i didn't love it as much as Hawkins' other releases. It didn't feel fresh/unique to me. It is a good pool read to binge though!

I really thought that this was a very suspenseful listen! It is very fast-paced! I love the characters in the audiobook! I thought the audiobook was well-narrated. It made the story come alive! This, it is a worthy listen!

The audiobook was beautifully narrated. The story was a compelling thriller filled with paranoia and interesting characters.