A gruesome, retro rock-&-roll mystery set against a sunny, idyllic Italian backdrop. The narrative switches back and forth between the 1970s and modern day from a few different perspectives, so these parallel stories can be confusing and not make much sense initially, but I did get the hang of it after a while and eventually figured out what was going on. The story takes us on a journey through mixed media (reminiscent of Taylor Jenkins Reid) to get to the bottom of what truly happened on that night, exploring the various problematic relationships between different characters across timelines.

Personally I wasn't drawn to any particular characters - Chess was annoying throughout as an overly 'perfect' character, so it was hard to fully empathise with Emily's attachment to her as a friend. Also as a British person, some of the small details from Mari's timeline when in the UK weren't believable from a native's perspective - though I'm sure non-British readers wouldn't even notice, and I appreciate that it must be challenging to write characters from another country and culture with 100% accuracy.

I did enjoy the theming of this mystery, perfect for reading coming up to Halloween, and finished it fairly quickly after being compelled to find out how it would end. However I didn't particularly love the characters and wondered if I'd have enjoyed it more if it ended differently. This is the first Rachel Hawkins book I've read and I'd definitely pick up another to check out after hearing such good things about her previous books.

Thank you so much to Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of The Villa. This book was about Emily and Chess, childhood best friends that have grown apart. They are both writers, and when Chess suggests a writing trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance. Their homebase, Villa Aestas, is a beautiful holiday rental with a checkered past. A former rock star, Noel, brought a group of friends there in the 1970’s that ended in a death. This sets in motion a chain of events that leads to the two girls who were there with him, Mari and Lara, becoming artists. Mari wrote one of the most famous horror novels of the time and Lara composed a platinum album, all sparked by a brutal murder. As Emily learns about the villa’s past, she also begins to learn there is more to the story than meets the eye. She thinks there may be clues to the past hidden in the house, and she will stop at nothing to find them.

Thoughts: This book was a fun story inspired by the Manson murders and the summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent at the Lake Geneva castle writing Frankenstein. I liked both the story of Emily in the present and Mari in the past. It was fun how the two stories were tied together and the way the different forms of art brought out so much passion.

The 70s lifestyle of Noel, Pierce, Johnny, Mari, and Lara was fun to read about and a great setting in the villa. I loved the idea of the writing retreat as well, and liked the character of Emily. I didn’t love Chess and really did not like the way the story ended. It wasn’t satisfying at all, and instead of showing women empowerment, it made Emily look sad and like she was giving up. Regardless, the story was a lot of fun and Hawkin’s writing was descriptive and entertaining. 3.5 stars!

I thought this book was really well done and was completely different than Rachel Hawkin's other book!

Things I loved:
1. The two main characters are best friends and authors. I loved the storyline of them spending the summer in a villa to write.
2. The other storyline was the murder that happened at the villa they were staying at in the 70s.
3. The final twist was interesting and nothing I could have guessed.

I wish some parts would have gone deeper/more detail. The end felt rushed to me.

Solid thriller, the pages turned and turned and I haven't been able to read a full novel for about three months now! (Been reading horror anthologies.) Rachel Hawkins is an easy sell -- her previous titles have earned her a wide audience -- and this one won't disappoint. The two tales intertwined (present day and 70s) were both compelling, and the Italian setting is a lot of fun too. I will highly recommend this one to any thrill-seeker!

This book kept me glued until the end. The ending wasn’t what I had hoped for though! I would love to know what happens to Chess and Emily’s friendship in the future!

“Houses Remember.”

In a chilling tale by Rachel Hawkins, The Villa tells the story of Villa Rosato – now Villa Aestas – in Orvieto, Italy. In 1974, Noel, Lara, Pierce, Mari and Johnnie stay for the summer and after one is murdered, all of their lives forever change.

Fast forward to the present day, best friends and authors Emily and Chess rent the Villa for the summer, and while they are hoping they will get to spend more time together and get more writing done, there is an unmistakable tension leading to a sinister outcome.

This is a story in a story following musical artists and literary powerhouses detailing how the setting around you can influence your mind set and your behaviors. “[G]iven the villa’s own legacy of both horror and beauty, I thought I could tie those two ideas together somehow, really dig into the idea of how artists are inspired and influenced.”

Hawkins’ strong writing techniques allow her to switch effortlessly between time periods and narrators to create this slow-burn thrill ride which simultaneously pulls you in to the climax of both stories at the end. Mari’s writing and the creation of Lilith Rising – her novel written after leaving the Villa in 1974, is superb. Emily’s story starts slow, but interest in her and the clue’s left at the villa pick up from feeling almost sorry for her to knowing she is in control of her own decisions. I was equally invested in both stories and found they intertwined perfectly.

My gripes on this novel would be the very long chapters – I wish they were broken up more or had more chapter breaks. Also, I found the relationship between Emily and Chess a little straining/hard to believe why they were still friends – further binding themselves in the future. Plus, I wish the house was more of a character, like the title suggests, than just a setting where maybe bad things happen.

This book starts slowly but give it time . . . it gets there and delivers. I was intrigued and loved the influences that obviously shaped this novel. I give it 3.8 stars rounded to 4 and would recommend it to my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley for this fantastic ARC; all opinions are my own!

“The house that changed the course of her life, all of their lives, forever.”

The Villa as a whole was interesting and I loved the parallels between main characters Emily and Chess and co-leads Mari and Lara. However, this was a VERY slow burn for me and the first half of the book almost lost my interest. The twists at the end however were delicious!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for this opportunity.

Emily is an author going through a nasty divorce. Her best friend is also a famous self help author/guru. When they end up at an Italian Villa to get away and also work on their current books, three different generations of stories collide. The Villa brings them all together. I found this to be such an interesting and unique storyline. While it was a bit unbelievable at times and I got frustrated with the naivety of Emily, this was an excellent book that I didn’t want to put down. Highly recommend!
***huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I was hooked from the very first line. There are very few authors that are capable of hooking you so quickly, it is few and far between. However, this one got me. And the fact that the first line was a major theme through the whole book and tied it all together at the end also. Genius. I enjoyed reading the excerpts from the books, podcasts, magazines etc. Everything felt so organized and chaotic at the same time but I appreciate the feeling that I was learning about the characters at the same time as the MC was. This book was intoxicating and drew so many parallels that I was left devouring the words. I cannot wait until this book is released so that I can get a physical copy and annotate the hell out of it.

Side note… I swear Chess played a bigger part in orchestrating ✨everything✨ than we are led to believe. Home girl is bat shit.

I went into The Villa expecting a thriller, but was moderately disappointed by the lack of thrill. It really seemed to be more of a drama with a bit of mystery. That said, I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read.

Pros:
- Dual timelines
- Descriptive depiction of the setting (Italy!)

Overall, while The Villa wasn't my favorite book of all time, I would be willing to give another of Rachel Hawkins books a try.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to ARC read The Villa by Rachel Hawkins!

I really enjoyed the different timelines in this book, and the atmosphere of the villa itself. I am interested in reading some of the author’s other books, but this one was a bit ‘middle of the road’ for me. It is quite slow in the beginning, but the strained relationships between our characters and some of their interactions literally had me rolling my eyes in annoyance, and I’m not fond of that it books I want to read.

I loved the intertwining of the past and present in this beautiful book. However, the dysfunctional relationship between the two best friends really bothered me and had me rolling my eyes throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This book takes place with 2 timelines - One in 1974 and one present day, set in the Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Italy. 1974 - Noel, a famous musician, invites Pierre, his girlfriend Mari and her stepsister Lara to this beautiful Villa so Noel and Pierre could write music but tragedy strikes. Years later Emily and her best friend Chess run to the Villa to each write their new books. When they happen upon the story of the house. Emily has a great idea to write a book about it. Will the story finally reveal itself? This story kept my attention!!! #TheVilla #RachelHawkins #Jan2023

WOW! Rachel Hawkins did quite a job writing a story that has a story within a story. I will definitely be looking for other books by her.

The characterization is extremely well done. I felt drawn into the world Rachel created and the lives of the people that resided there. Through actions and words the characters were brought to life in a way that showed their weaknesses and strengths. There were times I really wanted to give them advice because their decisions weren't often good. It takes a very talented author to help the reader feel these are real people!

On top of that, the parallels that ran between the two stories added an additional, intense layer to the book.

There aren't a lot of five stars on the market, but this one definitely makes the grade.

(ARC READ FOR NETGALLEY) I love all of Rachel Hawkins other reads! They’re quick and good thrillers! This one is the same, just a little slower to start and a little harder to follow.

2 best friends end up at a Villa in Italy where a murder happened back in the 1970s! Em, recently divorced and healing, starts to dive into the murder mystery of the house and finds out what she believes is the truth! This leads her to write a nonfiction thriller! All the while, the 1970s murder is happening behind the scenes, allowing the stories to run congruent. Both lovers die at the end, whether you know the truth or not about how it really happened!

Rachel Hawkins leaves you seconding guessing what actually happened to Mari’s lover and how Em and Chess are forever stuck together.

I was a little disappointed in this book. I love Rachel Hawkins books and was so excited to get this one. I really enjoyed Reckless Girls and had high hopes for this. I feel like vacations to europe have been done so much lately. I was ready for a unique plot.

I requested this book without even reading what it was about - I will want to read any book written by Rachel Hawkins! I love how this books starts out, two bffs going away on a writing retreat….until one day it’s not so much of a retreat. I also love how the story goes back in time to the 70’s.

This is the first book I have read by Rachel Hawkins and I definitely need to read more of her books I really enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins (January 3, 2023)

Self-help author Chess Chandler and mystery writer Emily Sheridan have been best friends since childhood. After Emily’s divorce, Chess and Emily rent a majestic villa in Italy and plan to spend the summer writing together. When Emily finds out that the murder of a famous musician happened at the villa, she begins to look for clues about the crime in contemporary literature and music lyrics and in the walls of the house itself.

Hawkins’ The Villa has a clever plot with twists and a good ending. It is atmospheric, has well-developed characters and is a murder mystery that is not gruesome or scary. I enjoyed this book; Hawkins does a great job of keeping the reader guessing until the very end. I would recommend The Villa to readers who enjoyed The Woman in the Window, Daisy Jones and the Six, and Eat, Pray, Love (if only for juxtaposition purposes!).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance reader copy for purpose of unbiased review.

You know, I think this is my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet. Her first novel pulled me in, but the followup left me a little...lacking. However, The Villa has dragged me right back in. I can't wait to see what happens when this hits shelves!