CONTENT WARNING: mention of death of a child, grief, murder, mention of suicide, mention of drugs, violence, blood

I’ve become a fan of Rachel Hawkins without even realizing. I’ve read a few of her books and absolutely loved them, and this one looked too good to pass up. So while it isn’t out until January 2023, I figured I’d get a jump on my NetGalley reading while I can.

This book hooked me immediately, and I couldn’t put it down. I flew through this in less than three hours, and literally sat with my nose glued to my Kindle, ignoring everything and everyone around me (including things that needed to get done) so I could see how this ended.

The story is told in two mirrored plot lines, which works really well in this book. Hawkins pulls this off beautifully, and it’s never confusing.

In the present day, we have Emily and Chess, two frenemies—Chess is a fantastically successful self-help author, while Emily is currently at a low in her life. Emily writes a cozy mystery series, but she’s stalled and behind deadline on book 10, she’s going through an ugly divorce after her husband cheated on her, and she’s only just starting to feel better from a mysterious illness that no one had been able to diagnose. So when her oldest friend Chess suggests that they go away for a few weeks to a villa in Italy, Emily decides it might be a good idea. Turns out, the villa is a murder house.

The other timeline is set in 1974, at the same villa, when rock star Noel Gordon invites a rising star of a musician, Pierce Sheldon, his girlfriend Mari, and her stepsister Lana to join him for the summer. Also at the villa is his “entertainment manager” aka drug dealer, Johnnie. But nothing goes as planned when you toss sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll into the mix. By the end of the summer, Pierce is dead, Mari has written a bestselling horror novel, and Lana tops the charts with an album of her own.

The narrative shifts between the two stories, and we’re also treated to snippets of Mari’s novel, which provides clues to what actually happened, as Emily sees it. As the two women in the present day start to dig a little deeper into the history of the villa, they also dig up some secrets from their own, more recent past. And they don’t necessarily like what they see.

I love a good fast-paced story, and there were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. There was one or two that I saw coming a mile away, but more importantly, I liked watching the characters evolve throughout the story. Initially, Mari’s story was the more intriguing one, while I didn’t really connect as strongly with Emily. But towards the middle and end of the story, I started finding Emily just as interesting, and looked forward to both aspects of the story, and couldn’t wait to hear all sides of what was happening. All of the characters have no shortage of flaws, but it made them feel more realistic, and while they weren’t necessarily likable, they were relatable.

Overall, this book was easily a one-sitting read, the kind that gets its claws in a reader and doesn’t let go until the shocking end. It’s the kind that keeps me wondering after I’ve finished, and keeps my mind twisted, thinking about what motivates people and what goes on in other people’s minds.This is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and will be recommending highly.

Just finished The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. Don't start this book unless you have cleared your schedule for several hours! You won't want to put it down. Set in idyllic Italy and filled with richly developed characters, this is a gripping novel of love, loss and deceit. Two stories, past and present, intertwine to make a deliciously haunting tale. Told in a fascinating style, this book was thoroughly engaging and entertaining. Well-placed twists and turns kept me guessing. Five stars for this mystery thriller!

4.5/5

This was such an addictive and fun popcorn thriller! I know it’s early for me to be reviewing it but it was entertaining enough that I figured getting it on your radar early would be a good thing. One of the things I’ve come to enjoy the most about this authors books is the way she creates unsettling settings for her books and this was no exception. It flips back and forth between present day when Emily and Chess are vacationing in Italy and then back to the 1970s when Mari spends a summer at the same villa as Emily. I was very drawn to the past timeline because you already know the summer comes to a violent and deadly end but the lead up to the tragedy was so fascinating. The author did a really great job with these two timelines showcasing such similar and parallel experiences but it was still easy to keep things separate in my head. I think I expected a slightly more explosive ending after such a strong lead up but I appreciate what the author was doing and why she made the choices she did. Overall a solid read with a unique edge and very cool throwback vibes.

<i>I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley.</i>

So, I love Rachel Hawkins thrillers. I think now that I'm three books in, I can say that definitively. While there were points where it felt like a slow burn and the murder is on a much smaller scale than other books in the genre, I found the intimacy of both time periods gripping. The Villa has a decadent feeling to it, but the way its characters are written keeps it grounded. We're in a million dollar mansion, but we're eating pizza on the couch and watching true crime documentaries together. Anyone who comes in expecting a retelling of Charles Manson will be disappointed, but if you want a clever thriller with multiple nods to gothic horror and classics like Frankenstein with a modern true crime twist, there's nothing better than this book.

It's exactly what I was looking for and I devoured it in about a day.

I'm not sure what category I would put The Villa into. It's labeled as suspense, and to some degree that's true, as Emma uncovers what happened that led to the death of someone staying in the same villa in 1974, and to some degree feels distrustful of her best friend Chess, whom she is staying with at the villa. But it doesn't really feel fully like a mystery or a suspense, despite me wanting to find out what really happened. It feels more like a tragedy about to happen in both story lines. The reader knows this about the early storyline because of Emma's pursuit of it, but you can just feel the intensity ratcheting up between her and Chess. Also part of the storyline is Emma's husband Matt, whom she is separated from after they have a difference of opinion on having a baby. That situation is already acrimonious as he's demanding royalties from the cozy mystery series that Emma writes. The story is interesting and reads quickly, and I enjoyed it. But I can't say that I loved it. It never really felt like Mari or Emma was ever really in danger, and it was more about the relationships of the people staying at the villa. I can't say that any of differences anyone had felt like it justified murder, although the last chapter from Mari at the end creates a thought-provoking conclusion on how the story between Emma and Chess ends. Basically, the book was just not enough of a certain genre to elevate it to an exceptional book for me. A complimentary copy of the book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emily and Chess are childhood best friends who have grown apart but decide to take a trip to Italy to rekindle their friendship. The Villa they rent for the summer has a complicated history, which Emily is drawn to investigating. Jumping from the present to the year 1974, famous rock and roller Noel visits the very same villa with his friends and fellow musician Pierce in hopes to reignite his creative spark to write new music but the infamous trip ends with the murder of one of its occupants. Emily is determined to uncover the villa's sinister past, but the longer they stay there, the more Emily's relationship with Chess is affected. Is it the house and will Chess and Emily's vacation have the same result as Noel's years prior?

This book is what you would get if Daisy Jones & The Six were a mystery/thriller. It was a very slow burn and because of this I had a hard time getting into it until it picked up towards the end as the mystery unfolded. I did enjoy the alternating timelines, but wish we spent more time with Emily and Chess in the present. The ending was solid, but 3 stars due to my overall lack of interest in characters and past storyline.

I enjoyed most of this book and the two storylines. However, I felt the ending lacked something and felt rushed. I usually enjoy Rachel's books as well.

A great atmospheric thriller told from alternating time lines. Rachel Hawkins delivers two equally compelling storylines, each with intriguing characters and their own unique level of eeriness. Readers are easily transported to the Villa, both past and present, to lay witness to the darkness that can lurk in paradise. Fantastic read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheVilla which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

I really enjoyed The Villa. Truly was shocked by the turn of events and really can’t be sure if I know the truth! Love when a book really makes you think.

I really liked this book but the ending felt disappointing. It didn't feel sinister enough to keep with the rest of the book's feeling. Still good, just felt a little rushed and unfinished. Loved the idea of it though!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved The Wife Upstairs so when I got approved for this ARC, I was so excited. But I DNF at 20%. I just couldn’t get into it for some reason. Hopefully I’ll like her next one better.

Thanks for the ARC @netgalley! This was quite the gothic thriller. This is my first book by Rachel Hawkins - now I have to dive into her backlist, as I really enjoyed this one.

Cozy muster author Emily is going through a messy, vicious divorce while struggling to write the latest installment in her series. Her childhood best friend Chess (a spiritual self-help celebrity) invites Emily to spend the summer in Italy with her. The Villa they are staying at has quite the sordid history: in 1974, musician Pierce Sheldon was brutally murdered. The two woman who were staying with him that summer (Lara & Mari) wrote one of the most famous albums of all time while the other wrote a horror novel that became a classic. Both Emily and Chess are inspired by the house’s dark past and soon are at odds with each other.

This novel is told in Emily’s modern perspective and Mari’s summer at the villa in the 70s. This structure works well to keep the reader invested and on their toes. This was such an atmospheric thriller! I want to visit Orvieto Italy now, as Hawkins paints such a vivid picture. The only reason this isn’t a 5⭐️ thriller for me is because I guessed a few of the twists early on, but I was still enthralled. Grab this one when it comes out 01/03/23!

✨Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Drug Use, Child Death

A refreshingly-twisted tale of interwoven sisterhood, romance, and deceit. The Villa had me from the first chapter and is brilliantly written. I highly recommend!

I’ve read everything from Rachel Hawkins so far and enjoyed them all and The Villa was no different.

I went in expecting a large part the story itself to be focused on the villa and Orvieto, and the setting taking up a large part of the story, but it really was Em and Mari and the dual timeline of both characters that it focuses on.

It took a bit to get moving along, and was definitely a slow burn, but it really took off midway through and I found it hard to put down.

I enjoyed the dual timelines of 1974 and present day, and Em’s and Mari’s perspectives- even if I found myself frustrated at times with the characters choices. Don’t even get me started on Lara and especially Chess. With friends like Chess, who needs enemies?

All in all, a very enjoyable read. Thanks to the Rachel Hawkins, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

ARC REVIEW
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

A trippy dual timeline thriller that will pull you in quickly.

📝 Emily is down on her luck. Her soon to be ex-husband is coming after her for everything and she’s in a writing slump. When best friend Chess invites her to summer in a villa in Italy, she can’t pass it up. While there she gets inspiration from a true life murder story in the same villa in the 70’s.

I am a fan of Hawkins (both her thrillers and witchy romances published under Erin Sterling). This one did not disappoint. Here is what I liked.

📝 The story. I got pulled into both storylines quickly. The mystery was interesting and honestly, I feel like this story could be revisited. There were a few twists and turns that were great!

📝 The characters. Both sets of characters gave me reader’s anxiety. Their relationships were so twisted that I found myself so eager to read just to see what would happen with them next. Mari was well drawn out and I really felt for Emily.

📝 The format. There were parts of a novel, song lyrics, articles, and interviews incorporated into the chapters. This added a realness to the story.

All in all, this was a great thriller with some mind bending twists!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

Release: 1/3

Emily’s life feels like her life is falling apart her best friend Chess invites her to a villa in Italy where they both can work on their writing. When Emily learns that a murder took place in this same villa she becomes invested in the long forgot mystery that surrounds the murder. The book goes between present day with Emily’s and the back story of Mari and the time she spent at the villa, resulting in the death of her husband.

Overall this story is a very quick read and I enjoyed the dual timelines. It was an interesting ending as well.

Creepy thriller set in an Italian villa that checked all my boxes! This book is set in present day, but has an alternate storyline in the 1970s and following both Emily in present day and Marie in 1974. It is a slow burn, but has all the creepy gothic vibes that kept me reading!

Emily is a cozy mystery writer, going through a difficult divorce, and struggling to finish her final book. After lunch with her best friend, Chess, she finds herself at an Italian villa in Umbria. While she is there, she finds herself digging deeper into the tragic murder that occurred at this villa in the 1970s.

The alternate storyline tells the story of Marie, a young lover of Pierce, an upcoming musician who finds herself in this very villa in 1974. While there, tensions build between everyone.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a slow start for me. But once I got into it, about the halfway mark, I couldn't put it down. The storytelling behind this was very clever. I loved the story within a story aspect. And I also love reading books about writing. With the title being what it was, I was expecting the villa to play more of a role itself. Not a big deal though. The reason for three starts instead of four is because I wish the author had ended it differently. One of the girls basically planned on stealing the other's story, and in the end, they co-wrote it? I'm sorry, I was livid with the character and I wish she was hung out to dry. And the ending for Mari? I guess it was supposed to be a twist or shock or something, but I was left thinking, this is it? When I finish a book and don't feel satisfied, it ruins the experience for me. It wasn't terrible by any means, but I wish the ending was different.

Emily and Chess were best friends as kids. Now they decide to get away from if all together to Italy. The Villa they stay in has a violent past though. Can their friendship survive their stay?

I loved Rachel Hawkins last book so much, but this one didn’t do it for me. I found all the characters whiny and annoying. The age of the girls and the adult men they were canoodling with made me uncomfortable, even thought it was acknowledged. I did enjoy the present day story with the friendship and jealousy, but the part storyline wasn’t as interesting to me. I did like the ending; it was certainly unexpected.

“Villa Aestas is a peaceful, pretty place that doesn’t deserve to be tainted by one bad night fifty years ago.”

The Villa comes out 1/3/23.

Now: Emily finds herself without a husband, her health is declining, she can’t write her next novel, and she hasn’t seen her best friend, Chess, in years. When Chess invites Emily along to spend the summer in Italy with her, she thinks “what’s there to lose?” In the villa of the infamous rock n roll murder of the 70s, Emily finds herself exploring the works of Lilith Rising and Aestas. When she finds clues that alludes to what happened in the summer of ‘74, she can’t help but keep digging. But is what she finds worth it?

Then: Mari, a 19 year old runaway, who lives with her boyfriend (who’s married) and her step sister, Lara. When Lara gets invited to spend the summer in Italy with a rock star, both girls imagine it can’t be worse than the current state. And they were right. Lara goes on to write the famous album Aestas and Mari is inspired to write Lilith Rising during their time. But was it worth it? When one of their group of 5 ends up dead - can the girls live with themselves?

Alternating between Emily and Mari, The Villa was a captivating yet slow burn thriller that had me guessing until the very last page. None of the characters are particularly likable and they all have their “it’s a no from me” moments, but that’s what made me like it as I wasn’t rooting for one particular character.

This is definitely a must read in my opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley for giving me the chance to read this advanced digital copy!