Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Rachel Hawkins for the eARC of The Villa coming out January 3, 2023.

The Villa is almost three stories in one.
The current story about Emily, Chess, and Matt.
Then you have the stories from 1974 about Mari, Pierce, Noel, Lara, and Johnny and their stay at the villa through Maris journal entries.
To top it all off you get snippets from Maris book Lilian Rising.

Now, it sounds like a lot. But this author does a really good job at melding the three works together to make them blend seamlessly and complete. There were parts of the book where I didn’t want the story to switch focus from Emily to Mari but over all the melding of the stories was an enjoyable experience.

I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. I enjoyed that some things were implied but not fully dived into, including what happened to Matt. But I was also waiting for more to happen almost. Like with Emily’s strange sickness, I was half expecting it to come out that Chess had really been the one making her sick or something, maybe as a ploy to get what she wanted. The answers to me never felt trying flushed out.

I will be reading more from this author and I’m excited to see what Rachel creates next.

Would I recommend this book? Yes
Will I read more books by this author? Yes

Excellent read, good pacing and plotting, strong recommendation for fans of true crime podcasts. Read-alike to Ruth Ware.

Fast-paced book that kept me engaged the whole way through the story! I love the different perspectives.

The Villa uniquely intertwines stories from the past and present. During her time at The Villa Emily becomes engrossed with discovering the mystery behind the death of a musician who visited The Villa years ago. She uncovers clues in an old book, and through those clues, unearths long lost diary pages which tell secrets from long ago. Emily was a determined and likeable character. On the other hand, Chess was a challenging character to like, for it was forever difficult to decide whether she was a part of the problem or part of the solution, a friend or an enemy. Even after the story ends, you still do not know.

I was a little hesitant about starting The Villa. Dual timeline books rarely work for me because I usually find myself only invested in one of the storylines. However, both of the stories from Mari and Emily held my interest. I did find the murder mystery in the 1970s slightly more of a page-turner at first but I really ended up liking Emily's tale by the halfway point. I thought I had both stories figured out, but there was a huge twist I didn't see coming. It was enough of a surprise that I think the book is worth a reread. The beginning is slow because the author is setting up two different stories, but definitely stick with this one.

The Villa is my favorite Rachel Hawkins book. Not only did she mention Victoria Holt, but I loved how storyline seemed to echo Mary Shelley's life and the creation of Frankenstein. The book within the book within the book was a fun, creepy way to tell the story, and I've been recommending this title to everyone.

"The Villa" by Rachel Hawkins is a gothic suspense novel that takes readers on a journey to an Italian villa with a dark and intriguing history. With a mix of past and present narratives, this book offers a compelling blend of mystery and suspense.

The story revolves around Emily and Chess, childhood friends who embark on a girls' trip to Italy in an attempt to rekindle their connection. The setting of Villa Aestas, formerly known as Villa Rosato, adds an alluring and atmospheric backdrop to the tale. The author skillfully weaves together the past and the present, revealing the villa's dark secrets and the tragic events that unfolded there in 1974.

Rachel Hawkins's writing style is engaging, and she effectively captures the allure of the Italian setting, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the villa. The dual timeline narrative adds depth to the story, as Emily delves into the villa's history and uncovers the hidden truths behind the fateful summer of 1974. The exploration of creativity, betrayal, and the power of secrets adds an intriguing layer to the plot.

"The Villa" offers a mix of gothic suspense, historical intrigue, and friendship dynamics, making it an entertaining read. While it falls short in terms of character development and fully embracing its gothic potential, the book's atmospheric setting and captivating mysteries will still satisfy fans of the genre.

Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a thriller. This book has twists and turns that will keep you on your TOES!!!

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins follows childhood best friends, Emily and Chess.. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder. As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind. Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends..

I can always rely on Rachel Hawkins mystery books to be quick-paced and action packed. While this one was not my favorite, I definitely will continue reading Rachel Hawkin's books in the future.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just couldn't get into this one. The switching point of views were too jarring. The plot was slow to hook me in. I wanted to like it. I've loved all her previous thrillers.

Houses remember….that’s something you’ll be learning in this fun and twisted story line about the 5 adults that share a villa in Italy. So well
written, I enjoyed the character development and description of the place so much I imagined myself in Italy. Well done!!

This book did so many things well. It brought together the past and the present in a beautiful villa in Italy with several parallels between the two time periods. The characters were extremely well written and were brought to life through their own fictional works of art. The author really did a wonderful job of seamlessly bringing you into both worlds.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this the full five stars is the present day storyline, which was mostly predictable. The part taking place in the past was much more interesting to me. That being said, I loved how it all came together in the end and there were several surprises that I did not see coming.

Definitely recommend for suspense lovers.

This was almost un-put-down-able. The perfect mix of rock and roll, history, and ambient, place-based tension.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I listed to the audiobook of this story and let me tell you. It can get so confusing without seeing what you are reading. One minute you are present day, then back in the past or reading an article. The voices are different but kind of similar so it was a little hard to follow along. I wasn’t a fan of the past perspective but I understand why it was needed. This book just wasn’t for me. All the relationships in this book are toxic and has a very bleak perspective. I personally would not recommend this to anyone

I kept hearing saying such great things about this book. However, I felt myself getting distracted by most of it. I was never fully invested in the story. I do have to say I usually enjoy dual timelines. However, I was more invested in the current timeline than the past. I didn't know who any of the characters were in the past timeline. I also this book didn't give me the thrill I was looking for. It was very slow moving and felt nothing was happening majority of the time. I really wanted a summer thriller and didn't get that.

Thanks to netgalley for an arc of The Villa.

Rachel Hawkins writing is always so gripping, but honestly, her novels are very hit or miss for me. This one was just okay. Not the best but not the worst

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley and couldn't put it down! "Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy." Rachel Hawkins does it again! The Villa is a duel timeline slow-burn thriller that takes place at the infamous Italian Villa. It has a unique plot that will leave you wondering who to trust!

This book was not for me which was a bit disappointing because i have loved all her past work. Will still pick up what comes next.

This wasn’t like her other books but I did enjoy it! It felt like a good twist on One Italian Summer and Verity with its creepy vibes. Chess annoyed me but I think that was the point. I loved the research and the different tactics Emily used to not let Chess know she was writing the book even though it didn’t always work in her favor. I didn’t care for the mean girl jealous best friend vibe- I think it’s a bit overdone and didn’t find it totally necessary in this book but I liked the overall idea!

Rachel Hawkins is an always read no matter what, no matter name situation. I love her work! This book gave me all the chills and thrills I expect. And I adore her twists, the twists that I never see coming. The Villa is the perfect thriller for a single sit down read or a slow read, which ever you like and trust me...you're never going to see the ending coming. Whatever you think it is...trust me you're going to love what actually happens.