I enjoyed the beginning of this book as well as the general premise. I did not enjoy going back into the past to learn more about what happened. I really liked the relationship between Emily and Chess, but the pieces from 1974 detracted I think from what I wanted the story to be. Parts of it were great, but it didn’t work for me. I thought Id get through the book quickly, but found it hard to pick back up.

The Villa is a story of suspense and backstabbing, all taking place in the picturesque Italian countryside. Both the historic and contemporary timelines feature authors, which provides a way to explore the boundaries between narrative and reality. The first half of the book is almost entirely dedicated to flushing out the relationships between these characters - Chess and Emily, Mari, Lara, Pierce, and Noel - so that it becomes even higher stakes when they consistently keep secrets, tell lies, and prioritize their own interests. I think having two interspersed narratives can sometimes cause one to overshadow the other, but this was definitely not the case here - the suspense and mystery in both Emily and Mari's sections were equally compelling. Each character was inherently flawed and it helped keep things interesting.

There are a few major twists at the end and for the most part, they were a satisfying end to the mounting suspense throughout the book. The only time I felt a little disappointed was when we find out the cause of Emily's underlying illness, which has been haunting her since the very beginning. Otherwise, the ending kept me guessing, especially since there is no clear-cut resolution; it is more of a tentative peace than a happy ending, which seems fitting for a story so drenched in self-absorbed authors and musicians.

Two childhood friends spend the summer at a possibly haunted Italian villa. They are at very different places in their lives, and have grown apart, but they ostensibly see this as a way to refresh their friendship. The book reveals secrets, and that things are not as they seem. There is also murder, and a historical murder revealed. Even though it's a suspense novel, it's a pretty light read. This was three stars for me. #Thanks to @netgalley for the book.
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4.5 / 5 stars

When struggling writer Emily's best friend suggests a whirlwind trip to Italy, she jumps at the chance to recharge, reconnect, and escape from her vicious divorce proceedings. Upon arrival, though, they learn that the picturesque chateau where the two women are staying holds a much darker history: it was the site of a gruesome murder in the 1970s, and inspired not one, but two pop culture mainstays of art. When Emily begins to notice eerie similarities between that fateful summer and her own, she must choose whether to forge her own future, or repeat the mistakes of the past.

I LOVED this book, you guys! Back in January I had read RECKLESS GIRLS by the same author and gave it 3.75 stars; it was good but not great. This one is great. It's influenced by the sex drugs and rock-n-roll culture of the 70s and by laconic Italian holidays. But, and this was really interesting to me, it's also inspired by the summer that Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron in Switzerland (which ultimately produced Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's most famous work). I thought the combination of inspirations was unique and made for a well-rounded story with plenty of murder mystery intrigue and cultural depth. Also, I thought I knew from Rachel Hawkins' previous books how this one would end, and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. The ending was unexpected, and that's all I'll say on that.

THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins is out January 3, 2023! Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the gifted digital ARC.

Present day - Emily and Chess are both authors and childhood best friends. Their current relationship is a little strained as Chess' career is soaring while Emily is struggling both professionally and personally. Chess suggests Emily join her for a summer in Italy - a girl's get away at a beautiful Villa where they both can write....oh and a murder took place at the Villa in the 1970s.
Flashback 1974 - Mari is at the Villa with her lover, Pierce - a musician, her sister Lara - a fledgling musician, Noel - a very famous musician and his friend/dealer. One of them doesn't survive and 2 rise to fame in the aftermath.

The timelines intertwine as the music and a book written in 1974 inspire Chess and Emily.

By the end of the book I had enjoyed the story and how the past affected the present but to call this book a thriller is a stretch. None of the characters were particularly likeable and I found the chapters were long which made for slow going. I actually gave up reading it the first time I tried, read a few books and went back to this one, finally able to get into the story. I'm glad I did.

The second half of the book picked up but I am giving The Villa 3 stars because it was good but it wasn't my favourite of Rachel Hawkins' books.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Hawkins is fantastic! Read this book in one day it had me so wrapped up in the storyline. I wasn't too sure I like the way it ended but it was my only issue with the book.

I really enjoyed The Villa. The characters in both time lines are strong, and equally compelling - you want to know what really happened as much as your characters do. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and will be recommending it to all my readers who like thrillers.

This was a good suspenseful thriller. I liked how it intertwined the stories of present Emily and Mari in 1974. The ending was a surprise although there were some other plot points that were a little more predictable. If you are looking for an entertaining and quick thriller, this is a good choice. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins surpassed my expectations. From the very first page I quickly realized this would be one of my favorite books of the summer. This book was a book within a book, told in dual POV from past and present with mixed media writing throughout (ex. podcasts, emails, magazine articles) I devoured this book especially Mari’s POV from the past. Her POV set in the 70’s quickly drew me into the atmospheric Villa and I became so entranced it was like I was watching a full length movie in my mind. The way Mari and Emily’s stories intertwined was genius. There were so many different avenues the ending could have gone down and while I felt slight disappointment for .5 seconds when I realized it was taking a less culty, spooky turn then I had hoped, the ending left me very satisfied. This novel would be wonderful for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*

Emily and Chess take a trip to Italy as an attempt to rekindle their friendship. As Emily struggles with writer’s block for her own series, she stumbles upon a book called Lillith Rising, believing the plot of the book shadows disturbing past events in the same villa they are staying in. The book unravels both present and past point of views from Emily and Mari.

While Emily’s portions of the book were enjoyable to read, I did not really care for Mari’s parts of the book, which were a significant portion. The plot twists were nothing to call home about and the ending could have been executed better

The back and forth between past and present made this book more interesting. I found myself loving the past more at some parts in the book then towards the end I liked the present. The story was interesting but it being only connected by the villa they were staying in was like reading two different stories in one. Yes, there are some connections (I won’t say what for fear of spoiling) but this book was just so different from the other books by this author.

I kind of hated this book. It was boring and jumped around, and it just wasn’t a compelling narrative to me.

There is SO much happening in this book. Best friends that are living in totally different worlds but come together to vacation. Flash backs to another story at the same locale.

It felt creepy and atmospheric, two things Hawkins does really well. The story was complex, maybe even too much so at times.

In the end I just didn’t really buy it. I enjoyed the ride, and that’s the great thing about thrillers. They keep you guessing and I think they’re still worthwhile even if they don’t work for you by the end.

Rachel Hawkins surely knows how to weave a spell and has done so with her upcoming novel set to release in Jan 2023. This novel is a wicked gothic suspense set at an Italian villa whose dark history spills from past to present.

I was captivated by the parallel stories of both sets of female main characters whose lives uniquely mirror each other's despite the time difference. The story is less about the sex, drugs and rock n roll but about the power of family, friendships and the complicated relationships between the women and the supporting male characters.

I was won over by the alternating time frames and the mystery that neatly unfolded. I love a story within a story and the culminating moral upheaval. I was brought to the brink and then relieved by the displayed compassion in the end.

Would I recommend? That's a definite yes!

Houses Remember
This story jumps from the past to the present in a villa in Italy. It asks tge question if you release yourself from one burden is it replaced with another. Becareful who you make deals with as the Devil is always listening.

I loved the main character Mari (1974) and Em (present day). Each woman have to dig deep within themselves to break free.

It's a story of love, loss, and twisted truths

Told in alternating storylines from the past and present. The story follows two best friends, Emily and Chess taking a summer long vacation in a rental house in Italy known for a gruesome past. Emily is trying to sort out her life while writing her next book, when she discovers secrets about the rental house and her own life.

I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant to read this book given previous experience with one of Rachel Hawkins books I’ve read. I am floating between 3-4 stars for this book only because I liked the story, but some of the characters were boring and there were times where it was a little too slow burning for me. It didn’t get really interesting for me until almost 65-75% way through.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC.

Was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of The Villa - Rachel Hawkins is one of my favorite thriller/mystery authors and I could not wait to dive into her newest book. While I wouldn't categorize this as a thriller, it was a fantastic suspense novel that I'll give 4.5/5!

The book focuses on two best friends (who are incredibly different and at very different places in their lives) who decide to spend a summer at a picturesque villa in Italy. The villa is also the location of a well publicized murder in the 1970s, so the story alternates between the two current best friends (Emily and Chess) and the 1970s murder that happened at the villa via Mari. The 1970s murder had a good amount of sex, drugs rock and roll/Fleetwood Mac sized drama, keeping you on your toes. The story is really intriguing, and the past and present timelines weave together so perfectly. The ending was just perfect, and it ended up capturing so many insights about relationships, friendship, fame, and secrets. Rachel Hawkins doesn't miss the mark for me- this one absolutely lived up to the hype!

Thank you St Martin's Press for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC of the Villa!

I give this one a solid 4 stars. Fans of the author will enjoy this latest thriller. What I enjoyed: I enjoyed the dual timeline and of course, the setting of Italy. Like others, I found the characters to be a bit under developed, but I did enjoy the character of Mari. The Villa was a little light on the “thriller” component and I could have used a bit more atmosphere and creepiness. But overall, I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting!

This book wasn’t jaw dropping or mind blowing but it was entertaining. I’ve read reckless girls and the wife upstairs and this one fell right in the middle of those. Better than reckless girls by far but not as good as the wife upstairs. The twists in this were okay but semi predictable. I loved the story within the story and thought that was done well. The characters were well written and overall the writing kept me interested and wanting to keep going. Definitely a book worth picking up and reading!

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read Rachel Hawkins before and wasn’t the biggest fan but this book changed by mind!

I can honestly say I didn’t see the twists coming in the end and was pleasantly surprised.

This book follows two best friends as they vacation in Italy for the summer in a murder house. And it switches back and forth to the past where two sisters and some musicians vacationed in the same house.

I love how they switched back and forth from Mari’s point of view in the past to Em’s point of view in the present.

I did think the chapters were too long and that was probably the only negative I could see.

4/5 stars and will be buying a physical copy for my shelf!