I am going to start off by saying that this is my favourite Rachel Hawkins book to date! It is a slow burning thriller about a past crime and I couldn’t get enough of it. I am going to be honest, when I first received the ARC and I read the description, I was a little worried it would be too dark and convoluted but I was pleasantly surprised that was not the case. This story is set in dual timelines, 1974 and present day. This book was definitely a mystery and there was a twist that I didn't see coming. It’s a story of two women in two completely different generations who are both struggling with the same issues. Both Mari and Emily are in harmful relationships and trying to find not only their way out, but they are trying to find out who they really are. One thing I really loved about the book was there were snippets of podcasts and news clippings that dug into each character's rise to fame, their personal journey and the story of the villa itself. Both Rachel and Mair had their life changing moment where they were able to break free and become who they were truly meant to be.

What a crazy story! The novel goes back and forth between the 1970s & current time period at a Villa in Italy. In the summer of 1974, a famous musician, Noel rents the Villa and invites up and coming artist Pierce who brings along his girlfriend Mari and her sister Lara. There are so many secrets, love triangle etc and it ends with someone getting killed...which leads to the current day when best friends Emily & Chess rent the same Villa for the summer and start to investigate what really happened. I couldn't put this down, the only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because it felt a bit unrealistic what happens with Emily/Chess and Emily's ex. Besides that, I highly recommend- you will love it!

Vacations gone wrong with a hint of gothic suspense? SIGN ME UP!

The Villa is actually 2 stories for the price of one, and I loved all of them. When self-help influencer Chess (Jess) asks her childhood friend Emily to tag along for a 6 week vacation in Umbria, Emily jumps at the chance. Currently drowning in the drama of her divorce, writer's block and the slow failure of her 9th cozy mystery book, Emily feels that she is at wits end. Chess seems to also have some issues that she is dealing with, but Emily hardly notices as she learns more about the mysteries behind their home for the Summer.

In 1974, we learn, there was a murder that entangled several famous rock stars and authors. Emily begins to write again as she learns about the story. As she gets closer to determining what happened that fateful night, she learns more about her friend then maybe she wanted to know.

The Villa is inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and Percy and Mary Shelley! The gothic vibes will haunt you just as the sunny days warm you. If you love a mystery within a mystery, vacationing with gothic vibes or are just ready for the fiction novel of 2023, The Villa is for you! #TheVilla #RachelHawkins #StMartinsPress

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins follows bffs (and authors) Emily and Chess as they take a summer-long vacation in Italy where they both try to write their next books. Emily and Chess stay at a Villa Aestas, made famous in 1974 when two famous pieces of art were created (Mari's novel "Lilith Rising" and her step sister Lara's album "Aestas") and a murder occurred at the home.
While I loved Mari and Lara's story, I found Emily and Chess's to drag a bit, especially in the first half. I was more invested in Mari and Lara until the two stories began to make sense together.
My biggest issue was the dynamic between Emily and Chess. The trope of the meek-ish MC and her self absorbed, catty, bullyish best friend is a little over used, in my opinion. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of The Villa in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope she writes more! I am totally hooked!

I was hoping for a bit more from the latest Rachel Hawkins. The build up of the two stories was good, but the end left me confused and wanting. Weirdly, I also think Emily's story could've been a bit longer or more fleshed out. Especially her time at the villa with Chess. There was room for more suspicion between the two.

I read this very quickly! Pacing was good although I was a bit disappointed in the Chess/Emily story. The Mari/Lara story was quite good though! Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the #AdvanceReviewCopy

A story within a story about another story and all set in Italy...it is set up for success off the bat!

Emily and Chess have been best friends since childhood. After drifting apart, and Chess' found fame over her nonfiction books and Emily's mediocre writing career and failed marriage, the two spend a summer in Italy at the house known as the 'Murder house'.

While there, discoveries about the murder of a famous person decades ago surfaces, and Emily abandons an overdue project and begins a secret book, writing about the truth of that horrific day in an attempt to liberate herself. How will the events of July 29, 1974 impact decisions made in present day? And does one ever really know the truth, despite what they find?

I absolutely loved this one right up until the last chapter. And then I was like, 'Dang it! Why?' Why did that last chapter have to be there? The entire book would have had more of a lasting impact had it ended without it. Hard to talk about without spoiling anything so, let's just say this is the case of too much info!  These characters were all messed up, untrustworthy, at times reckless, just as I'd expect in a mystery/thriller, and the plot kept me guessing and wanting to know more! I was sure it was going to be a 5 star read, despite hating most characters, but I couldn't let go of the final reveal, so I landed on 4 stars.
This read somewhat, more like women's fiction than a thriller, so keep that in mind and you'll surely truly enjoy this one as much as I did!

“The Villa” is a literary thriller that is set in a beautiful Italian home - and the house remembers. In the 1970s a young writer Mari, her rock musician partner Pierce, and half-sister Lara are guests of famous rock star Noel at this villa. The events that take place inspire Mari to write a haunted bestseller. This story is revealed within the greater plot of “The Villa” and inspires present day Emily, now staying at the villa with her influencer best friend Chess, to write her story based on the secrets held within. This plot is a story, within a story, within a story. The structure of the novel is unique and impressive, but at times got confusing.

Such a fast and easy read. The two stories blended together so well and the ending totally threw you off.

It gives off “The Family Upstairs” vibes.

THE VILLA has cemented Rachel Hawkins an an #autobuyauthor for me. Having really enjoyed THE WIFE UPSTAIRS (but yet to read RECKLESS GIRLS) I was super excited to get my hands on an #arc of this one. Plus, I'm a total sucker for the "book within a book" trope.

THE VILLA is definitely a Gothic style slow burn, so don't expect too much action until near the end. I enjoyed the dual timelines (past and present) as well as the ...weird? interesting? toxic? ..friendship dynamics between Emily and Chess.

Cause y'know...what happens at The Villa, stays at the Villa.

Thank you to Netgalley for my #arc

5 star read!! In The Villa, you get to experience love, heartbreak, beautiful scenery, and of course, an binge read worthy thriller. I loved how throughout the book you experience what’s happening in the past and the present. The main characters in both timelines have you feeling like you are walking right beside them. The twist at the end will leave you speechless. I will honestly be thinking about this book for days!! Thank you Rachel Hawkins for this book, and for sharing Emily and Mari with your readers.

This book was very intriguing and kept me wanting more. I really enjoy dual timelines which was well done in this book. I liked how the two stories worked so well together. At first I was more interested in the story of Mari but as time went on I became invested in Emily’s timeline as well. I enjoyed the twists and turns during the last 1/3 of the book!

The Villa is dark, twisty and unpredictable. I developed theories early on and couldn’t wait to figure out if I was right. Rachel Hawkins did a fabulous job of making you think you were on the right track only to snatch that feeling away in the end. I don’t usually like an ending that’s left open to interpretation but this worked for me. Proving that there’s always two sides to every story, The Villa is a must read thriller.

Rachel Hawkins newest slow-burn thriller, The Villa, is a gripping mystery/ women ´s fiction tale. Childhood best friends, and now grown writers, Emily and Chess reconnect to spend a summer in an Italian villa to help break Emily´s writers ´ block and ignite new ideas. Told from bouncing past and present settings, we start to see how these ´friends´ developed their rivalry, and the history amongst their families pasts. I would not necessarily classify this as a thriller as most Hawkins books are. There was an obvious mysterious aspect of the characters, and how their personalities shape and drive their relationships - sometimes to the death.
I was excited to learn that the Villa was inspired by the true historical events of Percy and Mary Shelley´s (Frankenstein!) stay at the Lake Geneva castle.

While I definitely enjoyed Reckless Girls more than the Villa, this is a solid read that you will fly through. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin´s Press and Rachel Hawkins for the eARC.

The Villa is Gothic Literature meets Daisy Jones and The Six…. and it's incredible.

Emily's life is a disaster; writer's block, a messy divorce, undiagnosed health problems, and financial disarray. Her long-time best friend and self-help author, Chess, seems to have her life almost *too* together. Chess rents an Italian villa for the summer and invites Emily to join her. While staying in the Villa, Emily uncovers the secrets of the house and the famous murder that took place there in the '70s.

In an alternate timeline, we read about Mari's defining summer as an artist when she wrote her acclaimed feminist horror novel, Lilith Rising (inspired by the real life of Frankenstein author Mary Shelley). Mari and Emily's lives become a little too similar as they spend their summer in the Villa, 50 years apart, writing their masterpiece works and discovering the dark secrets of the people closest to them.

The literary allusions in this book are insightful and delightful. I loved the 70's inspired retelling of Mary Shelley's real-life drama. Hawkins weaves magazine articles, book excerpts, a murder podcast, interviews, and song lyrics into the story. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Content warnings for toxic relationships, mild violence, substance use, and sex.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me this book for review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whoa, you know what’s fun? When you have a book that is a mystery wrapped in another mystery. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins features lifetime besties who decide to spend a month’s vacation at an Italian villa where over 20 years ago there was a murder of a famous rock & roll singer…hence two storylines. Chess (Jessica) and Em (Emily), are authors & successful writers, so they agree to spend a “working” vacation together to finish their pending but overdue new novels. The story alternates between modern day and the 70s with the backstory of the rock-star murder featuring two different female characters. Lara, working on a music album, and Mari, writing a novel when the murder occurred. The four women in this story have some commonality, and their stories intersect to a very successful conclusion. Secrets, lies, and jealousy make for an entertaining read. The Villa was a well-written thriller with exciting lead characters. This book will be a huge hit for the author Rachel Hawkins. #murder #mystery #jealousy #celebrity #artists #marriage #infidelity #loss #love #MYSTERY #italy #TheVilla @netgalley #netgalley #beautifulcover @stmartinspress #arc
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book. Pub Date: Jan 3, 2023.

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This book proves that Ruth Ware has a knack at giving new tropes for thriller fans. This one has a little bit of everything, different timelines, drama, murder, sex drugs and rock and roll. Very atmospheric and a good read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC! I loved Reckless Girls so I was really excited when I got approved for this one.

With that said, I do not feel like this story was as dark as the synopsis frames it out to be (which, tbh, I was okay with me since my horror tolerance has gotten significantly less as I’ve gotten older.) I was expecting this to be similar to The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, but it ended up more like We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz. Basically, do not expect this to be an intense, full-of-twists, type of thriller.

I did LOVE the setting, the personalities of each character, the dual timelines, and that ending! 🤯 How everything tied together in the end was something I never could have predicted.

And the biggest lesson to learn from this book: check to make sure a murder didn’t occur at any vacation home you are staying at. 🙃

What an interesting read! I love when a book captures me and I can't put it down and just want to get to the next page!