The Villa takes readers to a beautiful Italian Villa to watch the summer play out for two life long friends who are both hiding something. But their home for summer has a story of its own. I personally loved the way the story switched between timelines and would have loved to spend even more time in the past with Mari. I managed to finish this story in just two sittings. This was my first Rachel Hawkins story and it will not be my last.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a suspense novel about friends, Emily and Chess. They decide to go on a girls trip to Italy. Their destination is Villa Rosato, and it has a very complicated history. When Emily starts researching the villa's history, Chess starts to make Emily nervous. The history that these two share is very tangled, and the reveals get more and more complex. This was a fun read, especially since it was a story within a story. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I was hesitant to start The Villa because I loved The Wife Upstairs but then found Reckless Girls disappointing so I was nervous I’d be let down again with The Villa. That was thankfully not the case. This book was great! It gave me Daisy Jones vibes but in an Italian Villa instead. I enjoyed the two timelines and found myself just as invested in both story lines. I liked that both stories involved artists (musicians and writers) and the struggles/emotions/backstabbing that come with creating.
I would definitely recommend this one and will pick up the next Hawkins book that comes out.

I really enjoyed this one. I loved the story within the story, the parallels that happen throughout, and the friendship that is front and center.

I loved Hawkins first book,the second was kinda meh for me, so I was happy when this one hit its mark with me.

I always enjoy when there are historical aspects and background storylines that come into play. I liked the way Hawkins intertwined the toe storylines and did a true crime-like aspect that our MC's get involved in. So fun.

Ok I would be remiss to not start this off by acknowledging the beautiful cover, I mean c'mon. Next, and I know I will probably sound like a broken record here, but I have a pretty high threshold and standard for thrillers since that is the main genre I read so it takes a lot to impress me. That being said, I though this book was fine, decent even. It was a classic psychological thriller that was very bingeable and had some decent twists. Unfortunately, it also had some extremely predictable ones in my opinion and became redundant and predictable at points. I do think if you're one of those people who doesn't read a ton in this genre that you might find it less predictable and more enjoyable so I'm fully acknowledging that this may be a me problem. I also want to add that I read this one with my eyes but I've heard the audiobook is a full cast so I think if you're going to read this one, audiobook might be the route to go. All in all, the book was fine and I will definitely read more by Hawkins even if this wasn't my favorite.

A solidly enjoyable suspense novel with an easy-to-drop into setting. I loved the chapters in the past and the suspense of finding out what happened at the notorious house and I loved the present even though I feel like that was more predictable. I really liked it -- not so much LOVE but just really solidly enjoyed.

2.5 - 3 stars...
...and I feel that's generous, and mainly given for the last 15-20%; when something finally happened.

I wish this book was as solid as the author's last two (LOVED! The Wife Upstairs), h0wever, I found this sooooo slow & boringggggggg. I couldn't care less for the flashback chapters. Em & Chess were both annoying.

Stars for the cover & the atmospheric Italian scenes, other than that - snoozefest. Def not a thriller.

Review of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

I was super excited to get approved for this title and it did not disappoint. I remain a huge fan of this author and she is an auto buy for me. My favorite things about this one was the setting (an Italian Villa!) and the dual timelines. I couldn’t figure out where it was all going but throughly enjoyed the ride.

Quick synopsis: Emily is excited when her long time friend Chess invites her to spend several weeks in an Italian villa. It’s a little bit vacation and a little but work as they are both authors on a deadline. The Villa was the site of a brutal death decades before when some musicians lived there. Emily finds herself intrigued by this and the story unravels in both timelines

This is probably my favorite Rachel Hawkins book!

I liked the whole “murder house” theme surrounding Emily and Chess’s girls trip. I also really enjoyed the dual time lines and getting the actual story of what happened from Mari’s perspective.

Chess was, in my opinion, unworthy of Emily’s friendship. But this book did showcase the struggles of friendships and forgiveness.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I have loved Rachel Hawkins books before but The Villa was amazing! It was so good I didn't want it to end and you get 2 stories in one.

I almost cried when it ended bc I knew I had to find a book to top this and that would be extremely hard. 5 stars

I truly loved this book. The start was a bit slow, but by the last half, I couldn’t put it down. I was so invested in both Emily and Mari’s stories, and I genuinely didn’t see the ending twist coming. Definitely my favorite from Rachel Hawkins so far.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a thriller set in a beautiful, but sinister, villa in Italy– where a murder took place in the 70s. When Chess, a famous self-help book author, wanted to spend the summer with her best friend Emily, in Italy, Emily felt like it could be the perfect getaway that she needed. When Emily finds out that there was amurder in the house in 1974, she becomes intrigued with the murder and wants to piece together the past. Will something sinister happen in the Italian villa again this summer? What truly happened in this villa so long again?

This book was a very fast read. The book hooks you in right from the beginning. I loved the alternative perspectives from Mari in 1974 and Emily and Chess in the present day. I found myself flying through the book wanting to know how the story was going to piece together and what was going to happen in the past. The past story of a rock n’ roll legend spending the summer together in a villa in Italy which ends in a murder was so intriguing to me. There were so many twists and turns throughout the backstory. There were a few things I could figure out throughout the book, but I truly did not know how the story with Mari and summer 1974 was going to end.

I also loved the setting of this book. The beautiful Italian villa with a haunted past made for the perfect backdrop. I loved hearing the past through the characters spending time in the villa during the present.

One thing I really struggled with in this book was the two main female characters Emily and Chess (although I disliked Chess way more than Emily). Emily made some very poor decisions in this book, especially towards the end. I feel like she was very easily manipulated by Chess and went along with whatever she said and I wish she was able to stand up for herself more throughout the book. Chess was self-absorbed and I am unsure if I can believe anything she said.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I was hooked on the book right away and loved the premise of the book. It was different from other thriller books that I have read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a huge fan of The Wife Upstairs, and while this book wasn’t quite at that level, I still very much enjoyed it. The author is able to write her characters in a way that makes you react exactly how she wants you to. Some are annoying, others to be pitied, and a few to champion. I’m not sure I would categorize this book as a genre, but I appreciated the various reveals throughout, with the ending having the most impressive one.

This book was great! Rachel Hawkins writing style just meshes well with me. She pulls out all the stops and has unreliable narration, shocking twists and unforgettable atmosphere. Read ALL of her books!

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is an interesting book concept. I like the idea that the author used to come up with the idea for this book. The plot itself is full of twists and turns that should keep you reading. However, I never felt a connection with the characters, and this really was a drawback for me and made it difficult to keep reading. Shocking events would occur and I felt unconvinced and unconcerned. Overall, not my favorite book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I always enjoy this author and got really swept up in the lives of two best friends with their strained relationship

I received an ARC from St. Martins Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for my review. All thoughts are my own.

This story follows Emily's life after getting a divorce from her husband. Her husband split up with her after she got sick and apparently needed too much from him. Emily has a best friend named Chess who is a famous author of self help books. Emily is also an author who is struggling to write the 10th book in her cozy murder mystery series. Chess decides she and Emily need to go to Italy for a summer to get some writing done and reconnect. As they do Emily gets a spark for a new novel after reading and learning about a murder that occurred in the house they are staying at. Between Chess and Emily there are a lot of secrets. Will they be able to be friends after the truth comes out?

The Villa was not my favorite by this author however, I really enjoyed reading it still. This book had a really unique structure. I thought it was interesting that there was a mystery within a mystery within a mystery. I found that I was a bit more interested in the modern day mystery versus the murder mystery set in the 1970's. I thought it was a cool concept to follow Emily on her journey of self discovery as a writer and person. I really liked the way that part of the book showed a lot of growth from the main character. The contrast between Chess and Emily as best friends was so intriguing to read about. I did not quite understand how they were friends because they were so different. I did feel like there were a few parts that kind of lagged at the beginning. However, I was able to finish it fast once it picked up. I did not enjoy reading the 1970's part of a murder because of the sex scenes. They were brief however kind of unnecessary. I understood that the author needed to establish the way that these young adults were living. I just felt the specific details were not necessary.

Content: Murder, Sex, drugs, illness, infant death, and manipulation

Read if you like to read about:
Murder Mysteries
Dual timeline
Friendships
Writers
Italy

This was my first Rachel Hawkins read, and man am I glad I chose this. The very beginning of the book left me wanting more and I wasn't sure Hawkins could turn it around. Chess and Emily's departure for Italy post Emily's divorce rang of a typical contemporary novel. Something you've read time and time again. The redemption comes with the mystery and thriller tie-in.

Throughout the novel, there are flashbacks to the 1970s and the deaths/murders that surrounded Aestas. Emily (a writer in a slump) decides to research into the villa and the murders. Ultimately, Emily uncovers more of Mari's (one of the 1974 houseguests, and later a successful writer) writing and journals. There are twists and turns along the way. Multiple betrayals by friends and lovers. The uncovering of what really happened in those 1974 deaths. And of course, more death.

Although it took me a while to get into the flashbacks to the 1970s, it helped to reveal and uncover more plot than Emily alone could have uncovered with her research.

**I received this advance copy free from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I really enjoy everything I've ever read by Rachel Hawkins. This was no exception! I don't want to spoil anything, so please please please read this one to see for yourself!!

I was so excited for this one, and while it wasn't bad, it just missed the mark for me. The first half I was very bored, I had to really motivate myself to pick up the book and keep going. Eventually, it definitely picked up speed and I had to get to the end-the twist was good. It was a good read...not a great one, just good.