Emily and Chess have drifted apart as best friends, so when Chess proposes a summer getaway to Italy to work on their writing, Emily jumps at the chance. She soon learn that the Villa they are staying at was the scene of an infamous murder in the 1970s. Emily begins to dig into the Villa’s history, suspecting that there is more to the story than what meets the eye.

Told in a dual timeline format, the story intertwines Emily’s and Cessa’s present day getaway with the villa’s murderous past. While this wasn’t the most thrilling of thrillers it was a good drama and {albeit somewhat predictable} mystery. Overall, while not my favorite of Rachel Hawkins’ novels, it was a decent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted e-book!

I love Rachel Hawkins and this one did not disappoint! Empowering, suspenseful, beautiful setting, great characters.. this book had it all!

The Villa was billed as gothic suspense. In my opinion it was neither. The suspense, what there was of it, came very late in the book. The setting, an Italian villa outside Orvieto, was really very ungothic, as it contributed nothing to the ‘atmosphere’ of what occurred there.
This dual timeline book, present day and 1974, told two stories with various commonalities, the most obvious being Emily, a present day character, becoming obsessed with a murder that took place at the villa in 1974. I guess in the author’s mind this constituted ‘gothic’. Both storylines have ‘weak’, insecure characters who are overwhelmed by shallow, self-absorbed ones who think their social status puts them above the fray. Pseudo-family, betrayal and revenge play parallel roles. There is an element of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll in the 1974 storyline, but not the wild parties or orgies one anticipates given the timeframe.
Much of the book was way too slow and at times boring interlaced with bits of interestingness, mostly centered around backstory character development. The final 20% was quite different. Things really pulled together with amazing force and dynamic writing followed by a relatively satisfying afterward. This part of the book salvaged it and made it a worthwhile read.
Based on the description, I thought overall the book had more potential than it delivered, except as noted above. Had I been more engaged earlier, I would have rated it higher than 3.5 stars. I enjoyed Ms Hawkins earlier work, The Wife Upstairs, and would give her another try.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

Set at a lush, Italian villa, a dual-perspective villa that centers around two groups of creatives and the complicated relationships that ultimately both end in shocking tragedy.

In 1974, rockstar Noel Gordon invited up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon and his girlfriend Mari and her stepsister Lari to spend the summer in Orvieto, for a creative refresh. A summer in a luxurious villa sounded like paradise but their stay ended with a bloody and brutal murder that ultimately spurred Mari into writing one of the most notable horror novels of all time.

Years later, two old friends Chess and Emily share the very same villa in the hopes of reconnecting and finishing their own looming literary projects. Soon Emily becomes pulled into the mysterious history of the villa and begins to uncover the secrets of both the original group who made the villa notorious and of her and Chess. As Emily gets closer and closer to the truth, tensions rise and betrayals are uncovered culminating in another shocking tragedy.

So this read like a bad fan-fiction about the unholy trinity that was Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley (née Godwin), and Claire Clairmont (Mary's stepsister). Barely changing the names, Hawkins re-envisions the infamous villa that Lord (George Gordon) Byron rented in Lake Geneva which he shared with the Shelley entourage, even including the doctor, revamped in Hawkins's book as a drug dealer, John William Polidori.

From the lack of creativity to the predictable nature of both perspectives, I felt a gradual and then definite disconnect with the plot. One borderline plagiarized the life of Mary Shelley, adding a murder for the sake of creative divergence while the other perspective was about as formulaic as a bad day-time soap plot. There was an excess of whining and melodrama in both perspectives that just grinded on my gears.

If you are new to Rachel Hawkins as a thriller writer, I am so jealous! This is a true gift for those that seek their thrills between the pages. I read this nearly a year ago and I still think about how cleverly it comes together.

I love a book about a Book. One that requires the Other to become something magnificent. That book that lets you believe that you may own such a Book and the adventures that could be found both between the pages and by simply owning it. That’s The Villa. It’s about Emily and Chess, and their inseparable friendship, even into adulthood. It’s about the lengths we go to as adults to hang on to those friendships that shape us and define us humans.

Emily and Chess, have been friends for years. The type of friends that should transcend everything. When they find themselves renting a villa in Italy for a much needed vacation and chance at reconnection, they discover the villa is the home to a legacy far deeper than either woman believed. Found in the villa’s library is a journal from the time the villa was home to some of rock and roll’s most famous murders.

This one is so good! Hawkins is so skilled at amping up the tension until you can’t possibly believe it will all work out and then, deliver a twist so sharp you can’t but help to be humbled by her skill. I loved this book. It’s full of complicated, sympathetic characters; kind of? Or at least, not feel guilty for supporting. There are some very real reasons for Emily to do what she does. While Chess was who I thought she would be, I was still shocked by the ending and fully invested in the story and characters. This is also one of those magical books that gives you two compelling stories: we get the complicated relationship between Emily and Chess and the intriguing story or what actually happened at the villa all those years ago.

It’s so, so good!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The Villa had some good mystery vibes as Emma and Chess take a summer getaway to Italy to write. The villa where they are staying is also a notorious "murder house." Emma gets caught up in the mystery of what happened there so long ago while dealing with her own emotions. The plot and characters kept me guessing as to who was being "real" or not. Thank you NetGalley for a copy of The Villa.

I’m a fan of Rachel Hawkins so I was very excited to read an ARC of The Villa! I wasn’t sure how I would like the 70s gothic vibes but it added a lot of depth and mystery to the story! I enjoyed the plot of the author overcoming her writers block by writing about the murders of previous guests of the Villa! This was different from Hawkins other work and I really enjoyed it. And THE COVER! One of my absolute favorites.

This book was a slow burn but I did enjoy it. There were a few twists that kept me guessing until the very end. It did take me a bit to finish it as it did not pull me in until mid way through and then I could not stop reading. I needed to find out what happened at the end.

This is my third Rachel Hawkins title, and honestly, it might have been my favorite. I was so, so into it until the last 60 pages or so. I loved the atmosphere, the dual timelines, and the impending sense that something bad is about to happen.

I liked the past story more, as Chess and Emily got on my nerves. Chess was a taker, and Emily just continued to let her take and take. She eventually becomes tied to her just as the sisters in the past were tied together. I thought Chess was truly a horrible person, and I hate that things ended the way they did with the "friends." Also, Emily's husband was a piece of trash.

In the past, Lara and Mari's stories broke my heart. There was so much unrequited love, betrayal, heartache, and mistakes made.

I was totally invested until the whole drama with the friends and the ex-husband started. I thought it was an anti-climactic way to end things, but I do get the connection to the past and the sisters' journey.

This was a fun ride and one I kept wanting to pick up. Present day:
Chess and Emily are old friends, one an influencer who chills with Oprah, the other a cozy mystery author who’s going through divorce.

1974: sex, drugs, rock & roll, and a murder. Upcoming musicians and a writer spend a tense summer in Italy, out of it comes one of the greatest records of all time and a book that defines the era.

These two storylines are brought together by the Villa in Orvieto Italy where they occur.

In the present day, Emily and Chess are trying to reconnect as friends. Emily is going through a horrible divorce and Chess is stumped on ideas for her latest self help book. Emily is inspired by the Villa they’re staying in with its sordid history of murder but also intrigued by the creative things that came out of that time. She too is in a writing rut and thinks she could make her observations and research into something great.

In 1974 when Noel, one of the biggest musicians of the time invites Pierce Sheldon to stay with him in Orvieto it’s supposed to produce some great music. Pierces girlfriend Maria and her sister Lara also accompany. What starts off somewhat lovely, turns into a drug fueled constant tension. When Pierce is murdered no one wants to revisit the incident and it fades into obscurity. Maria writes a famous book, Lara makes a famous album.

I think I liked present day better, it just interested me more. I found it hard to connect with or care about any of the characters in the past.

I admit this book started slow for me, but about halfway through I became much more invested. I always enjoy a good dual timeline story. The 1970's story, though, was what really held my interest and without revealing too much, I really enjoyed the twist of that piece. Em and Chess... well, can you just say gaslighting? Yikes. I would've liked to see that piece of the story end a little differently, or at least not gloss over how the situation was resolved. While this book was less of a thriller and more a slightly suspenseful women's fiction, it was mostly a quick, pleasant read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

Great quick read! I loved the dual timeline. Early on, I was able to figure out the present day love situation. I was doubtful of Chess and still am. The 1974 timeline was fantastic! Loved the dynamic between everyone at the villa that summer.

I was able to access this book through my public library. I love Rachel Hawkins and this book was no exception! I love anything horror or anything that hints at 1970s rock and roll. Loved this story!

3.5 I enjoyed this thriller. It didn’t really thrill me tho, but I loved the 1970s part of meri and the villa in the 70s if I could of had a book of just that I would loved it, the chess and Emily part I was honestly just wishing it to be over so I could get back to Meris part or if it told me more about meri part. I thought the writing wasn’t bad, but I really think what lost me was Emily’s part. I would still recommend this to people who enjoy thrillers and i would still read what Rachel writes next!

Emily and Chess were childhood best friends, but they grew apart their lives diverged. Emily married and started writing cozy mysteries, but recent health problems led to writer’s block and a separation with her husband, Matt. Chess became a bestselling lifestyle guru so busy she rarely visits their hometown of Asheville. Emily can’t stand to admit her emotional or financial troubles to Chess, so presents a satisfied façade, and when Chess suggests they spend a summer together in Italy, Emily agrees. Not only will it allow them to reconnect, she can get some distance from Matt and hopefully be inspired to write.

When they arrive at the beautiful Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Emily learns that it was the site of an infamous murder. In 1974, rock star Noel Gordon rented the villa and invited the up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon to collaborate. Joining them were Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and Mari’s step-sister, Lara, as well as various members of Noel’s entourage. By the end of the summer, Mari had drafted a famous horror novel, Lara written a ground-breaking album, and Pierce had died.

Even though Emily is supposed to be completing a cozy mystery for her contract, she’s drawn into the story of what happened decades before in the villa. As she researches and writes about the fateful summer, her relationship with Chess becomes strained. Emily learns secrets not only about the house and what happened there but about Chess and her plans, proving the villa is as dangerous in the present as it was in the past.

Inspired by the summer during which Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein (the parallels which were evident) as well as the band Fleetwood Mac (the connections which I didn’t see), THE VILLA is told in two timelines, 1974 and the present. It offers interesting commentary on female creators and how we are often relegated to the background or forced to compete rather than cooperate. I highlighted many great quotes about the artistic process and about confining relationships. The Italian summer setting is presented vividly, along with food and wine. Some of the most interesting action, though, takes place off-page and is presented through “mixed media.” I thought this lessened the impact of these big events. Additionally, although Chess is an interesting character, I found it very hard to like her and so difficult to understand Emily’s loyalty to her. THE VILLA is an ambitious novel, and I give Hawkins props for weaving multiple themes and narrative threads into a cohesive story!

I liked this book a lot!

To preface, I want to say that I'm usually more of a romance reader, but I enjoy a good thriller from time to time. And this was definitely the kind of good thriller that I enjoy. It read like a Taylor Jenkins Reid book, if Taylor Jenkins Reid had characters who were murdered and creepy old houses in addition to rock stars and compelling time jumps.

This book did one thing extremely well: morally gray characters. I love morally gray characters who are compelling despite being frustrating, and who you can root for while still realizing that their actions are... probably not the smartest. It took a really interesting perspective on female friendships and sisterhood, and while I think the actual murder and mystery behind it was a bit simplistic, I appreciated the twists and thought that the story that accompanied the mystery was strong enough to compensate for whatever was lost in the lack of complexity of the mystery.

Overall, if you're someone who likes Taylor Jenkins Reid and is interested in a thriller that isn't too complicated but still has depth and strong, well written characters, I think you'll really enjoy this book!

Huge thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the premise of The Villa, with its alternating timelines, elements of the rock and roll lifestyle, women as muses for art, and authors writing books as part of a book, but unfortunately the plot and pacing did not lend to an exciting read. I felt that there was little plot overall, in both the current and past timelines, and I easily predicted the “twist” in the current timeline. The ending was not satisfying, and I wish it had been written differently to better finish Emily’s story. Emily was the only character I felt connected to, and I felt that she was slighted in the end.

I enjoyed this mystery/thriller! It was two storylines, one in 1974 and one in present day. I like that it was a book about books! It was exciting and kept me wanting to read another chapter. It was interesting, with well developed characters and I loved the twists and turns!

Like Rachel Hawkins, "Reckless Girls", this book just didn't really do it for me. It was entertaining enough, but also very predictable to me (this may just be a "me" problem, as I read a lot of crime fiction). The characters felt a little too cliched for my liking and I was a disappointed that the setting, a villa in Italy, never really came to life. All in all, not a bad book by any means, but one that I suspect will not linger very long in my memory either.

It's a good vacation book.. Fun setting with female-female friendship at the focus--take it with you on your girl's trip and try not to give your friends the side eye.

This one was super-engaging and kept me up late reading. There are dual-timelines, and I was reasonably invested in both of them--never felt any annoyance when switching between Emily and Mari's stories, which is always the risk. The plot felt fresh--I appreciate when mystery/thriller authors try to do something different, but the ending was a little off. It felt like it was trying to be bold and divisive, but it was just "fine".