I did enjoy this book however, the “mystery & thriller” part never quite showed up. The book is told in two timelines, the present where two best friends stay at a villa in Orvieto, Italy, each friend using their time there to pen their new books. The second timeline takes place in 1974 when four Brits stay at the villa during one summer and a murder occurs.

Now the thing about the 1974 time that kind of annoyed me is that it was an absolute rip-off of Mary Shelley’s life, as Mari stood for Mary, Pierce Sheldon for Percy Bysshe Shelley, the rock star Neil Gordon was obviously Lord Byron, and Mari’s stepsister Lara was ripped off from Mary’s stepsister Claire Clairmont. The author used details about Mary Shelley’s life to stand in for Mari’s life (how her father married a next-door neighbor, how her family disowned her when she ran away with the married Percy and even used the death of Mary’s child in Mari’s backstory too). This wasn’t just a little too on the nose, it was a complete sledgehammer. However, if you’re a writer, you might enjoy these tidbits of information.

The present timeline wasn’t as fascinating as the one in 1974, because I really couldn’t stand Em, the cozy-mystery writer who’s too hung up on her best friend Chess’s recent success as a motivational writer. In fact, I don’t even know why these two are friends when they seem to dislike one another.

This book was interesting, I won’t deny that, but at the same time, it didn’t deliver on the thriller aspect that was promised in the beginning. But since I did read the book in about two days, I will say that the author has a way of having you want to stay up to read until you’ve reached the end, so I’ll give her props for that.

All in all, this book is good if you’re looking for a cozy mystery – because it’s in no way a thriller or true mystery. The location is gorgeous and the 1974 timeline of groupies and rockstars was fascinating, despite the blatant rip-off of Shelley’s life.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love this book. Rachel Hawkins is an amazing author and this book just solidifies that. I really appreciate the depiction of female friendships in this book. It’s so difficult to find a book that depicts female friendships in an accurate way but this book does that.

This was a slow burn for me. I enjoyed the way the author described the villa and created the setting. At first I had trouble keeping track of all the characters as it was a bit confusing. I did enjoy the dual timelines. I struggled to connect with the characters and find them likable. I was hoping for more twists.

A beautiful cover for a thriller! Rachel Hawkins does not disappoint.. Her insight into female friendships and relationships is unparalleled. I can't wait to see what some comes up with next!

This was another great read from Rachel Hawkins! This felt so different then anything she has every written. This story, within a story, within a story, was intriguing and the setting was incredible. There were so many twists and turns and you gotta love an unreliable narrator! Always here for a Rachel Hawkins mystery/ thriller and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing me with a e-ARC of this book!

I loved the Italian setting of the book, it gives it very atmospheric vibes as you are reading. I also love the juxtaposition of the bright and summary vibes while the actual story is moody and dark. I always love a dual timeline as well.

One thing I wasn’t a fan of was how the author tried to keep you guessing on which story line of Mari’s was the true story line. It’s hard to explain without giving away the ending so if you’ve read this you’ll probably understand what I mean.

I love this author! I seem to enjoy all books she has written. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I loved this book! "Houses remember" is the prevailing quote here, and Rachel Hawkins did a fantastic job of weaving this tale of a murder house, best friends reunited, paranoia and real time life drama.
I breezed through this one in a night! I couldn't put it down!
Something about it just sucked me right in and I did not predict some of the twists that occurred.

A solid four star read for the mystery/thriller/women's fiction buckets.
Thankful for the ARC !

Two best girlfriends take a summer trip to Orvieto, Italy -- but things don't go exactly as planned.

Emily and Chess are in their thirties now, but they have a bond that has kept them connected even with life's ups and downs. Emily is recovering from a broken marriage and is struggling to finish a cozy mystery installment she owes the publisher. It seems that Chess's star is on the rise as her self-discovery books have made her a supernova, but she's also dragging her heels to complete her own nonfiction book.

As the women settle into Villa Aestas, they discover that their luxurious accommodation was once rented by a group of young people -- a famous rock musician and 4 others who were there to create music, write, and relax -- with the help of some drink, drugs, and sex. Their sojourn ends in tragedy and what happened there becomes part of the villa's history.

Emily is fascinated by the events from summer, 1974, and as she explores the villa and digs deeper into the past, she finds herself coming alive even as her relationship with Chess becomes strained. Long held secrets come to light and it seems that there will be a reckoning between the two friends.

I enjoyed this novel that simmers with tension and a bit of gothic influence that enhances the suspense. The twists and turns were interesting as well as how the author wove the story of the past with what was occurring in the present. Although I really didn't care for either Emily or Chess as characters, the plot was interesting and kept me engrossed. I did wish for more details about the villa itself and about Orvieto.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This was my third book from Hawkins. All of which have been in this genre, and each time I think they can't get any more out of pocket they do.

I really enjoyed the juxtaposed of Emily and Mari's stories and how their relationships paralleled each other. I do wish we had more depth with each of these characters. Something was lacking in the modern timeline. Especially with Emily's friendship with Chess.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of The Villa in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first time reading a Rachel Hawkins book, and it was quite the absorbing time. It's appropriate that her Gothic thriller has been marketed as being evocative of the Manson murders, Fleetwood Mac, and the notoriously grim summer vacation of 1816 at Lord Byron's castle near Lake Geneva that included Percy Shelley and Mary Godwin (who would be known as Mary Shelley after the two of them got married) in the group. All of those inspirations can be strongly felt throughout the atmospheric novel as we follow a roster of morally gray characters who possess varying levels of unlikability and keep us on our toes over the mysteries unfolding in both timelines. The Italian backdrop and the theme of the desire to reimagine our lives to suit our own idealistic preferences are pluses, too.

Overall, if you're looking for some good old Gothic entertainment, I think The Villa would be an appropriate choice.

You know what I love about author's who have two pen names? There are multiple releases throughout the year, and 2023 is off with a bang, thanks to Rachel Hawkins!
The Villa is a dual timeline slow burn that left me turning pages late into the evening. Scenes set with similar backings, but a story split between 40 years. Untrustworthy friendships are the primary focus within the pages of this slow burn mystery, and Hawkins delivers likeable and non likeable characters like the master she is. In the current timelines there are situations that leave the reader wondering if they're actually friendly, or just basically dealing with each other for the perk of a trip to Italy. While is the past we're following a group of friends, family and lovers when tragedy occurs, and someone is found murdered changing their lives forever.
The setting is GORGEOUS, and I found myself reminiscing about my trip to Italy while reading this book. Bohemian lifestyle, revenge, murder, and the twists and turns left me wanting more. I really also enjoyed how the book Emily was writing brought everything together. While I was a LITTLE mad about the ending, I understood why Hawkins chose to go that way... it absolutely left me wanting more. Thank you as always to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Twisty and had me guessing until the end of the book! Couldn't put this down and I love how the two different timelines mirrored each other and fed into the mystery of what would happen. Rachel Hawkins best so far!

THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins will keep you guessing with interesting twists as she transports the reader between 1974 and present day, with a beautiful Italian villa providing a backdrop and inspiration. Emily has had a rough time lately and needs to get back to her writing. When a lunch with her childhood best friend Chess, who is also a successful self-help author, leads to the chance at spending six weeks in an Italian villa to regroup, reconnect with Chess, and get back to writing, she jumps at the chance. While researching her trip, she finds the Chess has booked them into a villa infamous for a murder in the 70’s. In 1974, Mari and her stepsister Lara arrive at the Villa with Pierce, Mari’s boyfriend, an up-and-coming musician. They are guests of a Noel, a musician who needs a new direction to get his career on track. While Noel and Pierce’s creativity seems to take a back seat to other distractions, Mari and Lara find their inspiration, each creating a career-defining work before the murder changes their lives. Now, Emily finds herself drawn to Mari’s novel and what seems to be the mystery surrounding what really happened in 1974, finding a new direction and excitement for her writing but finds herself at odds with Chess and questioning everything.
Told in dual timeline, with Mari and Emily narrating their respective timelines, we follow both through the twists of their summers that leave the reader wondering what really happened. The two storylines parallel, and I found myself continuing to think of the novel days after I finished. I enjoyed how Hawkins developed the characters and storyline, and a look at how different writer work. Chess and Pierce gave me the feeling that something was never quite right with them, and that added to the twistiness of the story. The only negative I really have is that I think there were a few things that seemed to be set up that Hawkins did not follow through to completion. This is a solid read that will keep you on your toes.
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheVilla #RachelHawkins #StMartinsPress #housesremember

I was expecting more twists, reveals, suspense, and thrills, but ultimately this story felt more like a historical fiction to me. I did enjoy the characters and the setup, but I went in expecting a thriller and left disappointed with the slow-moving storyline and lack of thrills.

When I was 75% in the story, I was surprised I was so far in and there was such little left in the story because I felt like so little happened.

I feel like this story would be good for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, and may benefit from being marketed as such.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Stuck between the past and present, fiction and reality, this book ended up surprising me more than I expected. At moments I truly wanted to stop reading and more often than not I was mentally cursing Emily and Chess for the stupidity of their conversations but at the same time I had a hard time letting go. I truly wanted to know what was actually going on and how everything was going to be developed. It was very interesting watching/reading the process of how everything lined up together and more or less gave us a whole picture. In my very own personal opinion, there were way too many loose ends and not enough answers. I get the appeal of cliffhangers and unanswered questions but, it gives you the feeling that this book was rushed and written in a very careless way, as if the author didn't have it in her to actually connect the dots in her own story. Maybe that is part of her plan but I would've definitely loved it more if I had more answer like "What was actually making Emily sick?". Overall the story was super interesting and intriguing. Very pleasant read. Give it a try.

Thank you Netgalley, Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity.

The Villa is a tale of two moments in time, one in 1974 and the other in 2023. Mari, a 19 year old has been whisked away to an Italian villa for a summer of lounging by the pool, writing her novel, and continuing the role as muse to her boyfriend Pierce. Emily (Em) is a soon-to-be divorced author who has been whisked away to the same villa by her best friend Jessica (Chess) as a getaway that will allow them both to write.

Except in 1974, the unthinkable happened. Pierce was murdered and from the tragedy, came new lives for the two sisters there. Mari's biggest success was a fictional novel Lilith Rising, that seems to have some parallels to the villa. Once down the rabbit hole, Em is determined to find out what really happened that summer in 1974. Was there more to the story than what was publicly told? Is it true that houses remember?

The Villa was my first Rachel Hawkins novel and it was an extremely quick read for me. I really enjoyed that you were essentially getting two books for the price of one, with stories that intertwined. The writing very much would appeal to those interested in Ruth Ware or similar novels. I have a few of her other books on my TBR shelf, and I'll be placing holds for them at the library to see what she puts out next.

A thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are purely my own.

The Villa is a Gothic suspense novel told in dual timelines and dual points of view. I loved the Italian Villa setting and all the references to Mary Shelley and Frankenstein.

One timeline was present day and involved a toxic friendship between two authors. The second timeline was set in the summer of 1974 with a group of musicians and a writer. I was most interested in this past timeline and the dynamics of the group. You could feel the tension building as the summer passed. I liked how the author connected the two timelines in the end.

This was a fast-paced novel that I binged in 2 days! Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book..

This book was just okay for me; I wanted to like it because the book -and the author- are hyped up on TikTok and BookTube but maybe this author just isn’t for me. I started this as an ebook and couldn’t get into it at all. What sold me was the audiobook because I listened to it while I was at work. It was interesting but you could tell where the story was going and lost interest. Despite enjoying the audiobook, I was bored in this book.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a fantastic gothic suspense.

Set in an Italian Villa, there was a dual timeline that i think really added to the story.

The characters were well written and fleshed out.

This was well written and kept me guessing.