Houses remember. This was my first Rachel Hawkins book and it did not disappoint! It was a quick but suspenseful read with two POV and two timelines. Emily is recovering from a mysterious illness, in the midst of a contentious divorce and writers block is affecting her career and finances! When best friend and successful self-help guru, Chess invites her to Italy for an extended stay, Emily jumps at the chance. Hoping that the change in scenery will jump start her writing mojo, Emily gets pulled into the history of the Villa where her and Chess are staying. The scene of a gruesome murder in the 1970's, Emily is pulled into the story of what might have actually happened several decades ago. Part of the five some staying at the Villa in 1974, The Villa also tells Mari's story. Was it all drugs, sex and rock and roll that ended in the death of an up and coming musician? Did Mari and her step-sister Lara leave clues of the events in their subsequent literary and musical works. Inspired, Emily starts digging to uncover the clues. But as she does, is she getting herself it too deep. Is the house affecting her relationship with Chess?
I really enjoyed traveling to Italy with Emily and Mari. Hawkins is great at setting the scene and making you feel like you are there as well. The dual point of views were well done. Mari's POV brought the 1970's rock scene among this small group to life. The drama was great, the setting was beautiful, the suspense was eerie. The ending left me a bit hmmm, and I think it has more to do with another book I recently read.

I loved the dual timeline in this book and the way that Rachel Hawkins knitted both old and new stories together. A little bit creepy, a little bit thrilling.

I was not into the gothic suspense storyline of a house that "remembers".
Also told from multiple POV and the back and forth could get somewhat difficult to follow.
Definitely a slow burn novel but if you stick with it, the ending is better than expected.

Told in then and now story lines, The Villa is the story of how one house in the Italian countryside played a role in many lives. The one saving grace for this book was how short it was because I would have probably DNFed it if it was longer.

Emily and Chess have been friends for decades so when Chess invites Emily to a villa in Italy for a summer vacation she jumps at the chance for a change of pace. This villa was also the location of a famous murder in the 70s. This story line was at least logical and entertaining. By the end I just could not suspend my disbelief enough to believe the plot twists. I have seen some reviews where they said this felt very different from her other books so I might give them a try, but overall this book was a disappointment.

This was two stories in one. When two old friends decide to take a trip to a villa in Italy, they find they are staying at famous place. Back in 1974, rock star Noel Gordon, invited an up and coming musician, and his girlfriend and her sister. As Emily digs into the history of the villa, she starts finding clues to what really happened there that summer. Both Emily and Chess are writers, so will this new story come between them?

Great plot and great characters! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

I only stayed for the limoncello – this 70s-inspired gothic suspense fell flat for me.

This story centres around an Italian villa and rotates timelines between present day and 1973, the notorious summer that the property was rented by rock star Noel Gordon and how his twisted love nest became a scene for murder. As two frenemies stay at the villa in present day, clues are revealed about what happened that summer (other than sex, drugs and rock and roll) through the published works of his guests that summer.

A fan of Hawkins’ writing, I always enjoy trying to figure out where she draws her inspiration (The Wife Upstairs – Jane Eyre; Reckless Girls – Below Deck / And the Sea Will Tell). In this case, the Manson murders, music of Fleetwood Mac, and Mary Shelley can be felt, and I love feeling bits of familiar information being given a twist. That said, I didn’t enjoy the parallel stories / timelines equally, so I found myself rushing to get back to present because the past wasn’t commanding my attention.

It was okay; I was just a bit bored.

A dual timeline with best friends as the focus. My first read from this author. The book summary stated it was a gothic style mystery but it didn't feel like that to me. A bit of a mystery, yes, but nothing gothic from my perspective.

An overall ok story.

Thank you for the ARC, St. Martin's Press. This book was absolutely fantastic. Set across two story lines, two life lines, that intertwined unexpectedly and beautifully. Half truth, half mystery, full of surprises. Another Rachel Hawkins slam dunk!

I thought this was an okay thriller. I did not enjoy the back and forth between the past and present timelines. I enjoyed the present more, and I wanted to continue reading about Emily and Chess. The past timeline just was all over the place for me, and I had a hard time following along.

I didn’t see the twist at the end, but I wasn’t shocked either. There is some missing plot holes that I would liked flushed out more as well. I enjoyed the setting in Italian and the villa, and I thought was fun to read about. Overall it was fine, but nothing mind-blowing.

The Villa is a read that gripped me from start to finish. Once I got going, I couldn't put it down. Readers are introduced to multiple storylines in the plot that all weave a twisted, yet beautiful, story. I thought I could predict what would happen, but Hawkins threw in some curveballs that I just could not see coming. I've read her work before, so I shouldn't be surprised. The backstory (inspiration) for this book is what really captured my attention. The book is well-written and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seats.

For something that was said to be inspired by the Manson murders and Fleetwood Mac, 'The Villa' has a quite a bit to live up to. And unfortunately, it was not quite up to the task. I think my biggest issue with 'The Villa' was that I was just expecting a little... more. One of the first quotes I saw from this book was the one quoted above. Creepy right? And coming off of the high of finishing another thriller/suspense novel involving a house, I was totally in the right space for a moody drama involving murder and a creepy house.

And this just didn't quite deliver for me. The villa itself was just kind of ... there. It didn’t really portray or convey the darkness and creepiness that I had been anticipating. I expected the house itself to almost contribute I guess to the events that took place, and instead it was just a place where those things happened. Which is fine, but I think it could have been much more successful if it the house itself had played a bit larger of a role versus just being a space if that makes sense.

Added to that, I think the switching timelines took me out of the story, when they were meant to help draw me in. Which is never what you want. I think it would have been more successful to have our MCs figure out the events of the past when they were staying at the villa themselves, instead of us as readers being shown through 'flashback' style tellings. But that might just be a personal preference.

Overall, this just didn't really deliver on the promises it was heralding, but that's alright. It was still a decent story, just not one I think I'd revisit.

The Villa was published on January 3, 2023. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rachel Hawkins is an auto-buy for me. And she does not disappoint in this page turning suspense with fantastic characters, just the right amount of flashing back and that killer twist!!!!! ALL THE STARS

Rachel Hawkins has solidified herself as an author that I know will deliver over and over. Her stories are so engaging... and The Villa is another example of her skill. The characters are intriguing and engaging, with the villa itself acting as a character with a history. This might be Hawkins most binge-worthy book yet!

Rachel Hawkins is one of my new favorite authors. In the Villa you are introduced to many characters and two times.
In the present day Chess and Emily are best friends who have grown apart but after Emily's life seems to fall apart Chess invites her on a writing vacation to an Italian villa. It is no ordinary villa however, as it was the scene of a brutal murder in the 1970s. Sisters Mari and Lara have decided to join a rock star on a trip to an Italian Villa but what seems like an idyllic vacation ends in tragedy.

With vibes of the 70s and influenced by an actually spooky incident with Mary Shelley this was an enjoyable read. Sex, drugs, and Rock n Roll are enjoyable plot points but add in an author with a new found passion project..chef's kiss, and for me this book was just that, it had everything I was looking for in the story, as well as the characters.
The two timelines intertwine and mirror each other nicely and with an unexpected twist at the end. The characters in each timeline were all different, some were likeable while others weren't but weren't too annoying to read about. Also the twist at the end!!! Wow it made me question the whole of what I had read up until that point but I absolutely loved the twist and added great depth to one of the characters.

I liked this book however it wasn't my favorite out of all the others from this author. Although I haven't read anything from her that I haven't liked so far. I really liked the setting time period of the story in the past. The present day storyline wasn't as good as the storyline from the past. I definitely didn't see the big reveal coming.

Greetings from my kitchen. I wish I was here in the photo, maybe next month, maybe not til April or May. We shall see. Either way I hope to be back sooner rather than later!

So I’m still catching up on reviews, and I will be forever it seems. So The Villa released earlier this month from @stmartinspress I have loved @ladyhawkins previous books so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I read it as soon as I got it maybe back in August or September. I really liked it! I totally felt transported to Italy. I loved the alternate timelines, and the suspense in this one with a gothic twist.

Def recommend if you have enjoyed the authors previous books!

Thank you to @stmartinspress for my copy!

I thought the book was well written and so interesting! I loved the setting! I thought the author did a in depth job with the characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I enjoyed the dual timelines.. I will definitely be reading the authors other books as well! Thank you to NetGallery for the advanced review copy!

Present day, Emily is a mystery writer who is spending the summer at Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Italy with her best friend Chess, a successful self-help novelist. The Villa though has a dark history; in the 1970s, it was rented by Mari, her rockstar boyfriend and his friends only for their trip to end in the rockstar’s brutal murder. Forty years later Emily begins looking into the villa’s history only to uncover some shocking secrets.

Less thriller and more suspenseful mystery with a gothic twist, the story is told from multiple POV's, both current and in the 1970s, we learn about the villa and the atmospheric details of the home make it a character of its own.

I enjoyed both timelines but in present day, the relationship between Emily and Chess was more toxic than not and as we neared the end, I was frustrated and just wanted to shake some sense into Emily! Just like Reckless Girls, I felt like the ending put a damper a story I was enjoying.

I listened to this one on audio, while reading along with the book, and the audio was great! Both Julia Whelan and Kimberly M. Wetherell were excellent.

Such an engaging read from Rachel Hawkins. I loved the unique setting and juxtaposition of the beautiful, historic Italian countryside with the grunge and drama of rockstars and artists. The end was perfectly twisty, and I appreciated the ambiguity around certain events that leaves interpretation up to the reader. This felt like a summery gothic novel to me - a new genre?! Can't wait to read what Rachel writes next.

4 Limoncello Stars!

Wow! So many twists and turns leading up to that ending. This is a story that makes you REALLY examine the power of words. Hugely atmospheric. The writing was powerful and thought provoking. I did find certain elements of the execution to be a little messy, to where I had to go back and read certain sections again to make sure I'd gotten everything. I was also combo listening and reading my ARC. I think for sole listeners, this would've been especially challenging. That was the only reason I did not give it 5 stars.

Otherwise, though. I loved it. A book that explores the thin line between friendship and rivalry. And how far is too far when it comes to friendships.

One I'll be thinking about for some time to come!

Oh, and total Daisy and the Six vibes with Mari, Pierce, Lara, Noel, and Johnny. <3