This story is a slow-burn thriller that has alternating timelines with Mari in 1974 and Emily present day. I found that I didn't enjoy the 1974 timeline, and I often wanted to skip ahead to the present.

I felt like the setting and plot of the book were great ideas, but it just wasn't as creepy/twisted as I wanted it to be. I walked away feeling unsatisfied.

“What if,” she starts, drawing the words out, “you. Me. Italy.”

The Villa is about two estranged best friends who go on a trip. However, they are staying in a villa where a death happened in 1974.

“What if the house holds the bad memories inside with the good? What does that mean for whoever lives there?”

1974: Mari is a young girl who is in love with an married, older man named Pierce who run away together, but then comes along her stepsister Lara. Lara falls for Pierce as well because of his one-sided open relationship with Mari.

They go off on a trip together and stay at a villa with two other people: Noel, a famous rock star, and Johnnie, a “friend” and “lover” of Noel.

Are sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll the only reason someone dies?

At first it was difficult for me to get into the storyline since I’m not a fan of long chapters and the times changed in the same chapters from past to present. It would have been better IMO for each chapter to be shorter and separating the timelines to their own chapters.

This ARC was given to me through NetGalley.

I went into this book expecting a twisty thriller… which isn’t what I got at all. Instead, I got a book that asks questions about art, creativity, and friendship. It’s absolutely fascinating and engaging, despite being not at all what I expected.

The nitty-gritty: Twisty and entertaining, The Villa offers up interesting characters and relationships and a compelling mystery.

The Villa certainly has an intriguing premise, and for the most part, I thought all the parts came together in a twisty, complex story. It was a solid four star read for me, and even though I have a few reservations, I’m very glad I read this book.

The story unfolds over two different timelines. In the present, we meet Emily McCrae, author of a semi-popular cozy mystery series called Petal Bloom. Emily’s writing is stalled as she’s trying to finish the tenth book in the series, and she’s already missed her publisher’s due date. One day, out of the blue, she gets a call from her old friend Chess Chandler. Chess is a famous self-help author, and while the two women used to be close, they don’t really keep in touch these days. Chess wants Emily to join her in Italy for the summer. She’s rented an old villa in the small town of Orvieto, a quiet place where Chess and Emily can not only spend time together, but work on their respective books. Emily thinks the change of scenery is just what she needs to jump start her creativity, and when they arrive, Emily is thrilled to find Villa Aestas is full of charm and inspiration. Not only that, but it turns out the villa is a famous “murder house,” where back in 1974, an up and coming musician named Pierce Sheldon was brutally murdered.

The second timeline takes place in 1974 where we follow a group of five young musicians and writers, including nineteen-year-old Mari Godwick, her boyfriend Pierce, and her stepsister Lara. The three have come to the same villa in Orvieto so that Pierce can work on his next album. Joining them are Noel Gordon, a famous rock-and-roll musician, and Johnnie, Noel’s drug dealer. But the heady mix of drugs, alcohol, sex and jealousy eventually results in Pierce’s murder, and Johnnie is ultimately arrested for the crime.

The two timelines are connected when Emily discovers an old copy of Lilith Rising tucked away in a bookcase, the bestselling book that Mari wrote when she stayed at the villa. Emily is fascinated by the parallels she sees between the book and the shocking true crime murder that took place in 1974. Inspired by the events of the past, Emily suddenly finds her creative juices flowing, especially when she starts to uncover clues in Mari’s manuscript.

There is a lot going on in The Villa, and you need to stay on your toes to keep everything straight. Even after taking notes and highlighting in my Kindle I’ll admit I was confused at times. I have not seen a finished copy of the book, but I struggled with the transitions between the two time periods. For me, there just wasn’t enough of a visual break to cue my brain into switching gears. So at times I forgot which characters I was reading about, if that makes sense. I think smoother transitions would have elevated this book to another level, because I thought it was such a great idea and very clever at times.

That being said, there is a lot I loved about this story. The Villa reads like an intricate puzzle box, with mysteries inside of mysteries. I loved that the Emily/Chess storyline echoes that of Mari and Lara. Both sets of girls are writers or musicians, and they are inspired by what happens at the villa in their respective timelines, inspiration that propels them all to fame. Mari writes Lilith Rising, which is an immediate bestseller. Lara writes her famous album Aestas, which is still played everywhere, years later. Emily and Chess are already both published authors, and their time at the villa gives them plenty of fodder for a spectacular joint project.

Then you have the intriguing mystery of what really happened to Pierce. Emily is fascinated by the murder, and as she reads Lilith Rising, she begins to suspect that there is much more to the story. Her curiosity pays off in a big way and she makes a startling discovery, and this discovery resonates in the future as Emily and Chess make some irrevocable choices that will change their friendship forever.

I did enjoy the 1974 timeline the best, simply because there was so much drama, and the whole “free love,” sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll vibe was just so entertaining. Everyone was sleeping with everyone, Mari and Pierce had an open relationship, so you just know that’s going to cause trouble. Mari and Lara are stepsisters, but Lara is jealous of Mari’s relationship with Pierce so she’s not very nice. I also loved how the men aren't paying attention to how talented Mari and Lara really are. As Pierce is making a big deal about the album he’s working on, Lara surprises everyone by outshining him with her songwriting abilities, while Mari is quietly writing her masterpiece.

As for Chess and Emily, well, I really didn’t like Chess at all, but you’re not supposed to like her, as she’s the villain of the story. I wanted to yell at Emily for continuing to trust her, but I guess we wouldn’t have the same story if that happened. I also loathed Emily’s soon-to-be-ex husband Matt, who is a complete dickhead and trying to bleed her dry by claiming a portion of any future income she might make on her books. At first I was disappointed in the way the story ended, but after thinking about it a bit, I’ve decided it’s a pretty good ending. Hawkins leaves the reader feeling unsettled and on edge, and for a thriller that’s exactly what you want to do. 

It might not be perfect, but The Villa certainly kept me entertained and gave me a lot to think about. I will definitely read more books by Rachel Hawkins!


Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

I really loved this one and the author! I have a few more books by her since I finished this one so I’m excited to read those ASAP!😍

I don’t read a lot of thrillers but this one caught my eye, especially because I’ve seen this author a lot on bookstagram. The synopsis was intriguing, and I love a double timeline, however, this did not feel like a thriller, it read more like contemporary/historical fiction with a dash of mystery. The plot was slow for me and it didn’t pick up until more than halfway through and it was engaging until the end. The thing with mystery books for me that it doesn’t matter the pace or if I’m not loving it, I stick it through because I want to know how it ends. The characters were more interesting in the past timeline, they had more depth and I empathized with Mari more than I did with Emily, they were both toxic relationships, parallel stories that ended in tragedy. I was left with some unanswered questions, but I think, that was on purpose. I didn’t love it; I have mixed feeling about this book but I did like the writing style of the author so I might try another book from her.

I was SO let down by this. I had high hopes. I loved her last two so much. This one just fell super flat for me.

I very much enjoyed this! This would’ve been a higher rating for me had the ending with Chess been different. The ending itself was completely shocking and not what I expected at all (after the Chess thing if you know, you know.) I loved the alternating timelines and seeing Mari’s story and Emily’s continuously go back and forth.

The setting was great and I enjoyed the aspect of the murder house. Any setting in Italy I love and the “sex, drugs and rock n roll” thing is something I’m always down for! I liked it a lot.

I read the book in one sitting cause I was completed enraptured in Mari’s story more so than Emily’s. I have read a few of Rachel Hawkins books and I love her writing style and how she uses unique elements in her books. They are also so suspenseful and fun and I can’t wait to see what she puts out next.

Well that was delicious. Definitely my favorite of Rachel Hawkins thus far. The characters were perfectly flawed without absolutely despising them. And that can be difficult to do. Dare I say, it had low key Verity vibes. Nothing near as wild or crazy, and it wasn’t a “romance” at all—if you can call Verity that. But as far as the plot and the book of Mari’s and Emily reading it. And the TWIST at the end. I could have done without the Mari/Pierce/Noel part (if you know, you know). But I thought the Emily and Chess relationship was so relatable to long term friendship dynamics so often turning sour (minus the huge fame). All in all, fantastic read. (Language warning)

In The Villa, childhood best friends—now adults—Emily and Chess head off to Italy to spend the summer together, enjoying the Italian countryside and writing their respective books. Over the years, they have drifted apart, but Emily, currently in the midst of some upheaval in her life, believes that maybe this trip will bring them closer together.

As it turns out, though, the villa where they are staying is the site of a famous murder from the 1970s, and as Emily finds herself more and more engrossed in unraveling what happened back then, her relationship with Chess becomes more and more strained.

Told in dual timelines from dual points-of-view—Emily in the present and Mari in the past, song lyrics, horror novel excerpts, biography passages, podcasts, emails, and texts, The Villa will suck you into the stories of these two women, the parallels between the two and their circumstances, and the undeniable pull to discover what happened then and what is happening now. And the tension and suspense and weaving / unweaving of the tales will make you wonder, “Will the villa claim another victim before the book’s end?”

As in her other suspense novels, here again Rachel Hawkins populates her book with not entirely altruistic characters. They are morally grey, with a mix of motivations. We see the rock-and-roll excess of the 1970s and the GOOP-guru aesthetic of today, but beneath the fame and the glamour, people are far from perfect, and we see who they truly are—or at least who the narrators’ want us to believe them to be—played across the page.

Hawkins is quite adept at planting those seeds of distrust, mistrust, and misgivings and those strings that tempt you to tug just a bit to see if a character’s story or what they are projecting will unravel. I’m mixing metaphors here, but suffice it to say, that hours after finishing this book, I am still thinking about it and stewing about it and I don’t foresee that stewing ending anytime in the near future.

Her writing style here is highly consumable and I read this one in less than a day. I was easily able to keep track of Mari’s voice versus Emily’s and which decade we were currently experiencing through the eyes of the narrator.

The Villa was so very well done, but please be aware that—remember that it did make me stew—some of the characters left a bitter taste in my mouth. And I was left with the feeling at the end like the hairs at the back of my neck were left standing. Hawkins seems to revel in leaving you feeling that maybe—just maybe, well, quite possibly—things are not entirely resolved.

I received an advance copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I am kinda over the moon for Rachel Hawkins' thrillers. There is something charmingly atmospheric about them. Add in the dark history of the location on this one and it was a recipe for success.

From the author of THE WIFE UPSTAIRS comes the Villa.

Emily and Chess are two best friends who are on two very different paths, but still keeping their friendship alive. Chess is a life coach / influencer who is spending the summer at a Villa in Italy. Emily is newly divorced trying to finish her next novel, when Chess invites her along as an opportunity for them to reconnect.

We being to hop back and forth in time, from current day, to the 1970's when a rockstar and his friends stayed in the Villa. As Emily starts into the history of the Villa, tension begins to rise in their friendship. Can Emily actually trust Chess? Who do you know who your true friends are?


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Hawkins is a master of character. I saw this in Reckless Girls, but it seems even more pronounced here. Emily is like us: Grounded. Ordinary. Normal. It is easy to relate to her, and we can understand and condone even her darkest thoughts, given everything she's been through. Chess, on the other hand, is a bright star that always seems just out of reach. There are two versions of her—the self-help guru who speaks in affirmations and the woman who’s bored and tired and looking for her next great adventure. Just like Emily, we hate her in one breath and envy her in the next. And sometimes we even sympathize with her, too. There was never a moment where I wrote off Chess completely, and that is the mark of an incredible author.

The book flips between Emily’s point of view and Mari’s, who is witness to a murder that takes place in the same Italian villa back in the 1970s. We know, from the beginning, that someone in Mari’s party will be murdered. It doesn’t take long to find out who, and therefore, the book begs the question--why? It is interesting to see the events of 1974 influencing a character in the present day, and to watch as the puzzle pieces fall into place. Details mentioned in throwaway lines return with a vengeance. Suddenly what happened in the past feels as though it’s looming right over our shoulders, all-too present and consuming.

I’m still in awe of Hawkins’ ability to layer these two stories together. It’s not just that they take place in the same house, but that the themes of both stories mirror each other in some ways and diverge in others. It is a complicated web of love, loss, murder, and revenge. There are truly inspired moments of passion that turn to bitter betrayal in the blink of an eye, only to be brought back into the light with a single act of understanding and empathy.

Not only is the story itself tightly crafted, it is a perfect chronicle of the highs and lows of what it means to be a writer. We witness Mari, Emily, and even Chess struggling to get their ideas down on paper. But we also watch them become enthralled with a story, simply devoured by their desire to expel their thoughts and craft a work of art. And then we get to see the impact of their legacy. This added a new dimension to the book for me, and one which felt infused with Rachel Hawkins’ spirit.

This novel took hold of me from the opening page and still hasn’t let go, even days after finishing it. But even so, I am patiently waiting to see how deeply Rachel Hawkins’ next Gothic horror will dig its claws into me.

Here's the thing, Rachel is a great writer. But I hated this book. It's very well written, but I found the storyline boring and this book simply didn't hold my attention, frankly if it weren't for feeling like I had to review it I probably would have dnf'd it.

Really enjoyed this one! Very engaging and fun to read! This book isn’t my favorite Rachel Hawkins book but it is probably second best. Couldn’t put it down.

My favorite Rachel Hawkins so far. I was immediately drawn in - a gothic Italian Villa + a murder + sex, drugs, and rock and roll + uncovering the truth - what’s not to like!

A slower paced thriller, which I don’t usually turn to, but with this plot and the writing, I was enjoying every turn of the page. It’s a dual timeline that follows two sets of women and both stories were equally intriguing and had me invested. It has some good twists but the ending was where it really hit. Much recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my complimentary copy.

2.5⭐️

While the premise of this story had the makings of a great read, for me it just fell flat. I had a difficult time getting interested in the storylines and really just didn't care for the characters in either of the timelines. Moreover, the current day timeline with Emily and Chess seemed to have some holes in the story for me, especially when it came to Emily's estranged husband Matt and Emily's illness. I felt that Chess' motives were questionable the whole time she and Emily were at the Villa and that really was never uncovered and the end of the story felt rushed to just end the book.

I've read and enjoyed other works by Rachel Hawkins and know that I'll pick up whatever she writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the ARC.

The Villa, by Rachel Hawkins, is a well-written mystery that will draw you in and keep you reading into the night. The dual timeline connects the history of the home to the current situation and the detailed description of the home pulls the reader into the story making them feel like they are actually part of it. I am a fan of novels written by Rachel Hawkins and this one did not disappoint. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an ARC ebook version in exchange for my honest review. I used both the ebook text and the audio version of this book. I really enjoyed the narrator on this one!

Rating: 2.5
"Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy."
This alone got me to read this book but sadly this was another disappointing read for me. I really don't want to spend time writing negative reviews for books anymore so I will keep this short.

Things I Liked:
I liked the 1970s timeline and the following Mari and Lara and their crazy messed up lives.
I liked the overall concept of these women, who were victimized and held back by the men in their lives, rising above it all and becoming successful in their own right.
I liked the Italian setting even though I wish there was more scenic moments.
In the modern timeline, I like Mari's POV (or at least I did at the beginning)

Things I very much disliked:
I HATE when female friendships--especially when they are conveyed as toxic-- are used as a plot devices. I mean come on can I get a healthy female friendship!?! Chess as a character was the worst and don't get me wrong I also hated Mari's character by the end. They kind of deserved each other. I think it could have been done a certain way and would have been more intriguing to read about but the fact that they stuck by each other all these years is laughable.

Also I think the synopsis was a bit misleading because in no way was this a gothic story. I get the nods to Frankenstein but they really do nothing with this. I was expecting a plot similar to the writing of Simone St James which I would say has the gothic writing down but was sadly disappointed. I honestly was hoping the house was haunted and they were into some satanic crap and sacrificed Pierce to get their successful crafts...but no just plain old drugs and jealously and men were the culprits. Plus that "twist" at the end was just confusing and unnecessary. I would have actually enjoyed it more if the ending was open ending and left up to the reader to interpret. Overall, this was not for me.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a woman's literature with a mystery to it. It is being marketed as a mystery for which it is a slow burn with the reveals coming at 60%. But the story is filled with generations of women living through men who try to control them. The novel is a story within a journal about a writer who writes a story that is a sequel to a story her mother wrote. At first this novel is very confusing but makes sense quickly as it introduces it's characters. The story is told in present day, and through a journal in the 1970's and through a story that is from the journal writer in the 1970's. I had a hard time connecting to the characters in this story because they keep making such stupid decisions for such smart characters. I found myself doing the horror thing where instead of me yelling don't go in there to the character, I'm yelling don't fall in love with him. The pace on this novel as slow as the first 60% is all set up with very few reveals that are all small. I considered not finishing put powered through to a decent ending. I really liked the final reveal, but it broke the rules of not coming from the journal of the character but of the characters actions on the day. This novels does have one great opening line with "Houses remember". I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin Press for giving me a free copy to review. The Villa is published on January 3 2023.

Plot Summary: Emily is a soon to be divorced struggling writer of cozy mysteries, who is childhood best friends with Chess a best selling self help guru. Chess invites Emily to an Italian villa for rest relaxation and writing. Emily finds out the villa is named after a famous song that was written at the villa and a famous novel was written there but also a famous murder. Emily soon becomes obsessed with the murder, the song, and the book all written here in the 1970's. She finds the author's journal and it starts revealing hidden truths of events leading up to the murder the group consisting of a rock star drug dealer, girlfriend of murder victim, and the girlfriend's step sister has never talked about. The situations in the past and present start mirroring themselves it the villa or something else.

What I Liked: The history surrounding the Villa was interesting. I liked the Emily and Chess scenes the best. I liked the final reveal and what it means for the past and the present. I loved that first line, "Houses remember" so much. I liked the song lyrics from the songs and what they mean to the story. I liked the well scene.

What I Disliked: The horrible choices from smart women, I wanted more reason behind their choices. I thought the part where emily listens to the podcast was lazy writing and did not need that much of the segment. Pacing was bad should have had a big reveal a lot sooner than 60% of the book. something major happens and we the audience didn't see how it happened. The story within the story did not seem all that interesting, to become a best seller.

Recommendation: This book was hard to review there's some parts I like and some I disliked. I think the author has talent in their descriptions but wanted a better story and a way better mystery. The end reveal was the best part but it could not save the story. I can not recommend this book. I rated The Villa by Rachel Hawkins 3 out of 5 stars.