I read The Wife Upstairs and just knew I'd enjoy this one. Unfortunately, dual timeline is not for everyone, me included, and that's okay. I could not get into what happened at the villa in the 70s. I enjoyed Em and Chess' timeline. Their friendship is one for exploring. Are they just friends or is it more? Overall, it was an okay read.

Enjoyable enough for people who like easy to read thrillers.

I think for me, the most jarring thing was having the present day story told in first person and the past story be told in third person. In the end, I understand the reasoning behind it, but that didn’t make it any easier to read.

THE VILLA is a stunning, partially haunted Italian mediaeval mansion serves as the location for yet another epic-scale psychological thriller. Two best friends who also happen to be authors spend the summer in this villa working on their next books. Nevertheless, they find out that a well-known murder occurred in villa 99, and one of the best friends is determined to discover the truth about what actually transpired during that fateful, enigmatic summer... while being extremely cautious of her best friend the entire time.

I read this in one sitting since it was intriguing, enjoyable, and I was interested to know how it turned out. I enjoy books with two points of view, and this one switches between the present and the infamous murder in the summer of 1974. In a nutshell, I liked it, but not loved it. The resolution of the mean-girl-jealous-bestie plot was a little unexpected, as was their main struggle (to avoid giving anything away). I had a harder time getting into the previous POV, but I ended up like it more than the present! I'm not sure if the final chapter was required after the way it ended. love this

The Villa is a slow burn, page turning thriller set in both the past and present. This novel was so interesting with it’s unreliable narrators and leaves you questioning if you really know all that happens by the end of the book.

I don’t know how I feel about this, some of the writing I really enjoyed. Mari’s story was much more interesting than the story in the current timeline. I didn’t get the relationships or Chess’s character. The development of the characters in the 70’s far exceeded the newer timelines. I’ve read every book Hawkins has written including her YA series. This one wasn’t my favorite but won’t keep me from reading everything else she writes!

Rachel Hawkins is one of my auto-read authors and she delivers once again with The Villa! I could not put this book down !!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

When Emily’s best friend Chess suggests a trip to an Italian villa to spend the summer working on their writing, Emily jumps at the chance. In the summer of 1974, the house was known as Villa Rosato and rented by world famous rock star, Noel Gordon. Noel invites up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon, to join him, along with his girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. No one expected the summer to end with Mari writing the next greatest horror novel, Lara writing a platinum album, or Pierce being brutally murdered. As Emily continues to dig into the villa’s complicated history and close in on the truth, the tension between her and Chess begins to grow.

I loved Reckless Girls and I was so excited when I got approved to read this one on NetGalley! But unfortunately, The Villa missed the mark for me and I’ll tell you why. I don’t always mind a slow burn, but this one was S L O W. For being such a short book, I expected the pace to be a lot faster than it was. I wish the twists and turns had been more shocking for me but I just felt like it didn’t wow me the way I thought it would. But let’s talk about what I DID like! For one thing, the setting was absolutely stunning. I mean, an Italian villa?? Yes please! I also loved the alternating POVs/dual timelines and found myself enjoying Mari’s POV more than I did Emily’s. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press for my gifted e-ARC!

The Villa was another binge able novel by Rachel Hawkins. I absolutely love how easy Rachel Hawkins thrillers are to read. She sucks you into her characters lives so easily.

I really enjoyed parts of this novel. I enjoyed the past pov more than the present one. The idea of a horror novel found in a villa weaving this incredible web was so fun to figure out.

Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy the ending of this one. I felt a bit let down. The entire book is building us up for this one moment in history and that part of the story felt rushed. I wanted more from that moment. It was suppose to shape the entire outcome of these people lives. I also wasn’t a huge fan of how the main povs story ended. I wanted more for her than being stuck in history all over again.

Overall I still would recommend this one. I just love how fast pace and easy it felt to read. I love to binge a thriller and this one is an easy one to do that with. I will continue to pick up any new releases from Rachel Hawkins in the future.
3/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is like reading two stories in one book. You have the story of Mari and the musicians in 1973 where she writes the book Lilith Rising. Then there is the present day story of Emily and Chess, friends forever, both writers but of different genre's. I loved that the book took place in Orvieto since I have been there and loved it there. The villa is a house where a murder has taken place. " Houses remember". The modern day story of the BFF's is intertwined with the story of 1973. There is suspense & intrigue. There is an interesting plot. Did I mention murder? Not one but maybe two. The book is well written with a lot to take in. The two different stories are very intriguing. I felt that the first third of the book was slow but after that it held your interest. Mari and Lara half sisters from 1973 and Emily and Chess from present day actually have a lot in common. They were all writers but Lara wrote music not books. I did get a little Fleetwood Mac vibe from the story but I did not get any gothic vibes that I read in some reviews. Is it worth the read? Yes! Would I recommend it? Yes.
Thanks to #netgalley, #stmartinspress and @ladyhawkins for an ARC of this great read

I keep wanting to like Hawkins books I really do but then I just don't and I don't know why. I'm not blaming her, obviously tons of people like her books I'm just not one of those people. This book was particularly tough for me because I did not realize that half of the book would be set in the 70s and that's another thing I just can't come around to, books set in the 70s. I just never like them and again I don't know why. So it is what it is. It's probably a good book, it's fine, but Its not for me. I was bored, I didn't really care about the characters, even the setting seemed flat. I was all around disappointed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, finishing the last half in one night.
Two best friends with a little dysfunction thrown in and a trip to a foreign country, staying the summer in a villa where a murder took place.
I loved the alternating timelines.
Already recommended this book to family and friends!

Not as good as Hawkins’s other books. Hated all the characters and the mystery wasn’t that good. I did want to know what happened so I kept reading. The sex, drugs, rock n roll thing has always seemed boring and childish to me and this was no exception. Also found the Lilith Rising story within a story boring. The pace is fast and I did appreciate the female solidarity aspect but it was eclipsed by all the jealousy and backstabbing. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

An interesting and compelling thriller, yet another excellent thriller from Rachel Hawkins! While this novel was a little bit different than her other two thrillers with similar covers, the gothic vibes and haunting suspense are sure to thrill Hawkins' fans.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book within a book, you get a look into both timelines from the women writing books about the villa they are staying at in Italy and the twisted dynamics of the relationships unfolding. Both sets of women have unique relationships to each other and the men in their lives but honestly I wanted more time with Mari/Lara over Emily/Chess.


Could I have been more thrilled? Yes.
Is the cover of this book 10/10 aesthetic? Also Yes.

This is me second Rachel Hawkins book after reading Reckless Girls. I was so excited to get this arc, and the story did not disappoint. The dual timelines between the past and present storylines added a fun element to this book. Something I’ve noticed with Rachel Hawkins is that she writes more of a slow burn thriller which isn’t something I’ve read much of. However, I think it works very well with her writing style and the story she tells. As readers, we get to hear from Emily in the present and Mari in the past as we learn more about the history of the Villa EMILY and Chess are staying at. I was fully invested in the muster and finding out the truth, and I can’t wait to read more by Rachel Hawkins!

I read this book incredibly quickly. It was just such a quick and fun read. However, I don't think this was anything to particularly write home about either for me. It was a great read in the moment but I don't know if this is going to stick with me for long. I much prefered the past storyline over the present one as well. I thought that was so much more interesting and I wanted a little bit more of it. I do like all of the different parallels between the two timelines though. That was fun to figure out. I also thought this book had some interesting things to say about toxic relationships, even if I wasn't the biggest fan of some of the messages this book ended up with. I also wasn't the biggest fan of how things all ended up. I mean, it wasn't bad it's just that I had these theories and then when things got revealed it was way less interesting than what I had come up with in my head and I was convinced was actually happening. So that was just a bit dissapointing to me but other people might not have that experience reading. So yeah, despite all that I still had a fun time reading this book. Don't get me wrong.

A gothic thriller with dual timeline, past and present. I found the timelines confusing and it was a slow paced book. I found it boring and struggled to finish it. This book was not for me. I have heard good things about this author and it was my first read by her. I think i will give some of her other books a try.

Thank you to Netgally and publisher for this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5/5

This is one of my most anticipated releases for January! I love all of Hawkins books, and her covers are always so gorgeous! I will say that this is definitely not like her previous books in that it has more of a gothic and atmospheric tone and setting.

The fact that this book is inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson Murders, and the birthplace of Frankenstein caught my attention right away and I knew I had to read it.

This book is definitely a slow burn, so don’t go into thinking its a fast paced thriller! Emily & Chess are best friends and writers who have had their share of ups and downs and they more so have a love/hate relationship—and they decide to take a girls writing trip to Italy, where they stay at the Villa, which has a mysterious and haunting history. The You see…a horrific murder happened at this Italian Villa in the 1970’s, which makes for a very intense and suspenseful girls trip indeed!

This definitely has just the right amount of tension & suspense. It alternates between two timelines-that of the present day and then 1970’s, and the two ultimately intertwine. I really enjoyed Emily’s character from the present day timeline, but did not care much for Chess.

The ending was underwhelming and disappointing, so that definitely knocked off a star from me.

Overall, this was a gripping, atmospheric, suspenseful gothic novel that takes place in beautiful Italy and was a fun read. It is definitely not my favorite of the authors, but it was still enjoyable.

You know, this book totally inspired me to start planning a girl’s to Italy. However, unlike the the case of main characters Emily and Chess aka Frenemies4Life!, I’m actually going to vacay with my true best friend. 😜

Rachel Hawkins once again puts her gothic storytelling skills to the test in her newest novel and I am so glad because this is where she shines. “The Villa” is told from a dual timeline and connecting them both is Villa Aestas. More than 40 years ago it played host to the grisly murder of up and coming rockstar Pierce Sheldon. At the center of his murder are half sisters Mari and Lara, who go on to become famous artists respectively. Presently, the manor is where Emily and Chess temporarily reside while they are away on their writing retreat. Emily finds herself stuck in her career as a serial cozy mystery writer. Mediocre appeal and a scarcity of the accolades that she feels her talent deserves. Chess on the other hand is a world famous bestselling author of self help books. While Emily is going through a nasty divorce in which her husband is trying to take everything she’s earned from book sales , Chess enjoys relationships with high profile men who compliment her glamorous lifestyle.

When comparing herself to Chess Emily cannot help but feel inadequate and more than a little resentful. Chess is no better when it comes to fostering good will in their friendship because unbeknownst to Emily, she has been harboring resentment towards Emily ever since they were in elementary school. The frenemy struggle is real!

In gothic fiction the past always haunts the present. As soon as Emily and Chess step into Villa Aestas the similarities between their story and Mari and Lara’s become clearly defined. For starters, like Mari and Lara, Emily cannot help but let the ethereal presence of Villa Aestas play muse to her craft. It doesn’t take Emily long to become fixated on the villa’s dark history as it relates to Mari and Lara and their role in Pierce Sheldon’s death.

Soon, Emily becomes so enraptured by Mari and Lara’s story that she deviates completely from her latest cozy mystery project and works on a true crime novel detailing the murder from all those years ago. As she puts words to Lara and Mari’s story Emily pushes herself as a writer and she knows that she is on to something that will finally give her the large scale recognition that she craves as an author. Unfortunately, Chess realizes the potential of Emily’s novel as well and because she cannot allow her best friend to have her moment in the spotlight, she decides to use Emily’s idea as inspiration for her own novel. Again, the frenemy struggle is real!

At a pivotal moment in the story when Emily gets combative with Chess over her stealing her book idea and an even bigger one involving her soon to be ex husband Matt, Chess manages to convince Emily that despite her lying and cheating,the universe has brought them together to write Emily’s book together. Total BS but Emily is dumb enough to buy it. However, Emily is not as innocent as she pretends to be. Knowing that Matt is will try to collect a portion book sales that her new writing project will generate, she convinces Chess to help her eliminate the threat. Once Matt is no longer in the picture these two ladies can focus on their book partnership, which result in tons of publicity and millions of dollars.

Emily and Chess’s relationship isn’t the only one simmering with backstabbing and resentment. Their predecessors Mari and Lara share a rather hostile kinship as well. Lara comes into Mari’s life when they are teenagers. When their two widowed parents marry each other they become stepsisters. Whatever sisterly bond they form immediately deteriorates once Pierce enters the picture. The moment he marries Mari, he enters into a weird love triangle with both girls. Pierce is living his best life because he has two women vying for his attention and stroking his already inflated ego. Mari and Lara are so busy competing for his affections that it takes away their own focus from their own aspirations; they narrowly miss achieving greatness in their creative careers because they’re so busy worrying over a man who is totally not worth it. Pierce literally has to die in order for these two girls to be able to separate from his influence. Once that happens they are able to achieve their own creative greatness.

I’m not quite sure what message Ms. Hawkins in trying to convey. I think she wants readers to get a strong sense of feminism as expressed by the main characters. All I got was toxic women making extremely bad choices. I will say that unlike Emily and Chess who choose to keep their damaged relationship going, Mari and Lara are smart enough to part ways.

I enjoyed “The Villa”. It is definitely worth checking out.

Thank you Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

this novel was actually really interesting, I did end up opting to listen to the audiobook and I did absolutely loved it. It was a really fun and fast paced triller. I would recommend it to anyone who is just getting into thrillers. It is mildly predictable for people who read thrillers often but it is still enjoyable.