THE WIFE UPSTAIRS and RECKLESS GIRLS were both 4⭐️ reads for me, so this one was definitely one of my anticipated reads for 2023! I also enjoyed THE EX HEX and THE KISS CURSE under her pen name Erin Sterling 🫶 But unfortunately THE VILLA missed the mark for me, and here’s why —

🍋 it was too much of a slow-burn for me
🍋 unlikable characters
🍋 I wanted it to be a page-turner with more shocking twists. I read a lot of mysteries & thrillers, and this one just didn’t wow me like I had hoped it would

What I enjoyed —
🍋 the Italian villa setting (“murder house”) with a mysterious past
🍋 main characters who are writers
🍋 alternating POVs

Overall I just wasn’t “wowed” by the story, but I’ve seen rave reviews, so don’t let my thoughts stop you from picking it up! I love that we can all have different opinions on books 😊 and I’ll still be looking forward to what this author writes next!

I adore Rachel Hawkins and The Wife Upstairs was my first introduction to thrillers, so if you haven’t read that one, go read it!

The Villa is filled with twists and turns and mysteries. I really liked that there were multiple stories and time periods. The audiobook does a great job of differentiating the different characters. I never felt confused about who was who.

There is so much manipulation, I don’t know that there is a definitive good person in the book. Some of the characters really bothered me, but by the end, I’m positive that was the point.

I enjoyed this read. It was suspenseful and kept me wanting to know where the story would go.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free book.

The Villa is told in dual timelines -- the present day with Emily and Chess, and in 1974 with Mari and her group of rock-and-roll friends. This was a slow burn, and I think I'd categorize it more as a mystery than a thriller, but I absolutely tore through this book. It was interesting. The female friendships seemed real, especially that of Emily and Chess. And nothing was quite as it seemed. I loved the idea of "houses remember," and I think it was executed really well in this story. I can definitely see how this might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. Pierce, however, I was not a fan of at all, and once you read it, you'll know why.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for my e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is another suspense filled thriller that kept me guessing! Unfortunately, it wasn’t my favorite of hers.
The story is told in two different times about two different sets of friends. I did like the characters and the story kept my interest for the most part but just fell a little flat for me.
I’m still sure many will really like this one.
I definitely recommend it on audiobook! The narration was incredible.

A breezy, page-turning haunted house thriller

The Villa has two contrasting timelines: a present-day timeline with Jessica “Chess” and Emily “Em” and a 1970’s timeline with rockstars, Pierce and Noel who bring along stepsisters Mari and Lara.

The Villa is a bit different than Reckless Girls or The Wife Upstairs. It has more of a haunted house vibe, and it took a bit longer for me to get hooked into the story. I read the first 1/3 in one day and the other 2/3 the following day. The other books I read in about a single sitting.

Hawkins knows how to write. Her prose is so smooth that it feels almost breezy. Her books are easy to read. There are no page-long paragraphs or tedious descriptions to wade through, yet she still manages to sprinkle in some nice vocab words.

In terms of her characters, I enjoyed that her characters were not one dimensional so I was always guessing as to how they would react, particularly Chess and Mari. The relationships between the characters are also pretty interesting and unique.

There was one “reveal” that I saw very early in the book, and I just wanted the author to reveal it already.

This is also a really minor thing, but it bothered me. In The Villa, when Em lands in Italy, Chess picks her up at the airport in a red Fiat. Later, Em talks about how she would have to drive the Fiat if she wanted to go anywhere. Here’s the thing: All Fiats in Italy are stick shifts. However, the author doesn’t mention this. I would have been pretty impressed if an American knew how to drive a stick shift over the incredibly steep hills in Italy. That would have been worth mentioning in the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Villa, and it was difficult to put down after the first 33% (so don’t give up if you are in the first part of the book)!

*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I picked up The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. I just know that every story of hers that I have read has blown me away. The storyline and the intensity of her characters and events always propel me thorough her stories.

The Villa did not disappoint. A story within a story is revealed as Emily and Chess go away for a vacation in a villa in Italy. It will be nice to get away and reconnect, maybe work on their respective creative careers. Little did they know that their lives would mirror those of events of the past. That's where the intensity comes in.

The two storylines, the present and the fateful summer of 1974, weave an intriguing tale of love, jealousy, distrust, and death. Will history repeat itself?

I highly recommend The Villa. But be prepared to lose yourself in the story to the detriment of life all around you. You will not be able to put it down!

I loved this book!!!!!!! Instant hit with this one and instant bestseller in my opinion. I didn't think this author could top her previous book but she has definitely done that.

This is probably my favorite Rachel Hawkins yet! I loved the dual timelines, and how the author wove the two stories together. I also enjoyed the addition of the podcast on the audio version! I would have liked more of that angle, I think, and maybe more with the current day timeline, but overall I was pleased with how this one turned out! I finished within 24 hours of starting.


I received an advance audio and digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

I ended the 2022 in a reading slump, but kicked off 2023 with this great new read from Rachel Hawkins. Her books continue to get more interesting with each new one.

Out today is “The Villa” – a book within a book. When Emily, a cozy mystery writer, and her best friend, Chess, a self-help author, travel to Italy for the summer to write and relax – things don’t turn out the way Emily expected. Their villa was the location of a gruesome murder in 1974 and the inspiration for both an album and a horror novel written by the sisters who were witnesses to the murder.

As Emily learns more about the villa’s history, she begins to suspect that Chess is not being truthful about her motives. By the end of the summer, Emily’s life will never be the same and she will learn that getting what you want isn’t always what you think it will be.

The Villa is a dual-timeline story that started out wonderfully. I like Emily and was intrigued by her unusual friendship with "Chess." When the timeline changed to Mari's story that took place many years before in the same Italian villa where Emily and Chess are staying. Mari was okay, but I really didn't care for anyone in that story or the direction it took. Mari is writing a book, so there are some passages included from her work in progress. There are also some excerpts from books that are supposed to be about Mari, her sister Lara, and some of the other players in the 1974 story and then a transcript from a true crime podcast. I usually enjoy these kinds of details in books, in this case it was just too much and took away from the flow of the story without adding anything to it.

I don't want to spoil anything, but there are some interesting plot twists that make you look at some of the things that happened in a different way. In the end, some things do come together in a clever way between Emily and Mari's stories. Not everything added up when Emily and Chess's part of the book comes to a close. I have a couple of theories that would help make sense out of some of the loose ends, but I'm not sure what the author intended. I would give this book an overall rating of 3.5 stars.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin's Press at no cost. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

"Houses remember."

At a life crossroads due to her current writer's block and ongoing bitter divorce, Emily accepts an invitation to Italy from her childhood friend/current frenemy Chess. Hopefully, in her new idyllic surroundings, she'll. be able to relax and reevaluate her life choices.

But Villa Aestas has a dark and infamous history. In 1974, Pierce Sheldon, an up-and-coming musician was brutally murdered within its walls and his girlfriend Mari and her stepsister Lara bore witness to the horror.

In the aftermath, Mari penned Lilith Rising, a trailblazing feminist horror novel and Lara produced Aestas, a beloved platinum album.

As Emiy reads Lilith Rising and starts to investigate the villa, she's not so sure the murder was just a cliche of sex, drugs, and rock and roll gone wrong.

As she starts to break through her writer's block and put her thoughts to paper about the case, Emily grows increasingly paranoid about Chess and her true motives for inviting her to Italy.

But is Chess just defaulting to childhood rivalry or is something much more sinister afoot?

The novel definitely has shades of Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth and Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid-both novels I loved.

If you love dual timelines, a story within a story, and psychological thrillers, definitely get this novel immediately!

This one was not for me. It was difficult to get into.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy Rachel Hawkin’s writing. Combined with Whelan’s narration, this was a solid read for me. I’ll definitely continue picking up her thrillers and romances!

This is a fast-paced mystery that takes place in an infamous Italian villa. The story is told in two timelines, a past gathering that ends in murder and a current reunion between estranged friends. Both plot lines are built on really dysfunctional and toxic relationships so I found it a bit hard to get into. I cannot imagine why Emily and Chess (the current timeline) would ever travel together for such a long period of time. The past mystery was also a bit hard to follow with connections and betrayals and affairs all over the place. It was a quick read and held my attention for the most part. It just wasn't the thrilling read or atmospheric story I was hoping for. Although this was not the best fit for me I think it will interest a lot of readers and mystery fans specifically. I will be excited to read what Rachel Hawkins writes next though! Thanks to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

This story follows two POV’s, one is from 1974 and it’s Mari who has gone to the Villa Rosato with her boyfriend Pierce, stepsister, Lara along with up-and-coming musician, Noel. They are all looking to reignite their creative spark. However, the end of the summer ends with Pierce’s brutal murder!

We also follow Emily in current time who spends the summer at the same Villa with her best friend Chess. Who are also trying to find their creative spark and write a book. Emily starts to dig into the murder that happened and starts to find hidden clues. As they get closer to the truth, another murder might also happen.

I gave this book 4 stars. It was an enjoyable read but nothing really jumped out and impressed me. There were times when one POV had me more hooked than the other. I did enjoy that it was an easy and quick read. I liked the writing style but in the end I just needed more.

In The Villa, Emily is newly divorced and in a writing rut with the next book in her series. She accepts an invitation from her friend Chess to spend the summer at a villa in Italy. Chess and Emily aren’t as close as they once were, but Emily sees the trip to Orvieto as a chance to reconnect. ⁣
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The villa was once a summer home to a rockstar and his friends in the 1970s, who included author Mari Godwick, who went on to write “Lilith Rising” a well-known horror novel, and her sister, Lara, who went on to record a platinum album. ⁣
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Emily becomes very intrigued by the villa’s history and attempts to learn more while there. Tensions are also building between her and Chess and Emily isn’t sure if she can trust her at all. ⁣
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Told in a dual timeline format, The Villa reveals its secrets, in time, of both past and present guests. I enjoyed the story though I was able to correctly predict multiple elements and I think I preferred The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls by Hawkins just a little more — 3.5 stars

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
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Emily has been stuck in a rut, dealing with her husbands demands for a divorce while struggling to write her next book. So when her childhood best friend invites her to spend the summer in Italy with her, she decides to go.
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What I liked:
-I loved the back and forth from the present with Emily and the past with Mari in the same Villa.
-This book wasn’t suspenseful but there was still a lot of tension in it for me. At one point I had to read it in smaller chunks because it was stressing me out.
-I thought the book was leading up to something different so the ending was not what I expected, but I liked it. And the end to Mari’s story surprised me a lot.
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What I didn’t like:
-Matt
-Chess
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fun mystery for fans! I would recommend for sure.

The Villa tells the story of two writers, in different times, who both stay at the same villa in Italy. We have Emily in the present day, who is in Italy with her best friend Chess, trying to write the 10th book in her cozy mystery series after suffering an unexplained illness and her husband divorcing her; and Mari, in the 1970s, writing a horror novel inspired by the Villa itself, while staying there with her boyfriend Pierce, stepsister Lara, rockstar Noel, and Johnnie.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline here. As the book went on, you could really see the parallels between Emily and Mari and their relationships with Chess and Lara respectively. It was also really interesting to see the villa itself as a character, with its own story. Houses remember and history repeats itself in The Villa. Overall, this book was suspenseful and twisty, and even when I thought I had things figured out, I wasn't 100% correct in my assumptions, and I enjoyed being surprised by the ending.

So I had high hopes for this book, I have read 3 others by this author and I just find them to be too predictable. I felt like everything that happened my response was “ok cool makes sense”. There was one chapter cliffhanger that I was like “oh yay something exciting” and then it was a joke. I was really looking forward to this one with the setting and everything, it just didn’t work for me. I will say it was a quick read even if it wasn’t super enticing to me. Also, I’m kind of furious at the main character and her lack of ability to stand up for herself. You’ll understand what I mean once you read it but like stand up to someone, tell them no, don’t just let life happen to you and accept it.

This review has been added to Goodreads, Literal and Storygraph, as well as Barnes & Noble and Amazon. This was posted to my instagram (@busywithmybooks_) this morning!

Thank you for allowing me to read this story!!

This review will be posted on January 3, 2023 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

Happy pub day to The Villa! Sisterhood, creativity, and competition collide in two timelines in this neo-Gothic mystery. I'm forever a fan of multiple timelines and its execution was good. This novel will surprise you. Whatever you think is going on, you're wrong. Where the novel soured was the ending. I didn't *quite* buy the decisions the main character in each timeline made. The decisions felt a little too convenient and rather disbelieving. #TheVilla Rating: 😐 / meh, it was ok
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This book is scheduled for publication on January 3, 2023. Thank you @stmartinspress for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.