Present time: Emily and Chess were the closest of friends as they grew up but now in their 30’s are busy with their day-to-day lives. Emily is recovering from an unknown malady and is separated from her husband as a result. Chess talks Emily into a girls trip to Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Italy to rekindle their closeness but also their writing - Emily has had a successful series of cozy mysteries while Chess has a big self-help career. 1974: rock star Noel Gordon is also trying to kick start his creativity. He invites another musician, his girlfriend Mari and her stepsister, Lara to join him at Villa Rosato (which will be renamed Aestas). The first trip has several significant events - Mari writes a best selling mystery, Lara composes a best selling album (Aestas!), and there is a murder. Emily decides to deviate from her cozy mystery and discovers some clues in Mari’s book and the villa that there is more to the history of the villa and its visitors back then than has been disclosed. When Emily’s husband shows up, things get a tad messy. I really struggled to assign a rating to this book. What appeared to be an interesting premise turned into a bit of a slog. The bouncing back and forth between 1974 and the present time would normally be an interesting way of connecting two stories but it took way too long to bring them together that made sense, although the ending almost had me rate the book one star higher. Overall just not a great read. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

A story within a story, a house that doesn't forget, and a betrayal that opens the door for the future and the end for everyone involved.

I have to say this one took me a little bit to get into, and while I enjoyed the story of Emily, and Chess, the one that I felt drawn to was Mari and Lara.

While it may not be a popular opinion, to me at least that was the story that kept my attention within this dual timeline. There was something about those pages that Mari left hidden in the Villa that just gave it so much more depth.

With complex characters that have their own issues and a setting that is a character in itself, The Villa weaves a haunting tale that will have you questioning everyone around you and wondering who if anyone you can trust.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing an advance copy of this E-Book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The House Remembers" What a chilling line to start off with. This is a dual timeline thriller that has a lot of similarities and tragic endings.

This book slowly ramps up. I did enjoy that in the current timeline, Em and Chess try to uncover more details from the 1970s timeline. Writing and song lyrics hold clues and all of the characters express themselves via writing.

One wish I had was to have gotten more of a creepy vibe from the house itself, it seemed to be a bit more ordinary other than a couple bad events. The characters are truly what makes this book though.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a story within a story suspense novel, with a gothic vibe, that builds slowly into a tale of tangled relationships and betrayal.
“Houses Remember.” This opening sets the stage with the Italian villa, the setting for the core action of this story. Told in alternating timelines, by Mari in the 70s and Emma in the present, the story unfolds in fits and starts. Emma is newly divorced, and looks forward to a restorative summer in Italy at the Villa Aestas with her childhood friend Chess.
Mari, in 1974 London, is a writer involved with wild, self-absorbed rock musicians whose drug use and promiscuity cause her much heartache as they all summer in the same house, known then as the Villa Rosato.
I like the juxtaposition of two very different stories occurring in the same setting. Although the house did not feature strongly as a character, it provided continuity and an atmospheric vehicle which propels the story along in both timelines.
The female protagonists are the most developed characters, with Mari being complex enough to be interesting and sympathetic. None of the other players were particularly likeable. Some of the events in the early timeline were difficult to read about, although in context and contributory to the story line. I particularly liked the clever twists near the end of Mari’s tale.
All in all, this is a well plotted tale of human frailty, dark motivations, and intrigue. I usually enjoy this author’s works, and I believe this is one of her strongest novels to date. Highly recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my unbiased review.

Emily Sheridan is a writer of cozy mysteries, but ill health and the collapse of her marriage has her suffering from writer's block. Her best friend Chess Chandler, a very successful writer of self-help books, whisks them both away to a villa in Italy to write and reconnect. Emily is immediately intrigued by the knowledge that Villa Aestas (formerly Villa Rosato) was dubbed the Murder House after the 1974 murder of a guest staying with rock star Noel Gordon for the summer. While up and coming musician Pierce Sheldon would perish, his girlfriend, Mari, would soon emerge from the fateful summer as the author of a groundbreaking horror book and her stepsister, Lara would end up recording one of the greatest solo albums of the time period. Once Emily uncovers secrets about the murder hidden in the house, she is inspired to start writing again while it appears that Chess has plans of her own. The story effectively shifts back and forth from the present to that tragic summer of 1974.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, with its gothic ambiance, was a satisfying read. And while this is a mystery, the appeal was the dynamics between the two main characters in each time period - Emily and Chess and Mari and Lara. Each pair cared deeply for the other, but competition and jealousy complicated the relationships. Some books, like this one, seem perfectly suited for movie adaptations - Netflix, are you listening? 

It's a good one to start the new year.

Oooh this was a fun one to listen to! I loved the back and forth between the 70s and now. So much chaos and sex/drugs/rock and roll. The twist tho? Holy shit - that was epic and so satisfying.

I have really enjoyed Rachel Hawkins so far, even Reckleas Girls, and her new one did not disappoint! I love that it wasn’t your typical domestic thriller storyline and any book that brings in travel always has a leg up for me. This was one I didn’t want to put down.

The perfect mix of fiction, a little mystery, and a glamorous getaway. The story travels time with ease, linking you between two friends in a vacation villa in the present as they try to unravel what happened in the same villa years ago. You’ll read it quickly because you have to isee how it ends. Great read!

#FirstLine - Houses remember.

This book was something! I loved the alternating timelines because it seamlessly and beautifully tied past and present together. I was so engrossed in the stories of all the characters. They all were flawed and interesting in their own right. All were worthy of their story being told. It is amazing how the actions of others can change the trajectory of another life. It was a wild ride of intrigue and suspense. I loved that I never really knew the full truth of what really happened at the Villa past or present until the very end of the story. I also loved that it was not tied up all perfect at the end. It was unsettling and illustrates how every action has a consequence!!! A must read for everyone in 2023!!!

I will start by saying that I absolutely drank this book up fast reading in one day. I love Rachel Hawkins writing style and the story was very intriguing. I was a little disappointed by the very end and felt that it was a complete book but left me with a feeling that not everything was finished when it should have been.

The dual time lines is always a fickle concept but I think for the most part it worked here. There is always, at least for me, a pull towards one or the other but I will say for the most part I was wanting more from each equally. The characters all had flaws which I absolutely love because no one is perfect. You are left with that feeling of who the hell am I supposed to be rooting for when everyone is got some bad going on.

The inspirations mentioned are all very well put together and even if I had not read that prior I would definitely have picked up on them all.

I was not only disappointed with how the book finished (ie the last couple of pages) but also I was wanting something more gothic or psychological almost and in the end just felt let down in that aspect. That being said I thought it was a good read and kept me turning pages unto the wee hours of the morning.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5

"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." I mean, how could you NOT want to read this!?

Alternating between the past and present, The Villa details the goings on in a gorgeous Italian villa. The past focuses on a group of people who visit the villa to work on themselves and enhance their creativity. Some of those people see wild success in the future, but others have far more tragic endings. The present is about Emily and Chess, who have been besties since they were kids. Emily is going through a divorce and Chess is a famous writer. When Chess suggests to Em that a summer at the Italian villa is just what they both need, Em can't help but agree. Em becomes enthralled in the history of the villa and the tragedies that occurred back in the 70s. She finds that once she starts looking into the villa's past, she can't stop digging. As their time in the villa continues, some tension between the two women begins to develop. The Villa starts off with the line that "houses remember." Does this Italian villa remember its tragedies and will history continue to repeat itself?

I loved the alternating stories, the unlikable and somewhat likable characters, and the setting. There was mystery, suspense, and secrets revealed. Not all in The Villa is as it seems and I was unsure of which characters could be trusted. This was my second read by Rachel Hawkins (Reckless Girls was the first) and I definitely want to check out more from this author.

I went into this book unsure what to expect because I loved Wife Upstairs, but wasn’t a huge fan of Reckless Girls. For me, this book fell right in the middle of the two- I didn’t find it as compulsively readable as Wife Upstairs, but I did love the use of the dual timeline/story within a story devices. Overall this was a different twist on a thriller- I love books that don’t focus on a domestic dispute.

Two best friends, Emily and Chess, spend a summer in Italy at a villa where a murder took place in 1974. Both friends are writers and Emily is going through a rough divorce. Emily gets a new idea for a book by piecing together clues she finds in The Villa from the murder as well as a horror book called Lilith Rising, written by one of the women who witnessed the murder, Mari. The book also jumps back to the '70s, focusing on Mari and a group of musicians and their experience at The Villa, as well as the way the murder actually unfolds.

I did not want to put this one down! I loved so many aspects of it, the Italian landscape and meals, the build up to the murder and whodunit, as well as the description of the horror book, Lilith Rising (I wish I could read it!). I also liked seeing the history of Chess and Emily's friendship as well as secrets that unfolded between them. This was not a page turning thriller but rather a slower & gothic vibe, along with some predictable twists.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This is definitely one of the best books I've read this year, if not the best. Rachel Hawkins has pulled from real life influences to compose a story about friendships, secrets and the power of both. The main protagonists are Emily and Chess, lifelong friends now in their 30s, each successful writers in their own way. They decide to spend a summer in an Italian villa determined to write, separately and possibly together. The villa has its own history, complete with secrets. Emily's determination to learn more about the secrets ignites a new passion in her, and could either bring her closer to Chess or drive them apart.
This book has a gothic feel to it and is a must - read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc of The Villa!
I’ve been excited for this book for a while but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I loved all of the mentions of articles, song lyrics, and book excerpts. They all felt so real! I just couldn’t get behind the characters. They were all so back and forth and annoying, in my opinion. I did love Lara’s character though. All and all, the story was very slow but seemed rushed at the end.

I enjoy this author so I was excited to get my hands on this. It didn’t disappoint. Good storyline with some unexpected twists. The dual timelines was interesting.

I didn’t like the friend Chess. For starters, the name? I cringed every time I read it.

But overall, I really enjoyed this and would recommend to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

There are so many things I liked about this fast-paced read!
1) The 70s retrospective
2) The dual author storylines (as a writer, the struggles resonated a lot!)
3) Emily's hunt for the real story of the villa and coming into her new/true self

I was going to give it 5 stars until I got to the end. 😞 Some things were wrapped up too nicely (Matt) and I was disappointed about where Emily ended up. I thought it was too similar to where Mari/Lara ended but maybe that was the point.

I couldn’t believe I got approved for this title! I did a little happy dance when I got the email 😂

I enjoy Rachel’s novels, however, I was a little hesitant about the synopsis. It said it had a more gothic theme to it, which isn’t really my cup of tea. But nevertheless I jumped right in.

To me it didn’t seem like there was a gothic theme at all. There are basically two stories within this book. One in the present and one in 1974. There are very few chapters but in each chapter there is the telling of both past and present.

I absolutely loved the 1974 story, I was so invested. You find out halfway through what happens but you don’t know how. But I wanted to keep reading to see how it all went down.

The present, wasn’t as exciting I found as the past, but nevertheless, it still was building into something you knew wouldn’t end well…


Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced reading copy.

The Villa is available January 3

This book was very intriguing with 2 time lines but multiple story lines happening all at once. You had the current day Em and Chess story, the past Mari, Lara, Pierce, Noel, and Johnnie story, the articles about the Villa and the tragedies that happened there, the Lyrics from the Aestas album, and the books being written by Mari and Em in their own lives. It was a lot to keep track of but it all.came together in a way that wasn't as confusing as I first thought. This book is a well woven tapestry of love, fame, fortune, lies, and secrets. It is Firefly Lane meets Mexican Gothic meets Daisy Jones and the Six, and it is all good.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for both the audio and ebook ARCs of The Villa. I enjoyed the multiple timelines of the novel, especially since they were read by different audiobook narrators. Each story kept you hooked and guessing at what might happen, although a few of the plot points were a little predictable. I enjoy Rachel Hawkins writing and look forward to what else she puts out.