Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this ARC.
This thriller/drama is about former best friends who spend the summer at a villa in Italy hoping to get their creative flow going. Both are writers working on their own new books. In 1974, a murder occurred in the villa where they are staying. The narrative alternates between the 1970s and present day. They both dig into the past and investigate what happened. The answers surprise them. This book was ok for me. When there are so many characters in a book and with all the timeline switching, I get tired, and I don’t read to get tired. I’m awarding 3 stars.

I really enjoyed this mysterious and twisted book! It's a story told in two timelines, present day with best friends Chess and Emily at a villa in Italy and in the past with sisters Mari and Laura at the same villa I enjoyed the parallels between Chess and Emily and the story of Mari and Laura. I loved all of the relationship drama both in present day and the past story as well. I thought the Chess and Emily twist was a little predictable, but the great thing about this story was that I was so invested I could not stop listening because I had to know how it would end. The ending was a total shocker. What a fun read!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital copy of this book to read and review.

"When in Rome (Don't Do Murder)"

The book was so good! One of those suspense books you can't put down. It's a dual storyline, a book within a book with history eerily repeating itself. Takes place in a beautiful Villa in Umbria, Italy. The story shifts between the 70s following 2 sisters ( Mari and Lara) and their musician boyfriends (Pierce and Noel) taking a holiday in Italy hoping they can create new music and 2 best friends (Emma and Chess) that are writers finally taking a girlfriend's vacation to get their creative minds flowing and reconnect. Just so happens this Villa brings out the murderous truth in all that visit.

When Chess starts diving into the dark history of the villa she starts to connect the dots to the truth that might have happened decades ago but it also hits too close to home to her current situation.
Lies, betrayals, Rock and Roll 70s, and murder make a perfect quick read that will keep you wondering what actually happened and keep you on edge.

Perfectly written, I am a FAN!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

Publication date January 3, 2023

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

There was a lot going on in this book, but the two storylines ending up coming together well in the end. I definitely suspected that Chess and Matt were having an affair (which they were) and I did think that they were poisoning Emily (which they weren't). I was shocked by the ending - they killed Matt! Although it never told exactly how and I would have liked to know. I was also surprised that Mari's diary turned out to be a lie and she didn't actually kill Pierce. And now Emily is stuck with her psycho friend Chess writing books and keeping secrets together forever lol.
Side notes:
I love that they are from Asheville, NC, (near) where I live!
I hate books that have a character commit suicide and blame it on other people (Pierce's wife).

This was a pretty good, very fast-paced thriller by Rachel Hawkins. I've read both of her adult thrillers and both times I'm left with a slightly-off feeling even though I enjoyed the books. The Villa bounces between deadly events in the 1970s and modern day. It's not so much a who-dun-it, but more of a study in women pushed to the brink by those around them that they love. At times it got a little confusing, but overall, it was wrapped up nicely, though not necessarily on a positive note.

An atmospheric book, focusing on the effects of a house on its cccupants. But in this story, it's not so much the house itself, but the drama and prior entanglements that are brought into the house itself, and how the house can help to hide secrets that could cause even more chaos. By goign back and forth in time, one sees how the house itself may hold onto the drama or as we more likely see it , the energy that occurred there. It's a true page turner psychological thriller and one not to be missed!

Emily and Chess have been best friends since childhood. Now, going through a tough divorce, Emily can’t help but say yes when Chess invites her to spend the summer with her in Italy. But the Villa that Chess has rented has a history. As Emily becomes more interested in the murder that occurred decades ago, things start to feel odd in her relationship with Chess as well.

This is my favorite Rachel Hawkins novel so far! I loved the parallels between the music and writing happening at the Villa then and now. I loved the mystery of Emily being able to research the past from the place where it happened. And the ups and downs of the relationships, both past and present, provided a lot of intrigue and drama.

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

My Review ✨

#qotd: do you ever buy a book just because of its beautiful cover? I did with this one!!!

Thank you to NETgalley and St. Martins Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book centers around a book. I loved the dual POV‘s. I found myself kind of bored throughout the book because nothing was really happening. I didn’t really connect with either Mari or Emily.
The parts I did enjoy was Hawkins writing, she does know how to write. The subject matter just never gripped me I never felt connected.
There was no big reveal, this should not be marketed as a thriller

My Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

**Spoilers**
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins details what is essentially a love triangle between a man and two writers who decide to embark on an epic journey to stay at a Villa where a murder took place long ago in order to spark their creative juices and get to writing again. There's back-stabbing, there's intrigue (is best friend really a friend??), there's flashbacks to the Villa's original murder, and twists and turns. The more I marinated on this novel and the complexity, the more I loved it and have questions. It's actually something I'd go back and read again in order to see if I can discover details that I missed the first time around. Did I love the ending? Not necessarily - but overall I really enjoyed the entire novel itself, and think the concept was quite unique, which is hard to do in this day and age.

Absolutely LOVED this book. The different timelines were perfectly woven together throughout the story. I found myself feeling as though I was in the villa with both Mari and Em.
This one took me into bright Italian afternoon, but kept me with a dark and foreboding feeling throughout. Excellent!

With every book I read from Rachel Hawkins, I grow more in love with her writing. It's fast paced, exciting and pulls you in from beginning to end to the point where I almost always finish them within a day. With this book we get a mixture of timelines, points of view and unreliable narrators. Even after finishing this book hours ago I am still sitting here thinking about it. Beyond excited to see what she will put out next.

Review - The Villa
By - Rachel Hawkins
4.5 stars

Books about authors are the best & this one was indeed! A captivating suspense novel with dual timelines & perspectives. The current timeline… best friends Em & Chess, authors on an Italian getaway in villa that has a historical past. While at the villa to focus on their writing… they both become obsessed with the murder that took place at this very location. The dual storyline is step sisters Mari & Lara at the same villa in the 70s telling their side of the tragic story. Add to that a messy divorce, sex, drugs & rock & roll & you have a great read!
Well written with a diverse cast of characters that all have their own secrets. A steady build up as the author reveals just a bit more with each chapter slowly revealing the whole twisted picture. How does past affect the future? Can Em & Chess maintain their friendship as secrets come to light?
If you enjoy suspense novels this book is a must read! Rachel Hawkins is quickly becoming one of my must read authors!
Thank you so much to #NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.

The book takes place in two time periods, 1974 and the present day. A group of five people spend time at a villa in Orvieto, where one person dies. Fast forward to the present day where another group of people are spending time at the same villa. The plot goes back and forth between both time periods, making it even more interesting to read. The characters were great as well. Overall I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

This author has quickly become a must read for me. I loved the Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls and The Villa is another fantastic book. I liked the dual timelines with Mari in the 1970s and then current day Emily and Chess. This is an interesting book about friendship and deceit and underlying mystery. I liked the Italy setting too. 4.5 stars

**** Publishing January 3, 2023****

A highly entertaining dark twisty thriller/mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emily and Chess have been best friends since elementary school. They have both been through a lot in life, who are successful writers. Emily writes cozy mysteries, while Chess writes self-help books. Even through ups and downs of life, they remained best friends. Chess decided that even though they made it a point to get together once a year, she felt it was time to spend more time together. Chess planned a getaway to Italy for the entire summer, so they could write. Emily points out to Chess that a murder had occurred in the villa in the 1970’s. Chess isn’t bothered by the info as she justifies it by saying it’s a gorgeous villa. What will they discover? Is this house cursed? Will they be haunted by the past during their stay? Will history repeat itself?

Mari is a writer and Pierce, Lori, and Noel are musicians. All wanting to escape to the villa in Italy to gain inspiration, so they can make their “big break”. Will they make the most of it or will life get in the way?

This dual time period storyline alternates between present day with Emily and Chess and the 1970’s with Lara, Noel, Mari, and Pierce highlighting their vacations at the same villa in Italy. Both groups came to the villa looking for a break from their lives and inspiration for their work. Will they get the inspiration they need or will complicated relationships hinder their success?

A dark twisty domestic thriller/ mystery that involves authors, musicians, murder, fame, and secrets! Are people who they seem to be? This book will keep you guessing until the end! A fast paced read that will keep you entertained as the truth is revealed!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, I was provided an ARC of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC copy*

I enjoyed this! It's a dual-timeline narrative, and while I will say that I didn't care that much for the past timeline that much at the beginning, it really started to pick up at probably around the 60% mark. I was always interested in the present-day timeline though. The present-day characters, while not necessarily fully likeable (especially Chess) were nonetheless really interesting characters.
I liked the way it dealt with themes such as Stockholm Syndrome (I would argue that a lesser form of this is essentially what's going on, especially in the past timeline), the creation of women's art and what it means when the muses become the creators, complicated family dynamics, and female rage (though I think that could have been pushed further).
On the topic of female rage (without giving anything away), the "twists" were interesting. It kept you on your toes down until the last chapter.
Also, I just got to say, WOW are none of the male characters in this book likeable. Like dang.

This book was such a slow read for me. the last book I read by Rachel Hawkins, I finished in the same day because I was so drawn in. I did not feel that way with The Villa even though I so very much wanted to. The concept of this book with the mystery of the past really pulled me in, but it was a very slow burn. Once I got about 65%, I did finish the rest pretty quickly and was invested in knowing the ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy!

Emily and Chess are childhood friends who have since grown apart. Both writers – Emily, a mystery writer and Chess, a wildly popular self-help guru, they embark on a trip to Italy together to reconnect. Recently divorced, Emily’s ex-husband wants her to finish her novel because he wants the royalties from her book series, including future books, and Chess is trying to work on a new book of her own. In Orvieto, they find themselves staying at the lavish Villa Aestas that also happens to be the site of a well-known murder that occurred in 1974, when a group of creatives stayed there, including a young writer named Mari, who ended up writing a seminal horror novel in the home. The two narratives, both taking place at the same villa and both filled with escalating tension, villa alternate, but also grow more enmeshed as the novel progresses. This wasn’t my favorite Rachel Hawkins novel – there’s only so much one can read about multiple writers writing, but it was a fast-paced thriller. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

THE VILLA
Rachel Hawkins

I enjoy my time reading Rachel Hawkins thrillers. Her writing is thoughtful and quick, and she keeps a great pace to her stories. I just finished her latest book, THE VILLA (which comes out in January), and I liked it a lot.

Let’s talk about it!

THE VILLA stars Emily and Chess. They are childhood best friends. Both writers now, although in different genres, and at different levels of success in their careers and personal relationships.

It’s been harder for Emily. Fresh from separation from her husband and during divorce she is struggling to write her next book and hold onto what is hers. Chess, during success, and with what seems like endless material to pull from, is single and seems to be happy that way.

They meet one day for lunch which spurs an idea in Chess to spend a month in a private Villa in Italy. They can both relax, write, drink wine, and spend some much-needed time together. Emily agrees, and once they arrive the novel unfolds.

There were a few things that I liked about the book and a couple of things I didn’t. Overall, I enjoyed this one and finished it in one sitting. I imagined myself writing at a Villa in Italy and investigating a long-ago mystery.

I liked the writing and author aspects of the book and the idea of a getaway writing trip to Italy. I appreciated the layered interpersonal drama between Emily and Chess and the windy nature of how things progress between the two characters.

There were two POVs in the book and they were unequal to me. I wanted to live in one more than the other. There is a big difference in tone between the two. However, gratefully, you never stay in one POV for long enough to get bothered by it or to get bored. The book quickly moves between POV’s.

This would make an excellent book for someone new to the thriller genre as it was a little predictable. If knowing where a book is going spoils the fun for you, then know going in that the path is well-lit in this one. I appreciated it nonetheless, and it solidifies Hawkins as one of my favorites right now in this niche.

This one comes out on January 3, 2023!

Thanks so much to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, and Libro. Fm for providing advanced copies in exchange for a review!

The Villa...⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mystery writer Emma is in the middle of divorcing her husband Matt who is out to get a share of the profits from her books. She is also in a writing slump and is already at the deadline for her next book. When her best friend Chess, who is a rich and famous nonfiction writer invites her to Italy to vacation in a Villa Emma jumps at the chance.

The Villa is famous for a murder that occurred in 1974. Two of the survivors became famous, one writing a bestselling horror novel. Emma becomes interested and begins to suspect the author was inspired by the murder and begins research to discover the full story. The Villa is told in two timelines, the present and the events in 1974. There are also a few excerpts from publications.

This was a very quick read. The author does a great job of describing the characters' emotional state, leading me to empathize with their need to get away. The writing is also gentle and draws you easily along.

Unfortunately nothing much happens in the book. There is obviously a murder in 1974 but we know about that ahead of time and so much time is spent without a clear connection to the present. Nothing then happens in the present. We get a few odd things but there is never any major event.

The characters are all terrible people. Some readers will not mind that but it makes it hard for me to care about what happens to them. There is a twist at the end but I was confused by it rather than shocked. The whole thing was too unrealistic. People don't do the things the characters do. You have to suspend belief in fiction but suspending it for something that like doesn't make it shocking. It just leaves you feeling let down.

The Villa is a quick read with pleasant writing. At times there is a creepy factor. Readers who enjoy unlikable characters might like this more.

2.5 stars