Overall a slow burn, atmospheric thriller with unlikable characters and alternating time line between past and present. An examination of toxic relationships and friendships. The story was a bit underdeveloped and bordered on predictable. An easy enough read and held my interest but not anything ground breaking. Not a terrible book by any means I just would have liked it to be a bit more twisty and darker.

4+ stars

Wow, okay. This has been a fun read (and good distraction) while I’ve been at home sick for a couple days. I quite liked this book. I know I rated all three similarly, but while I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as The Wife Upstairs, I appreciated it more than Reckless Girls. I feel like the writer does a good job of creating intense relationships, whether they’re romantic or platonic, in her stories, and that’s a part of what pulls me in. The other part is a combination of the settings (I’ve said it before and will say it again- I’m a sucker for a good thriller set in a gothic building or on an isolated island) and the intriguing plots. This novel had twists and turns, some of which were pretty unexpected, including one that was thrown into the final pages, and I love that it kept me guessing. I tend to like books that switch between different characters’ perspectives but am generally less enthusiastic about ones that jump between time periods; in this case, though, it worked for me. I’m also a big fan of the cover design and art that has been used for the writer’s last three books; the colours and consistent styles are always part of what initially catches my attention. All in all, this one was a win for me. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Villa is an exceptional Gothic thriller, and much more in line with what I loved about Rachel Hawkins’ first thriller, The Wife Upstairs, as opposed to the And Then There Were None-inspired Reckless Girls. But given that this book, like TWU, reimagines titans of classic literature, giving them a more modern feminist reimagining, of course I ate this up.

I love how the narrative focuses heavily on two parallel narratives of sisterhood and friendship, and the things that complicate it. The 70s narrative is, as the blurb mentions, heavily inspired by the lives of Mary and Percy Shelley, her stepsister Claire Clairemont, and their friend Lord Byron. It’s funny how little had to be changed about the dynamics of the characters, given how “liberal” they were with sexuality for their time. Mari’s adulterous affair with Pierce and Noel’s with Lara, and the hints of something that had gone on between Pierce and Lara all feel realistic to their historical counterparts.

Mari is a compelling protagonist, and I love the gradual subtle revelations about Pierce’s character that result in her disillusionment with him, and how she uses her writing to provide catharsis for herself in the aftermath of the tragedy and give her power and agency back.

I wasn’t sure how to feel about the Emily and Chess storyline at first, but over time the connections and parallels between them and the Mari/Lara storyline became more apparent…and proceeded on an eerily similar path.

Initially, I was fairly certain I knew where the story was going, with it presumably debunking the popularly held belief of what happened. However, the twist goes in a different direction, but is in keeping with the overall intent of Mari’s character, and is also well foreshadowed in the commentary about her and her book in the present-day timeline.

This is a fast-paced, intriguing dual-timeline thriller, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical thrillers or books inspired by literary or music history.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

This novel has alternating timelines within the same setting, a villa in Italy. Present day has two lifelong best friends reconnecting for a summer of writing and 1974 has two musicians, a writer, a stepsister, and a tag-along there for a summer supposed to be filled with writing music.

Both timelines show a lot of focus on spurring creativity as well as examining the things that lead us to success or failure and what our emotions could cause us to do.

The twists are predictable and the book wasn't as dark as I hoped it would be. Sure, there's some mystery but there's nothing over-the-top or hard to see coming.

I didn't like the ending particularly much. I feel like it took away from the mystery. But the book was still an enjoyable and easy read.

This has to be on my top 10 ever list! The characters were relatable, and the book ready easy but kept you wanting to not put it down. There was a little mystery, a little romance and a little fly by the seat of your pants. I will for sure be recommending this to all my reader friends and clients!

Thank to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

***Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of The Villa which is set to be released on January 3rd, 2023. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

The Villa is a slow-burn, three dimensional story told in dual timelines about toxic relationships and a murder house that always remembers.

I loved the premise of this book and also really enjoyed the feminist vibes weaved throughout both the past and present stories.

If you're looking for a new entertaining popcorn thriller, this one is for you!

The parallel stories in this novel weave perfectly together circling sisterhood, romance, betrayal and death in two different timelines. The first story is Mari, her half-sister Lara and Mari’s married lover Pierce. They are all artists and the sisters have a complicated, but unbreakable bond, but Lara seems to want whatever Mari has including Pierce. Lara connects with a rockstar, Noel, who invites the trio to join him in Italy for the summer at, wait for it, a rented villa. Fast forward, Emily and Chess are childhood friends, as close as sisters. Emily’s husband has betrayed her and is fighting via their divorce inclulding his attempt to squeeze as much of the proceeds of her successful writing career from her. Chess suggest they stay in an Italian villa which was the site of a famous murder; the murder of Pierce back in 1974. The book is spicy, dark with potential ghosts of inhabitants past and twisty. I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was lucky to get it as a Read Now. This book flips between past and present at an Italian villa. The past set in 1974, when rock star and an up and coming talent and their girlfriends stay at the villa to work on their music. The present involves two best friends getting away to work on their books. There's more to that than what lets on initially, of course. Jessica and Emily are best friends since elementary school. Emily is going through a nasty divorce and Chess, as she branded herself is a self help book success story. The friendship seems a bit contentious though even at the start. Sometimes you outgrow your childhood friends, but Emily doesn't have anyone else.

I wasn't initially into the 1974 sections. It was sort of obvious where it was going to end. I was more interested in Emily and what she might discover about how sick she got during the end of her marriage to Matt. The explanation of it being psychosomatic wasn't believable to me.

When Emily discovers her best friend is betraying her, the way she handles it is very surprising to me. I'm not sure I would have handled it the same way. I feel like there were unanswered questions, but as a reader, with the "alternate answers" Mari gave Emily, I guess I could have fun coming up with alternate endings myself. For a book set in Italy, I didn't get a good enough grasp of the beautiful setting. Which is a shame. You would think the scandal of rock and roll, sex and drugs would have been more exciting. The one exciting scene was a fade to black. Anyway I'm giving this a 3 /5 ☆ although it was really 3 1/2 / 5 rounded down.

OH MY GOD. This is my new favourite Rachel Hawkins book. If you liked Daisy Jones and the Six and murder mysteries, you HAVE to pick this book up. The Fleetwood Mac vibes in this book were PERFECTION.

There are two timelines, one in the present where a cozy mystery author, Emily, is staying at a villa where a famous murder occurred and one in the past following Mari who was witnessed the murder. Emily finds Mari's diary while staying at the villa and decides to write a book and solve the mystery.

I flew through this book and enjoyed every second of it. I can't wait to read what Rachel Hawkins publishes next.

Three and a half stars for this new novel by Rachel Hawkins. I really enjoyed Reckless Girls last year for the atmosphere it created. The Villa did not disappoint on the atmospheric creativity with its dual points of view from Emily and Mari. The characters, while slightly unlikable, are fascinating to read about. And that ending?! I just love how it left me wondering about what would happen to Emily and her bff Chess.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

"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."

UM, okay! Sign me up. From the moment I saw the premise of The Villa, I was totally sold. This book was definitely for me. And it did not disappoint! This thriller from Rachel Hawkins instantly captured me with its engaging voice, atmospheric settings, and intriguing characters.

The bouncing between the dual timelines kept me engaged throughout the entire read. In this book, one timeline is set in the present day, following writers Emily and her best friend Chess on a getaway to an Italian villa. The other is set in 1974, following Mari and a group of writers/musicians at the same villa. Both stories had plenty of slow-creeping mystery and interpersonal drama to keep me turning the (electronic) pages!

Throughout the read, I kept thinking I had this figured out. At times, the plot felt obvious, only to mislead me again and again until the final pages.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a slow-build mystery, light on the thrills. I'll be picking up Rachel Hawkins' next mystery/thriller that comes out. So excited to see where she goes next!

I certainly love a good dual timeline story - and this one does not disappoint. Both stories are intriguing and the characters are interesting. Chess and ‘Em have a fun repartee that draws the reader into their long term relationship so that you really feel that you understand them. Mari and Lara seem a little thrown together and it is hard to buy into their commitment to each other- especially in the end. Mari and Lara’s story has what I consider dual endings - and without any spoilers - I really liked the first ending better. While it seemed out of character it is the ending that I anticipated. But the little twist at the end was interesting also. I do wish that Em and Chess’s revenge story had been fleshed out a little more, I wanted to see the nemesis get what was coming to them. This is a good book and I read it in one day just to get to the end to see what happened. I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley and I appreciate the opportunity to read this book - this did not influence my opinion.

Chess and Emily were once BFFs, and although they've both settled into careers as writers, their adult lives have veered off on different trajectories. Chess is a self-help guru specializing in teaching women how to follow their "powered path," and Emily writes cozy mysteries, which were successful before her career stalled out due to a mysterious illness and her husband's devastating abandonment. When Chess suggests a girls' trip to a luxurious villa in Orvieto, Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to go, seeing the vacation as an opportunity to relax, focus on her next book, and reconnect with Chess.

But the villa has a dark history. Back in the 1970s, stepsisters Mari and Lara visited the villa for a summer of hedonistic delights with their rock star boyfriends...one of whom ended up dead. Out of that summer also came Mari's novel Lilith Rising, widely regarded as one of the best horror novels of all time, and Lara's album Aestas, which went platinum. As Emily becomes increasingly drawn into investigating the events of that long-ago summer, her relationship with Chess begins to strain, and Emily realizes that more than just the villa is holding its secrets close.

Compulsively readable and atmospheric, The Villa utilizes so many of my favorite tropes effectively: a dual timeline structure with multiple narrators, a story-within-a-story, fictionalized pop culture, and mixed-media storytelling. I read this in a day and was completely engrossed from start to finish. After having a lukewarm response to The Wife Upstairs, I gave Reckless Girls a skip, but I'm so glad I decided to give Rachel Hawkins another chance. I thought The Villa was fantastic.

Hawkins weaves together the threads of her various timelines seamlessly, with the past and the present stories mirroring each other in clever ways. Her characters are interesting, if not altogether likable, and through them she explores the complex relationship dynamics between lovers, sisters, and friends in darkly fascinating ways. There's lots of deceit, lots of conflict, lots of suspicion. This is by and large a domestic thriller, but there is definitely a psychological element as well. Everyone has secrets, and not everyone has the best of intentions.

Although parts of The Villa are a slow burn, it's riveting all the way through. I found the conclusion to be immensely satisfying, and I loved the overarching theme of female empowerment and Hawkins' literary inspirations. I really had a lot of fun with this one. Recommended!

A summer in a villa in Italy? What could possibly go wrong? Emily and Jessica (Chess) have been best friends for most of their lives and when the opportunity comes to stay at this villa they plan to renew their friendship and use the time to get back on their creative paths. The villa, however, has a dark past that they get caught up in. The twists, turns and red herrings will keep the reader turning pages and guessing to the very end.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is an enjoyable slow burn with both mystery and intrigue. It is told in dual timeliness. The present timeline follows long time best friends Emily and Chess who take a trip to a Villa in Italy to help rekindle their friendship that adult life has put a strain on. The second timeline follows Mari, who's tile at the Villa led her to writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time.

Emily, a writer who is trying to get the thrill of writing back gets engrossed in Mari's story and time at the Villa. As she digs into the past, her present begins to take a turn for the worse. Will the past trauma of the Villa repeat itself?

This story is truly the epitome of a slow burn. I found myself really drawn to the past story of Mari just as mich as present Emily was. If you are looking for a fast paced novel then skip this. But if you want a well written novel that seamlessly weaves dual timeliness then pick this up.

Travel back and forth in time to learn about the murder mystery that occurred in a lovely little Italian Villa. This story had layer upon layer built upon it to try to solve what happened in 1974 while a group of teenagers spent the summer in the villa which ended in a bloody fight. Flash forward to the present when besties decide they should go to the same Italian villa and get some writing accomplished. The story behind the villa entices our MC, Emily to dig a little deeper into "what really happened" all the while dealing with her current life mess of her ex-husband and failing job. This story required a little of attention to keep track of characters and storylines but quickly escalated at the end with a shocking resolution. I would recommend for fans of mystery and travel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

🔊Song Pairing: I’ll Still Have Me - Cyn

💭What I thought would happen:

Weeellll I loved The Wife Upstairs and was utterly disappointed by Reckless Girls so I went in wearily but hopeful…

📖What actually happens:

Emily is a successful cozy mystery novelist going through a nasty divorce while her best friend is Uber famous self-help author Chess (think Girl, Wash Your Face). Chess suggests Emily and her go on an Italian vacation.

The villa they are staying at is a murder house with a saucy rock and roll history. The book bops back and forth between the story of Mari and Lara in the 60s? Vacationing with rock stars, Lara wants Mari’s man as she takes everything and Mari just wants to write her damn book.

I could go on but if you’re curious just read it.

🗯Thoughts:

I liked the idea of the story…the execution though made me kind of extremely nauseated. There was so much that was unnecessary and then skimped on the revenge drama.

I love loved reading this as a buddy read with my favourite girlies and all basically concluding that it didn’t blow us away.

I will say that the main character is a sad level pathetic and her “bestie” is sooooo cringe and do not get me started on the step sister drama between Lara and Mari. The root of the arguments being due to dick and balls. Get that toxic female bashing away from me. 🙋🏼‍♀️

Friends Chess and Emily, both authors, decide to stay at Villa Aestos in Italy for the summer. Immediately Emily is drawn to the house’s history: there was a murder there in the 1970’s. As Emily’s creativity hurls her forward, Hawkins switches back and forth to the past, to the murder and the people involved.

The Villa is a book within a book. It is about female power, messy relationships, and the choices we make that keep us feeling stuck. It’s about the capacity of the creative process. Ultimately, it is about reclaiming the narrative of your own story.

The Villa is a slow-burn. It felt like it was more a story of friendship than a thriller. Still, excellent themes explored.

Thanks to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this work.

I was beyond excited because this is of the best covers ever. I absolutely love the teal color and the lemons.

Emily is going through a divorce from husband, when her childhood best friend reaches out to her with an opportunity to go to Italy for the summer. Emily and Chess haven’t been close recently, but this is a chance to bond again. The Villa they are staying in is known as Villa Aestas, but back in the 70s it was Villa Rosato and it was where a famous book and a famous album were written here. There was also a brutal murder. Emily is a cozy mystery writer who is inspired by the history of the Villa and begins to research what happened. Chess in a motivational influencer (like Rachel Hollis) who is also a self help writer.

The story flips back and forth from the present time with Emily and Chess to the 70s with Mari and Lara, who are on a trip with a famous rock star and some of his entourage. This part of the book has a sex, drugs, and rock and roll vibe. I loved both parts of the dual timeline, but I especially loved Chess. She was over the top and just a great character.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was a very easy book to read and I enjoyed the epistolary chapters as well. Thank you so much to @thebookclubcookbook and @stmartinspress for the advanced reader copy. The Villa is on sale January 3, 2023!

This is a really slow burn of a mystery/thriller told in dual timelines: the present (Emily and her friend Chess) and the 1970s (Mari and her rock star friends). The story focuses on an Italian villa which Emily and Chess rent for a time, a villa in which a gruesome murder occurred in the summer of 1974 while inhabited by Mari and her friends. After hearing the history of the villa, Emily becomes intrigued with Mari, who had gone on to write a bestselling novel, and Emily decides to see if within that novel are clues to the 1974 murder.

I definitely enjoyed the present timeline much better than the 1970s timeline, and I wish that this had not been so much of a really slow burn. However, the ending was a satisfying one, making for a generally enjoyable read.