The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

The Cast:
Emily: cozy mystery writer going through a rough divorce
Chess: friend to Emily, social media star, writer of self-help books.

Mari: aspiring writer
Lara: aspiring musician
Pierce: Mari's boyfriend, musician
Noel: Famous musician

Emily and Chess embark on a vacation to Italy. Upon arrival Emily discovers that there has been a murder in this Villa in the 70's. She becomes very interested in the murder and the people involved.

Told in alternating timelines of now and back in the 70's

I loved the 70's feel to Mari's story and the mystery surrounding it.
I did not like the back stabbing vibe of some of the friendships, but they also helped make the story.

Overall, a good read.

Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc

REVIEW: The Villa 🇮🇹

“Later, she'll look back at this moment and wonder why there was no warning, no sense of the horrors that would unfold in that house.”

I’ll always grab a Rachel Hawkins book. They are always guaranteed to be page turning with great characters, this was no exception.

Alternating timelines focused on Emily and her friend Chess in present day staying at the villa to get away from Emily’s stressful divorce and writer’s block. Back in the 19070s, Mari and her stepsister Lara at the villa with 3 other musicians when one ends up murdered.

Not only are timelines alternating, the style does also. Switching between Emily’s POV, Mari’s POV, articles in books, song lyrics, at first I was so confused. Once I got on board though I really liked all the intertwining section. I did think it would be spookier based on the synopsis and it wasn’t scary at all, just not that type of book. Depending on who you are rooting for, the end will be more satisfying for some than others!

📚Read this if you like:
- The Wife Upstairs
- Historical/gothic fiction
- The Lies I Tell
- Mary Shelley/Frankenstein backstory

My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I heard that this was a book that will keep you up late into the night and turning the pages in a hurry to find out what happened but I found it so boring and very predictable.

Both timelines were a bit awkward and I didn't like that it was female based but in every female relationship they hated each other and were awful to eachother.

Everything was kind of a miss for me with this one.

ARC BOOK REVIEW
The Villa
by Rachel Hawkins

Publishing date: 1/3/2023
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

In 1974, Mari, her step sister Lara, and their current lovers, head to a beautiful italian mansion to spend the summer. While there, Mari finds her self  drawn to writing a book that develops into one of the most popular female horror books ever to be written, Lilith Rising.  Their summer ends with a murder that rocked the world.

Fast forward to present day where Emily and Chess, childhood besties, head to the same villa  to do some writing. They are both successful authors with very different lives. Emily is currently going through a nasty divorce while Chess is single and rich.  They both feel that this Italian summer is what they need to get back in their writing grove. However, their summer in the villa leads  to some harsg realities and they both find themselves enthralled in the Villas past.  Emily is determined to find clues left behind by Mari regarding the 1974 murder, but it seems as though the Villa is about to claim another vicitim before the summer ends.

Review:
This is hard for me to rate. Partially because the story held my interest. I felt like something BIG was going to happen and I read this in a couple sittings because I couldn't wait to see where the book was taking me.   However, nothing BIG happened? I felt like there was this massive buildup but I was left wanting more. And after I finished, I found myself a little confused on what ACTUALLY happened.

It wasn't a BAD book. But it was just an " okay" read or me. I did enjoy the story just wished it packed more of a WOW.

Based off the summary, I was expecting a super dark, ominous vibe but I didn't feel that unfortunately.

As always, big thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the chance to read this early!

Fast-paced, suspenseful and edge-of-your seat excitement is what you will get with this story which is told in dual timelines. Present day - former best friends since childhood, Chess and Emily have grown apart and reconnect after Emily and her husband split up. Emily is a successful write of cozy mysteries and Chess is a famous influencer on social media and also an author of self-help books. Chess asks Emily to vacation at a villa in Italy for the summer nd she accepts. At the villa, they discover that there had been a murder there back in 1974, so Emily starts exploring what happened and who was involved. People at the villa back in 1974 included a famous musician who had invited an up and coming musician, Pierce, who left his wife to live with Mari, a wannabe author and her stepsister, Lara. who is also a wannabe musician/composer. Pierce's drug dealer, Johnnie, also accompanied them. Hang onto your hat because a lot of things happen in both timelines to make this an unputdownable reads!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this truly fantastic read.

Rachel Hawkins may be one of my favorite thriller writers, and she does not disappoint with The Villa. I found it to have a slightly slow start, and I wasn't sure where it would really go, but then the alternate timeline was introduced. I was hooked! Set in the picturesque Italian countryside, this story offers different things for different readers. I appreciate the gothic literature elements immensely, but I can also see the appeal for those who enjoy dual timelines and perspectives, connections to rock music from the 70s, and the art of writing itself. The synopsis almost leads you to believe that the story won't come together, but it definitely does! Houses remember, and readers will too as this story sticks for a bit after you finish.

Great mystery/thriller novel! Certainly kept me on my toes, I had no idea what was going to happen next! Also love that it was set in Italy—that’s my dream country to visit. I will definitely be checking out more of Rachel’s books!

My third Rachel Hawkins book that I have read and by far my favourite!

This book is great for people who loved Daisy Jones and the Six and who are hoping to recapture some of that energy (with a sprinkle of mystery, murder, and intrigue, of course).

Emily is a recently divorced cozy mystery author struggling with her relationships, her health, and some serious writer’s block. She is invited by her frenemy Chess (childhood friend turned now online self-help guru and author) to an Italian villa for the summer and she reluctantly agrees. During her time at the villa, she becomes engrossed in researching a grizzly murder that took place there in 1974. The book flashes back and forth from the present day to that summer in 1974 when the house was inhabited by famous rock musician Noel Graham and his entourage.

I loved the flashbacks to the summer of 1974 and the interactions, and drama between the cast of characters living in the house. I found myself shocked by the twists and turns in this book and had a great time reading. Definitely recommend!

Long time friends Emily and Chess have rented an Italian Villa in order to re connect as well as get some writing done as well. They are both successful writers, Chess being world renowned and even having been on Oprah, and Emily having written a successful 9 book series but is stuck on the 10th as she goes through a painful divorce.
There are also chapters told from the POV of the characters who lived in the Villa in 1974- young, star crossed lovers who were looking for musical inspiration, only things ended up taking a dark turn.
As Emily and Chess spend their summer trying to work on their projects and their relationships, they find that history often repeats itself.
I wanted to like this more than I did. It wasn’t terrible or anything, it just wasn’t anything super memorable. And the brief addition of podcasters that were never mentioned again was kinda weird.
The narrator did do a good job with differentiating the characters and keeping me engaged in the story.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review

This book just didn’t keep me on my toes. It was too much of a slow burn story and i just needed more. I feel a thrilled needs to be exciting and this just dragged a little too long

The Villa follows Chess and Emily, childhood friends who are reconnecting in their 30s, by going on a trip to the infamous Villa Aestas. I've read most of Rachel Hawkin's books now, and I feel like this one had a different vibe than her two other books. Not only are you following the storyline of Chess and Emily, but you're also getting bits and pieces from 1974 when a rock star rents the villa as a creative getaway that ends in murder. I've come to expect Hawkin's books to be faster-paced stories with a lot of red herrings, but The Villa was more of a slow burn, and I found myself struggling with the pacing. It was harder for me to dive in and enrich myself in the story, but there were still enough twists and turns that kept me interested. A lot was going on in the plot, and I feel like it wasn't wrapped up as well as I was hoping, and left me wanting more. With Reckless Girls and now The Villa, Hawkins has focused on these ideal, glamorous locations, and I wonder if she'll continue this theme in her next book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one was more of a slow burn than I'm used to in a thriller, especially by Rachel Hawkins. I think the pacing just didn't work for me because of that.

2.5 stars

The Villa is a slow pace thriller… I’m not sure if it is a thriller because it did move certainly slowly for me, about two best friend writers and their complicated history together and also a group of 70’s rock stars vacationing in Italy that turns deadly on both fronts. I really think this had potential to be a great story but everywhere it went never ended up where I thought it would to really pack that punch. There’s too many things going on and red herrings and things that needed more to make it make more sense or have a bit more closure. It was still semi entertaining and I did read it one setting because I wanted to see how it ended. It’s always fun reading about writers and I love a good vacation whodunit, so I did enjoy that and the true crime aspect of it.

This book was dark in the best ways possible! Definitely didn’t see all those twists and turns coming!

requested and received an egalley copy of The Villa for review as I have seen it on many ‘Most Anticipated Books of 2023’ lists. Thanks so much St.Martin’s Press, Netgalley, and Rachel Hawkins for the opportunity to read it ahead of time!

As soon as the main characters were introduced, I was hooked! Two writers, old best friends who now see each other maybe once a year, decide to reignite their friendship and careers by renting a gothic-style villa in Italy for the summer with a stirring history.

I loved the setting of Orvieto, and how the author put in some landmarks I could look up and learn about. It set the tone for me.
I became a bit impatient around the halfway mark. Not used to reading this genre, I was hoping it would have been a bit more dark, gritty, and atmospheric to start. It was around then I had learned that Christine McVie had passed away, and I found it odd to be simultaneously reading a book proclaiming to be partly inspired by Fleetwood Mac. I picked it up again and read the rest in one afternoon with wide eyes and only a pause to stretch.

This was my first time reading Rachel Hawkins and I definitely hope to get my hands on more of her books!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Hawkins for an ARC of this book!**

Emily remembers the good old days with her BFF Chess. The two used to be inseparable as a pair could be, and although they are now both writers, their lives have gone off in different directions. Chess has found success as a modern self-help guru (a la "Girl, Wash Your Face", "Untamed," etc.) and Emily is the author of a popular cozy mystery series. However, Emily is also dealing with an impending divorce and her writing has come to a grinding halt.

When Chess suggests a glamorous girls trip to Villa Aestas (formerly known as Villa Rosato) in GLORIOUS Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to rekindle her friendship, jump start her next book, and soak in the sun. After the two arrive, Emily dives into the history of the villa...and doesn't exactly feel thrilled with what she discovers...Villa Rosato is actually a murder house. In the 70s, rockers Noel Gordon and Pierce Sheldon arrived at the villa with Pierce's girlfriend Mari and stepsister Lara in tow looking for some inspiration of their own. While the two ladies end up writing a horror book and a hugely popular album, Pierce's career---and life---ends abruptly.

As Emily delves deeper into the mysteries of the past, searching the villa for clues, she begins to realize that the survivors of that tragic summer may have left more in the Murder House than meets the eye...and perhaps Chess had her OWN reasons for bringing Emily to the Villa. Are these two friends in it to the bitter end...or is the villa ready to claim yet ANOTHER victim?

Ever since Hawkins' The Wife Upstairs, I've been waiting for one of her books to recapture that sort of magic.

Well...Reckless Girls and The Villa both are set in beautiful locations....but bring little else to the table.

At first, I was hopeful I'd be sucked into the story once it got going for a bit. I didn't mind the byplay between Emily and Chess, and it's always fun to read an author's reflections on writing through their writer characters. The lead-in to the Villa was exciting, and the first section of the book moved along well enough.

And then we went back in time to hear from Mari...and things came GRINDING to a halt.

The timeline from the past was not only confusing but was littered with SO MUCH extraneous detail. Many of the conversations between the characters seemed unimportant and it was so hard to resist the urge to skim these sections. These characters were unlikable, flat, and felt almost like stock characters...basically, the stereotype of British rockers/artists from the time period, but without any of the charm.

Even though there are only 4 or 5 characters that are really important in the 70's timeline, I kept getting confused by their connections to one another, and I honestly don't feel like any of the 'scandal' Hawkins kept trying to add to these sections made the plot more interesting. On top of this, there are several fake 'book excerpts', articles, a transcript of a rather obnoxious podcast, etc. that are interspersed throughout just to focus EVEN MORE on the events of the 70s. I also found it hard to believe that Lara's album Aestas would have been a hit with the excerpts of the 'lyrics' provided... but trust me, Fleetwood Mac, it was not.

After all of this time and involvement with the Villa's past, I was HOPING at least Emily and Chess' story line would have an enticing end...but all I found were a couple of plot holes (or plot points that were skimmed over, conveniently) and a rather predictable ending. Once again, Hawkins was trying so hard to push a 'female empowerment' story line...but as with Reckless Girls, it just didn't work for me.

Although once again her choice of setting was ideal and I am JUST as eager to bask in the glow of the Italian sun as I am to get to Hawaii as soon as humanly possible, I think Fleetwood Mac might have said it best. That is, when it comes to me and the likelihood I'll be grabbing Hawkins' next book?

"Been down one time
Been down two times
I'm never going back again"

3 stars

Here is a list of things I enjoyed in The Villa:
- A horror novel being written at (about???) the villa
- It is partially set during the 70"s
- It switches perspectives and timeline
Even though there were elements of this book, some plot points that felt sudden and jarring in the book, I really enjoyed this read. It might be one of my favorites from Rachel Hawkins so far.

The Villa was very unique and, for the most part, intriguing read! I liked the dual timelines and the twists. There were only a few parts that fell a little flat for me but overall I enjoyed it!
I’m rating it 3.5 stars!

Oh my! I was fortunate enough to read The Villa by Rachel Hawkins while traveling to Rome. I may be a bit bias in my reactions to this book, but I really enjoyed it. For starters, the descriptions made me truly feel like I could envision the villa. Second, and perhaps most importantly, this book kept me guessing about how things would work out. The Villa follows a dual-timeline of women traveling to a villa in Italy. Emily and Chess used to be attached at the hip, but time has driven a wedge between them. When Chess proposes a trip to Villa Rosato in Orvieto, Emily jumps at the chance (albeit a bit reluctantly). Her book deadline is passed and she has to get something to her publisher ASAP. What they find at Villa Rosato is a dark history. In 1974, rockstar Noel Gordon rented the place with his friends and lovers, which included Mari and her stepsister Lara. By the end of their stay, murder was afoot. Through the dual timelines, the stories of these four women is played out as revelations are made both new and old.

The ending was such an unexpected twist! I loved The Wife Upstairs, but found Reckless Girls a bit lackluster. The Villa was slow to start, but I really enjoyed the two storylines and the way the book wraps up is worth the read!

The Villa
by Rachel Hawkins
Pub Date: January 3, 2023
St. Martin's Press
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
From New York Times, bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.
This story alternates between timelines, Mari in the past and Emily in the present day. At first, I didn't like being in the 1974 timeline because I've never been fond of wild rock and rock lifestyles and loose ways but those loose ways are not presented graphically which I appreciated. I wouldn't have been interested in this timeline except that Emily was interested in it. Then there is the present-day timeline, which is more interesting to me, with Chess acting strangely and me hoping the ruthless almost ex-husband of Emily would get some kind of comeuppance for being such a lawyer-happy brute. For me, it was a middle-of-the-road read.
4 stars