The Villa is a can't put down read that easily fuses two plot lines in a single thrilling tale. Hawkins easily transitions the reader between the events at "the murder house" in 1974 and those taking place in the present day summer as two best friends visit and investigate the history of the Italian Villa.

The writing is beautiful and the characters are each mesmerizing; the reader cannot help but empathize with each of them, no matter how flawed. The historic, cultural, and literary nods are perfectly woven with the narrative, so as not to seem forced. Although the plotline of the 1970s foreshadows some of the present day events, there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader wanting more.

This is my first Rachel Hawkins novel, but it surely will not be the last. I cannot wait to pick up her earlier works. The Villa is a winner!

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

In 1974, Mari Godwick, her step-sister Lara Larchmont, and her boyfriend Pierce Sheldon accept the invitation of famous rocker Noel Gordon. Ostensibly, Noel and Pierce will be collaborating to write some new music. While they work on their music, Mari plans to write.

In the present day, Chess Chandler and Emily Sheridan, best friends since fourth grade, are at different ends of the writing spectrum. Chess’s successful self-help books have brought her significant recognition; Emily is struggling to finish the latest book in her Petal Bloom cozy mysteries series. And, adding to her difficulties, she’s embroiled in a disputatious divorce with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Matt.

Chess convinces Emily to join her at a villa in Italy for the summer; Emily hopes a change of scenery will provide some desperately-needed inspiration. Soon she finds herself ensconced in Villa Aestas where, she soon discovers, a murder took place many years ago.

Will they discover that houses really do remember?

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Told in two timelines, the story of Villa Rosato and the musicians takes place in 1974; the story of Villa Aestas and the women writers takes place in the present day. The intertwining of the events in the two timelines makes for an intriguing dual narrative that keeps those pages turning.

Well-developed, interesting characters, a compelling plot that brings a few surprises as the story unfolds, and a strong sense of place all work together to pull the reader into the telling of the tale. The intertwined timelines play out, often in unexpected ways, but the parallels between the past and present make for a masterful narrative.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
#TheVilla #NetGalley

Rachel Hawkins' "The Villa" follows best friends Emily and Chess--both authors--on a summer abroad. Emily is healing both from a mysterious physical illness and a devastating breakup, and Chess is at the top of her game but wants a break with her bestie. They settle on six weeks in a villa in Italy, and soon learn that The Villa has a sinister (read: murderous) past.

This book took me four hours to read. I literally couldn't put it down. It's the perfect mashup of the way that "Helter Skelter" and "Daisy Jones and the Six" made me feel: both that fingernail-gnawing anxiety that comes with a murder among musicians, and the homey, dizzy feeling of wanting to be in the room with those musicians as they made magic before the mayhem.

Rachel did an excellent job of killing you (ha--pun intended) with the torture of switching POVs (and, in turn, timelines). Just when you were at the edge of your seat with one character, she'd pull you back to another person and time, only to snap your focus and concern on them so much so that you forget you cared about the previous POV at all. Until it was time to go back, that is. It was a lovely, at times maddening (in the best way!) back and forth.

(Also, I have to point out that I coincidentally read this book on July 29. If you know, you know.)

I SWORE I saw what was coming... I was so confident I could and I could see it all laid out in front of me only to experience some back to back whiplash in the last tenth of this book.

I loved this book! It kept my attention with twists. Told 2 stories side by side, but wasn’t confusing at all.

I’m so excited that I got to read Rachel Hawkins new book - The Villa out January 3rd 2023!

Emily is reeling from a divorce when her lifelong best friend whisks her away to Villa Aestas in Italy. Emily is a writer and has been stuck in a slump so this trip seems just like what she needs. Turns out there was a murder at the Villa in the 70’s and as Emily starts to dig she finds more than she bargained for.

I absolutely love it when a book transports me to a far away place. I’m not really up for world traveling but I love reading about far away places. This book transported me to Italy and I could taste the limoncello! I gave this book 4/5 stars because there were some layout issues I didn’t really care for. Just sometimes it wasn’t smooth which timeline I was in - but still an amazing read! Make sure to place this book on your radar for New Years! Special thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

I loved the one! I have read Rachel Hawkins’ other books so I was very excited to see that she has a new novel coming. I loved the Wife Upstairs, Reckless Girls fell a little flat for me. But she definitely redeemed herself with The Villa!

In “The Villa” by Rachel Hawkins two best friends, Chess and Emily, head to a villa in Italy to work on their respective next books. But their home for the summer just happens to be the location of a murder that dates back to the 70’s – it is locally called the murder house. As curiosity gets the bet of Emily, she begins to think that there is more to the story then has been told. As she uncovers clues hidden in the villa, she does really begin to think that the house remembers.

I received this book through Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.

I loved this book so much! It made my nerdy English-major heart sing, and I applaud Hawkins for her reinvention of the Romantic poets as 1970s rock musicians. The Villa was a page-turner for me, and I really enjoyed the multi-genre format and dual-narratives of both Emily and Mari. In the modern narrative, Emily and her childhood best-friend, Chess, rent an Italian villa for the summer to work on their respective books. Emily writes cozy mysteries and is going through a contentious divorce, and Chess is writing a new nonfiction title with "Girl, Wash Your Face" vibes. When they're not working on their manuscripts, the friends explore their historic rental house where Pierce Sheldon was murdered in the summer of 1974. Emily finds some of Mari Godwin's writings in the house that inspire her to work on a new project about these famous musicians and the drama of that summer. I don't want to spoil the magic by giving too much else away; the 1970s narrative is so clever, and I especially loved seeing Lord Byron recast as a Jim Morrison-esque rocker. I think that fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will enjoy The Villa, as well as readers of historical dual-narratives. Thanks so much to Netgalley and St, Martin's Press for the librarian preview copy. This book will be published January 3, 2023, and I can't wait to add it to our collection!

This was a solid 3.5 for me, but worth rounding up to 4. The writing was good, the book was well-paced, I liked the two different timelines and I didn’t see how the stories would intersect until it happened. Ultimately the big reveals were not as satisfying as they could’ve been, otherwise it would’ve warranted a 4+ star rating on its own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up to 4/5

Okay I hate that I am having to write this but I didn't enjoy this one that much. It felt like the plot was almost TOO much and sometimes hard to follow. It may have been the format that I read it in but I just couldn't get into it and I didn't find the twist all that shocking.

The villa switches between 1975 and current day in the same Villa in Italy. 1975c stepsisters Mark and Lara travel to the villa as somewhat of groupies with 2 rockstars- one famous, one trying to be famous. A nursed takes place and it seems pieces of information are missing. Current day, best friends, Chess and Emily visit the same Villa on holiday and take in interest in the Villa’s past. Will they be able to put all the pieces together to figure out what happened that night in 1975? This book was good, not great, it never really came together for me.

This is the third book by Rachel Hawkins I've read and reviewed, cementing her place as one of my must-read thriller authors. Her plots are always unique, masterfully written, and unputdownable. The Villa is a gripping tale set in Italy with a cleverly designed story that weaves past and present within the walls of the same house. I loved this one! Highly recommended. Destined to become one of the best books of 2023.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

The Villa — Rachel Hawkins

Two stories, both alike in bloodshed…

Emma and Chess are best friends and professional writers. Emma whips up cozy mysteries and Chess is a self-help guru. But Chess’s career is on a meteoric rise while Emma’s (and her marriage) is crashing and burning. Desperate for a break and some inspiration, she accepts Chess’s invitation of vacationing in an Italian villa for the entire summer—the same place a murder was committed decades before…

💠Rewind to 1974 at Villa Rosato. Mari, an aspiring novelist, is staying there with her boyfriend Pierce and stepsister Lara, the three of them having been invited by a famous musician and his drug dealer. Here, Mari has finally found the story she’s wanted to write—but it comes with a price. For the beautiful villa they’re in seems to be bringing out the uglier parts of all of them—Mari included. And she doesn’t know how much longer she and everyone else can take of each other before one of them snaps…

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Okay so this is SO worth the hype! Emma working to solve the mystery of Villa Aestas (renamed after the murder) while dealing with the mystery of her own life was incredible. I loved her journey, but Mari’s was ten times more harrowing. I would love to know more about her stay at the villa as well as read her whole book!

The climaxes for both storylines were fitting, but how the book ended turns everything upside down and really makes you wonder what happened.An absolutely terrifying thrill ride that ends with a broken seatbelt—no safety net.

Come for the mystery, stay for the toxic relationships! The Villa was such a fun and unexpected read. Who would have thought that writing a Mary Shelley-like character in the world of 70s sex, drugs, and rock and roll would work? But for some reason it really does!
The Villa is split between two timelines, one in the present following best friends Chess and Emily, and one in the 70s with stepsisters Mari and Lara. Even though the thriller aspect of this book was at times a bit predictable, I loved watching those two parallel relationships develop, and how these women, while trying to free themselves from the influence of the men in their lives, only ended up each other's prisoners.
This is also truly a book for book lovers/nerds. With three of the main characters being writers, The Villa is a book within a book and delves into writers' creative process. Fans of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley will enjoy the Easter eggs and references to the two female authors' fascinating lives.

This one started a bit slow for me but once it picked up I really enjoyed it. There is a little twist at the end that I didn’t see coming!

This was my first Rachel Hawkins book, I’ve heard of her (I am not living under a rock) and I’ve always planned to read The Wife Upstairs, the Ex Hex and Reckless Girls, but I always postponed them, because I have to be in a specific mood to read a thriller, or - like in this case - have a timer on it.

What I can say is: I will pick these other books up SOON! and I am sure this one will sell EXTREMELY well.

Let’s start with the Plot, the idea is just great: two friends (more like sisters) go to Italy to take a break from their lives, and to work on their next project, but the Villa’s history pulls them in and the tension is palpable. The ending is perfect for the story and ties the whole book with the best bow for the package!

The Narration: I loved how the double timeline progressed keeping my interest on both. Both timelines kept me guessing and the pace was perfect, so when the author was switching to the other timelines (with very smart newspaper articles and other clues) I was immediately captured by the page.

But what I loved the most were the Characters and their relationships. Mari and Lara & Em and Chess. The dynamics between these 2 sets of women were - to me - the best part of the book. Their relationships were messy, a mixture of love and competition and envy, they felt real because we all have someone in our lives we love but that sometimes we don’t really like.

It was all around a great book and I am so glad I was able to read it before it hit the shelves.

I loved this unique tale with an interesting take on the standard sex, drugs and rock n roll narrative. Best friends (who are both authors) go on a girls trip to a beautiful villa in Italy which was also the site of a tragic death in 1974. With themes of friendship and betrayal, I found it captivating and utterly compelling. Alternating between past and present, the character development was on point with lots of twists and turns along the way.
The only negative I found was it had really long chapters that bounced between past and present with no warning. The flow would have worked better with some spacing, but I read an ARC so maybe that will be corrected before publication.

Excellent book. I would classify this as mystery/suspense. This story centers on the events at an Italian villa in the 1970s and the present. The alternating views and plot lines work perfectly together and neatly come together in the end. While the story is not super exciting, it has a slow burn that pays off in the explosive events near the end. Writing is engaging, characters are fascinating, and the story meaningful. Another great job, Rachel Hawkins! Thank you to NetGalley, for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I went into this book not knowing what to expect, but pleasantly surprised with the result. This story tracks two timelines - a modern pair of friends on retreat at the Villa, and a bohemian group of Musicians who stayed at the Villa about 50 years ago. While the book started off with a gothic horror vibe - it gradually become more of a "band memoir". In some ways it reminded me of "Daisy Jones and the Six". Overall I think I liked the story with the music group a bit more than the two modern characters. This book moved quickly and was easy to get pulled into, a great read if you want a little escape.
There was one twist at the end that I was not happy about. I felt it didn't really ring true. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I felt that one character did something that was much too easily forgiven. So I would make this 4.5 stars due to that twist.
I feel like Rachel Hawkins really stepped up her game on this one!