Batshit crazy and a heck of a ride!

I love a fast paced story about books, eerie houses and atmospheres, and toxic friendships. If you do too, I think you should pickup this book! And the end of Part 2?! That had me convinced! This does go off the rails in the best way possible and I’m glad Bartz took the risk b/c in my mind it paid off!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic debut! I knew the gist of this story going in, but didn’t want to go in with any expectations and I’m glad because I finished this in one day! It’s a thriller with horror elements, and the story within the story features some supernatural settings which worked well together.

I found the setup to be incredible with the atmosphere and details, from getting to the house and learning about all the characters to the tension building as the story progressed. It’s obvious early on that things are not what they seem. The character personalities were distinct and there was some solid development for the protagonist by the end.

It doesn’t take long for this story to go off the rails and it is clear from the beginning that the host, Roza, is deranged and not to be trusted—and she certainly does not hide it. The story was predictable in some aspects and I did figure out one of the plot lines within a few chapters, but this delivered with the villainous monologues, gothic atmosphere, complicated (and suspicious) characters, and consistent pacing.

I can see how it isn’t for everyone and it isn’t perfect, but with the twists and turns, it was entertaining and dark, which is a lot of what I want in this type of thriller.

This ultimately ended up not being for me. Typically, I devour these types of books, but there was something that didn't quite work and I'm not sure it had anything to do with the book, but simply my enjoyment of it. I will be on the lookout for more work from Julia!

This was a crraaaaazzyyyy thriller that I literally could NOT put down!! Maybe even one of my fave thrillers of the year?? I am still in shock that this was a debut!! It had all the tropes I love and executed them perfectly. I never knew who to trust when reading this and I couldn't figure out what was going to happen until it did. Before starting this, I saw some reviews saying the plot and twists were a little out there so I was expecting something that was a little too crazy, but I didn't think it was "out there" at all. I thought Roza was such a complex and interesting character and her arc totally threw me for a loop, as well as reminded me of the leader in Nine Perfect Strangers.

Alex and Wren's relationship was so interesting to read about and I thought their complex friendship/relationship fit into the storyline perfectly. It fit well with the #TrustNoOne theme and I thought their resolution was realistic.

The writing itself was so detailed yet succinct enough to keep my attention. I could picture Blackbriar Estate during the snowstorm so well and it really added to the creepiness of the story. I can't wait to read what Julia Bartz puts out next!!

4.75 stars

Really enjoyed it! The plot twist was so unexpected! Highly recommend this one. Super fast paced and a quick read

Loved this one! Such a fun and fresh take on the thriller. It felt so different than other thrillers I've read (especially recently), and, as someone who works in the literary world, I loved the inside baseball of it all. The setting was also perfect. We need more thrillers set in isolated mansions during snow storms!

They were drugged and you were drugged right along with them. There were some scenes that left with like what am I reading.

I’ve read several review of this incandescent debut comparing it The Plot, The Secret History, and other novels. But I am here to tell you that this is like nothing you’ve ever read before.

This is psychological mayhem at its very best.

All I’m going to say is READ THIS!

This book was amazing. It had such a cool and creepy atmosphere the entire book. I loved the characters and how flawed they were. There were so many reveals and twists that I didn't see coming. I also loved how the history of the house was woven into the story in such a significant way. I did think the ending could've been a bit different. I was a little unsatisfied with the ending, but I still loved the entire book. I give it 4.5/5 stars.

4.5
What I loved:
- Isolated snowy setting
- Authors being bad
- Drama galore
- Fun and entertaining
- Discussing friendship breakups
- Loved the growth from certain characters.
- Found the direction the author took Alex and Wren in unsuspecting, but perfect.

What I didn’t love:
- Ending was extremely anticlimactic compared to the rest of the book.
- Wasn’t AS over the top and crazy as I expected it to be.

Overall, I had so much fun reading this thriller and I thought Julia Bartz did such an awesome job for her debut! Very happy this was my March Patreon book club pick, it was a blast discussing it.
I will 100% be picking up future books from this author.

This one didn’t hit the mark for me. I liked the book the main character was writing better than the present day story. The sexual tension was a little too much in my opinion. I’d read this author again though!

That was a wild ride.

Twists and turns, along with new revelations I did not expect. Saying this book kept me intrigued and wanting to know what would happen next is an understatement.

It’s definitely not my got to genre, but it was a refreshing read outside of my norm.

Overall enjoyed this book and I went into not thinking I would.

I really enjoyed the unexpected twists. It focuses on a writer’s retreat in a remote area where a group of strong women writers are placed with some competition between them. A chilly book with lots of twists!

Alex is a writer, or, at least, she used to be a writer. She's been suffering from severe writer's block since an intense falling out with her best friend (there may have been blood involved). But, another writer friend has just scored her a spot at a highly competitive writing retreat in rural upstate New York hosted at the home of Alex's favorite writer, Roza Vallo. Now Alex is facing an incredible challenge for a writer in top form: write a novel in 28 days. There are four other women at the retreat and the one who writes the best novel over the next four weeks will win a highly lucrative book contract. Miles away from civilization with no cell service or internet access, the lush estate might prove to be a gilded cage, especially as the snow falls, the power goes out, and one writer vanishes.

The pacing started out a little slow for my tastes, but by the halfway point, I was invested in what was going to happen, even if the plot seemed far-fetched at times. Alex, our first-person narrator, took some time to warm up to, but I appreciated the growth that I saw in her character over the course of the novel. A solid, but heavy-handed thriller.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC. This book was amazing! Strong feminist characters, intriguing plot, what more do I need?

I can only imagine what authors go through to get a book published and I enjoyed how The Writing Retreat takes a bit of that struggle and stress and ties it into a thriller dripping with suspense.

Alex has had writer's block since her and her bestie had a falling out over an intimate night together. When she receives the exclusive opportunity to attend a writer's retreat with a well known horror writer she jumps at the opportunity. Add the twist that ex-bestie will be attending and that there is some really weird things occurring and you're just getting started.

There are multiple elements that you'd think would be competing for center stage but in truth they molded well. A mixture of character's with different traumas, Alex's personal realization of her sexual preferences and the weird ritualistic requirements of the competition to crank out a story in a month. Some parts felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped while a majority of the novel kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next.

I do feel the story Daphne segments took a little away from the flow of the plot even though I liked the creativity of adding them. I finished this in two days wanting to know how it ends. It's atmospheric, twisty in a way I didn't expect, slightly predictable but overall a fun read to get sucked into. Thank you Simon and Schuster for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This little thriller is out now!

I had high hopes for this one but it fell very flat fr me. The dialogue was stilted and unbelievable, and the writing process in this workshop was so over the top it lost me as it went on. This definitely was not for me, but YMMV, as always. Just know that this book purports to be about writers writing together, and the cutthroat nature of a workshop and post-fallout female friendships, but it's actually just a lot of cattiness and drugs.

I absolutely LOVED The Writing Retreat! It is exactly my cup of tea! I was kept guessing the whole time and shocked at the twists and turns. I can't wait to read her again!

Very interesting read of a group of potential authors on a retreat coordinated by a well known author, that turns into a horror story of kidnapping, killing, deception, with a semi winner of an ending. A little crazy story line, fairly unbelievable, but entertaining.

💻The Writing Retreat💻

“What would it feel like to hold your own book in your hands for the first time? For it to be a physical object, a thing that people paid for?”

Alex ponders this daily yet suffers from writer’s block for over a year since “the incident.” What happened with her ex-best friend Wren has completely taken over her mind; she can’t get over it. Even worse, Wren is also a writer & shared the same friend group. So, it’s inevitable that when Alex goes to support a mutual friend at her book signing event SHE will be there.

Which is harder a friend break up or relationship? Both Wren & Alex have childhood trauma causing each to have very different personalities. While one suffered physical abuse, she finds it easier to walk away & move on; the other remembers years of emotional neglect & finds herself clinging to every good memory they had together.

When push comes to shove who will give in? Will it be to forgive or for revenge?

Both are invited to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at their IDOL Author Roza Vallo’s Blackbriar Estate in the Adirondacks of New York. This Victorian Mansion was renovated to re-create the home originally built in 1881 by oil tycoon Horace Hamilton. The house has a haunting past of demons, witchcraft, & death, which is exactly why Roza likes it.

“It’s perfect for Roza…The same dark, disturbing vibe as her book.”

When they arrive the pair quickly realize getting along will be the least of their worries. Who is Roza really & what’s going on in the house, with her staff & the other house guests?

“…This wild frenetic energy coursing through me was more like abject terror.”

“Being the focus of her gaze was like nothing else I’d ever experienced; like being pinned down as she cracked open my skull, staring impassively, considering the slimy things inside.”

“What is to give light must endure burning.”

💭Are you in a Book Club? Is it IRL or Virtual? What was your March pick?

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