After a devastating fight with her best friend Wren, Alex has writer’s block. She hasn’t been able to write a word on a blank page for the past year. Ready to give up on her dreams of becoming an author, Alex receives a letter from Roza Vallo, her favorite author, who is renowned in the writing world. Roza has sent an invitation to join her and four other young, talented writers at her remote estate home, Blackbriar. One of the participants is none other the estranged Wren. When the girls arrive, they are given their rooms, each with a necklace of 22-karat gold, each girl receiving a different animal with a diamond eye. They are also given Roza’s strict parameters: every participant must complete a novel in the next month of intensive writing sessions, with a minimum number of three thousand words due every day by midnight. The author of the winning novel will win a seven-figure book that will completely change that author’s life. Determined to win this impossible contest, Alex buckles down to her writing task while ignoring Roza’s increasingly bizarre behavior, Wren’s cold-blooded passive-aggressiveness, and the supposedly haunting of the mansion where they are all trapped by a snowstorm in a remote area with no outside communications. When one of the young writers completely disappears out in the snowstorm, it’s clear there is something evil happening. With their time running out, Alex must figure out how to discover what happened, because the same fate awaits her as well.

The malevolent atmosphere of this engrossing thriller is chilling, from the “too good to be true” contest offer and the idiosyncratic Roza, to the strangely doleful housekeeper and the bizarre art in the mansion, which has been completely renovated to replicate its history. The gothic novel about the previous owners and their bloody history that Alex is writing adds to the sinister, morose feeling. “The Writing Retreat” alternates between the present and snippets of her novel, which Alex imagines the former lady of the manor is somehow helping her write. The other contestants are not necessarily who they present themselves to be except for Wren, and the one-on-one meetings with Roza are full of psychological mind games, prying out the girls’ deepest secrets and appearing to know much more than they have actually shared with her. It was nearly impossible to put this book down until I finished it, and know it will stay with me for a very long time. I recommend reading this debut work from Julia Bartz if you are a fan of gothic tales, thrillers, even supernatural—there is plenty for readers of each genre to enjoy.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Julia Bartz, and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/ Emily Bestler Books for a digital review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinions!

It’s been awhile since I enjoyed a breakneck thriller read like I enjoyed The Writing Retreat. The struggling writer dealing with professional and personal envy was a great lens to view the story through, and more books should explore friend breakups (although this book viewed it through a decidedly sexier edge). Overall the story had great pacing with plot points and twists that kept me rapidly turning pages.

There was a strange tacked-on conversation between the retreat writers towards the beginning regarding pronouns and race that didn’t feel like it provided any good character insight and the themes and conversations never went anywhere. It felt like Bartz was trying to modernize the text but it ended up feeling awkward and pandering.

This is definitely a campier thriller, with some twists and situations you may have to suspend your disbelief for. But fortunately I was along for the ride, even when sexy demon dreams and snowmobile chases entered the mix.

The excerpts of the book Alex is writing got a bit repetitive and they interrupted the cadence of the story’s action. The fate of this story at the end of the novel felt dubious at best.

I haven’t had much luck with reading thrillers I’d truly recommend to friends but this one is superior than many I’ve read in the past year! For the right reader (okay with the zany, fond of books with a supernatural edge and fast-paced reads) this is a great book to pick up.

This book is something else! I was on the edge of my seat! It's been some time since I finished reading my advance copy and I still remember the characters, the storyline, and many of the scenes vividly - a challenge when one reads as much as I do. I have recommended this book many times over to other lovers of thrillers as well as other writers.

I went into this book with no real idea of what to expect. I knew it was a debut novel, I knew it was a psychological thriller, and I knew it was about writing a novel in the span of a month (hello, NaNoWriMo!). Considering the fact that I’ve been sitting on three separate ideas for a book for the last several years, this premise intrigued me. However, I was not expecting what I was eventually given, which was a roller coaster of events.

Overall, I rather enjoyed this book. I’ll stamp it with a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I don’t read a whole lot of psychological thrillers, so I was pleasantly surprised. It was also a quick read; good tempo and pacing. I didn’t feel like it dragged on too much except for maybe the last quarter or so, after the twist. But then closer to the end it revved up. I also liked how there were little clues sprinkled throughout that made you question almost everyone. At least I was suspicious of basically everyone. An enjoyable read for the genre, but didn’t blow me out of the water. I’ll probably read more from this author though!

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a really interesting premise, however it did not get really going until about 60% in. Once I hit that point, I could not put it down because I had to know how the Writing Retreat would end!

I found most of the characters to be unlikeable and I wasn't rooting for any of them. Would prefer to read the book inside the book instead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was very much a slow burn for me for the first 50%, but the last half was a wiiiild ride. Once the action picked up, I could *not* put this book down. The setting was wonderfully creepy and the storyline was refreshingly unique. Just wish we could have picked up the pacing a bit in the first half!

Thank you so much @AtriaBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 21 February 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Alex is an aspiring writer but has had writers block for the past year ever since she fell out with her former best friend (Wren). Both of them have been invited to an exclusive month-long writers retreat at an isolated gothic mansion hosted by one of their favourite authors (Roza).

WHAT I LIKED:
- entertaining yet ludicrous plot where you're unlikely to predict the many twists & turns
- some interesting thoughts around sexuality & female empowerment

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the pacing felt uneven & slow for the majority of the story
- it felt like the story lacked focus & tried to cram in too many subplots
- it was part ghost story, part horror, part mystery & part erotica but it wasn't satisfying as any genre
- the last 20% gave me whiplash & was extremely over-the-top

Thank you Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the chance to read an advance copy of The writing retreat by Julia Bartz. I enjoy both suspense thrillers and books about books/writing so I thought this debut novel would be a perfect book to read, and the premise sounds fantastic, but I just couldn't get into it. I was not a fan of the writing. After putting it down several times, I finally DNF it. With many wonderful reviews, maybe it wasn't for me, but others may enjoy it.

The Writing Retreat is a psychological thriller about a famous author who invites five up and coming female novelists to her home in the Adirondacks for a month-long writing retreat. The competition is fierce, but there is a whole lot more at stake than just winning.
I liked the book within a book concept and the pacing that kept you intrigued till the end. There was some wording and phrasing that I didn't love but in general the plot of the book to keep reading and want to know what comes next.

I really liked the premise of this novel and found there were many elements I enjoyed - but overall, it just wasn't a big hit for me. I honestly can't put my finger on exactly what fell flat for me, I just found I had to keep reminding myself to pick it up - it wasn't a "can't put down" one for me. That being said, I've seen a lot of positive reviews and could see this being very popular for book clubs. Solidly written, just not a favourite for me.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review - all opinions are my own.

- THE WRITING RETREAT is one of the most unhinged books I've ever read, and I was completely along for the ride.
- I don't want to give away too much, but if you love a thriller where both you and the main character can't decide who's in on it, what's real, and how it's going to end, this is your book.

DNF. While the premise sounded interesting, respectfully, the content was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me an ARC.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Alex is struggling in her personal and professional life when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to attend an exclusive writing retreat hosted by her favorite author...but the invitation may not be all that it seems.

This book has an exceptional premise, and the vibes (winter locked room thriller with an AND THEN THERE WERE NONE type plot) were outstanding. I’ve heard so many good things and went into this read extremely excited—especially because it was a BOTM pick and I usually have great luck with their choices.

Unfortunately, this one ultimately fell a *little* flat for me. It wasn’t bad (as evidenced by my 3.5 stars) but I found the plot a bit too unbelievable, and felt like the ending was very out-of-character/didn’t fit with the rest of the story. I also wanted more of a twist or reveal—everything seemed pretty predictable the whole way through.

All of that said, I do want to emphasize that I’ve seen some amazing reviews of this one and you might like it a lot more than I did! And, the writing is generally good and engaging—I’ll definitely still be giving this author a future try for whatever she writes next.

Recommended if you like: locked door mysteries; women’s wrongs; books about books

CW: Kidnapping/confinement; blood/death/violence; toxic friendship/emotional abuse/gaslighting; sexual encounters involving questionable consent

I tore through this book. Wow! As a writer and thriller fan, this knocked it out of the park. I can't even imagine the terror of writing an entire novel in a month against four other talented writers for a million dollar deal. The pressure! Plus the creepy house and the intimidating Roza, not to mention the awkwardness of the BFF break-up. Such a fantastic premise that this debut author not only pulled off but blew me away. Highly recommend.

The Writing Retreat
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Julia Bartz for providing me with an eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
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Let’s take the idea of NaNoWriMo, turn it up a thousand notches, and throw in a cryptic writer and a creepy house that may or may not be haunted to tip it over the edge! Welcome to the Writing Retreat!
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With a cast of unreliable characters and an uneasiness that slowly creeps in, the Writing Retreat made for an entertaining read. I really liked that at times it almost felt like gothic fiction. Very desolate and unsettling and liminal. I wish it had leaned into that and the paranormal aspect just a teensy bit more.
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I’m a serial guesser when it comes to movies and books, especially mysteries and thrillers 😂 I tried not to guess here and just enjoy the suspense of it all, but I couldn’t help it! You can kinda guess the ending, but it’s still fun watching everything unfold. I loved the book excerpts within the book and how it tied into Alex’s own experiences.
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Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. If you’re looking for a new thriller or a book that’s easy to fall into, give the Writing Retreat a shot. It is available for purchase in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook format.

4 out of 5 stars for me. I was able to predict the ending which for me is always a bummer. Overall, it was a good read. Different than my usual thrillers. I enjoyed the character development & the setting was pretty cool.

The Writing Retreat
By Julia Bartz

👯‍♀️ We start out meeting our female MC who has been getting over a BFF breakup over the past year. She and her former BFF and now rival end up being selected to attend an exclusive writing retreat in a big rambling estate with their favorite author. This select group of women are chosen to join the month-long writing intensive with the promise of a seven-figure publishing deal for the best novel at the end of the month–and not long after arriving, some strange things start to occur.

Read this if you like:

❄️ An atmospheric read (secluded, rambling estate in a snow storm)
🔐 Locked Room Mystery
👎 Unlikeable characters
📚 A book within a book (fun parallel)
🐉 Sapphic thriller with strange sexual interactions—no lie, second best quote in this book was…’I had sex with a demon, and then I passed out, and then I woke up in my bed.’
💭 A bit of suspended reality
🌀 Dark and Twisty

One of my favorite quotes from this novel, referring to an author interview early in the book:

‘These lovely people all trooped here in the scorching heat because they wanted to learn about us. Isn’t that the whole point of author events? To get a glimpse into the life and mind of the person who’s been whispering into your brain for the last ten hours?”

✍️ I just love that. Is that why we’re so interested in hearing from our favorite authors? To get a glimpse into the life and mind of the person who’s been whispering into your brain?

What's better than a debut novel that rocks your socks off?? Even when a writer is brand new to me, I feel this giant swell of pride when they create a stellar story, one that feels like it's been crafted from years of experience. … And clearly The Writing Retreat was no exception!

Young, budding authors are invited to a month long retreat at the home of a famous horror writer's glorious Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods. This is the opportunity of their lifetime, being handed the tools and time (and atmosphere!) to focus on and create their first novel, their ultimate masterpiece. Almost immediately, the stakes start to rise, the rules intensify and the tension between contestants thickens.

The sinister vibe of the book is always present, but grows quietly as the plot progresses. From the very beginning, you know *something* isn't right, but what is that something? The story flowed so naturally and the characters were very believable and real, nothing about this book felt forced. I was really impressed with the pacing, the build up of the underlying story, the mystery, all of it! I'm incredibly excited to see what Julia Bartz comes up with next!
Thank you netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Julia Bartz for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I was really excited to receive this as a digital early copy through Net Galley. This is Julia Bartz's debut novel and I enjoyed her sister's last novel, so was excited to read the latest from this storytelling family.

The premise of this story is fantastic. Young, hungry authors, invited to a mysterious well-known horror author's gothic retreat? Yes, please!

It's a little spicier than I expected, but not overly so. Some of the elements of the story I had a hard time fully buying into, but overall I'd recommend this book. The pacing is good, the character development makes sense, and the suspense keeps you flipping the page.

REVIEW: The Writing Retreat

Author: Julia Bartz
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

💬 “I knew what it felt like to have a good idea. The concept would trigger something, a little ember deep down in the belly. You’d have to be careful not to hold it too tightly. But you could feel it—the expansive glow of all the possibilities.”

Content Warning(s): Murder, Sexual Content, Gun Violence, Drug Use

📚 About the Book: Alex is an aspiring author working a dead-end job in educational publishing. When she’s invited last-minute to a writing retreat with her favorite author (Roza Vallo), she feels hope for the first time in a while… except her ex-best friend (and the reason for her year-long writing block) will also be in attendance. Turns out Roza’s techniques are… unusual, to say the least. Alex and the other girls slowly descend into madness as they try to discover what’s really going on.

💭 My Thoughts: This was definitely FOR ME. I don’t read a lot of thrillers because I tend to not enjoy them, but holy moly I couldn’t put this down. I personally loved the characters and the setting. I also love, love, loveeee books about writers writing. I really enjoyed the excerpts of the book the main character was writing during the retreat. Of course, there were a few strange things that happened in the story that were never fully explained, but I really didn’t mind. I cannot believe this is a debut. Big fan!

💌 Read this if you like… haunted houses, gothic vibes, and books about writers.