Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julia Bartz for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Writing Retreat coming out February 21, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Alex is down on her luck and struggling as an aspiring author. She then receives the opportunity of a lifetime. She’s chosen to attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t deter her excitement.

At the writing retreat, Roza drops a bombshell. During the month’s stay, they must all complete an entire novel. The author of the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex is determined to win, despite the odds. She gets to work and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s mind games, and the alleged haunting. When one of the authors disappears during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very dark is afoot. Will she be able to escape the retreat alive? 

This is the first book I’ve read from Julia Bartz, so I’m not sure what her writing style is normally. I really enjoyed the first half of the book. I thought the idea of a writing retreat with aspiring authors is fun. I was prepared for a thriller. I thought it would be a mystery type with some psychological games. However, the second half of the book was a little too crazy for me. There were some insane plot points like the drugging and hostage situation. There was just too much going on with no consequences. I wasn’t a fan of the ending.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys crazy psychological thrillers.

When I learned this was a debut for the author, I was shocked, This book is psychological suspense through and through. Alex’s character development throughout the book was probably one of my favorite things to take note of. The plot becomes very strange, disturbing, sexy, nightmarish and even hallucinatory. The setting is very unique. I found Blackbriar to give off some gothic vibes and it is secluded which gave me locked room vibes. Overall a wonderful read! This book is published Feb., 21!

This book was one wild ride, what a debut novel! It starts out with five young(ish) writers meeting in the estate of a loved horror novelist for a writing retreat where one hopes to leave with a book deal. And then insanity ensues. I truly thought I had figured out what was going on, but clearly I am not quite as good at that as I once thought. I would absolutely recommend this author and novel to anyone!

When Alex is good for an Ursula tells her she got her a spot at Rose Valeris writing retreat she is over the moon but when she further explained that her ex best friend Rin is also going it’s upsetting but the fact she is going to her favorite riders house for the event sooth'sany bad feelings she has about seeing her ex friend again. When she arrives it’s just her and the other three girls Cara, Taylor and popping in everyone seems really nice and very supportive. When they are looking around the rooms Alex notices her room has a double bed in the only person that wasn’t there yet is her ex best friend and since everyone has signed gifts in the room she knows she’s expected to share a room with Rinn. Thankfully Poppy says she doesn’t like sleeping alone and was share the room. At dinner they learn from rose that they were expected to write 3000 words a day and they must come up with a new storyline because whoever writes the best novel will win $1 million. Unfortunately for Alex since her and Rin stopped being friends she’s hand writers block but a quick one on one with Rose seems to break her out of it. They all have very interesting storylines they’ve come up with but Alex has been told us wasn’t that great entry should write about Bethany be original mistress of the Home who claim to have contacted a demoness name Lamie. but what makes the story so much better is her and her husband Horace murder is still unsolved. Roses mood swing faster than a grandfather clocks pendulum before it’s over instead of getting out with the novel they’ll be hoping to get out with their life. This was the craziest book… OMG was it good… Even the story Alex was writing in the story sounded so good. I will say I could’ve definitely done without the cringe worthy detailed sex scenes because I thought this was horror not porn. Having said that though this Brooke still deserves four stars are usually do not go with the crowd but I must agree with most of the reviewer‘s that this is one great piece of writing and would’ve been even better without the detailed sex. This could’ve easily turned out to be a jumbled mess but it’s quite the opposite. I really enjoyed this book and although it’s a long it seems to fly by in a flash. I will definitely definitely read more from this author but wish she would lay low on the nipple talk. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher that I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Writing Retreat is a psychological thriller that follows five up and coming female authors getting the experience of a lifetime, especially for our protagonist Alex who needed it the most.

They are invited to a writing retreat at a famous novelists home in the Adirondack’s. It’s a dream come true, right? Until Alex realizes her former best friend is also invited.

What starts as some “friendly competition” turns into a series of events so dark and twisted. I was fascinated by the concepts throughout the book such as gothic horror, a book within a book, women competing against women (which I don’t like), but then that turning into women supporting women while in the race for survival. Alex’s character development throughout the story was one of the best parts, and although the ending was over the top, truly a roller coaster, it was entertaining to read how it all played out. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this, and I’m looking forward to hear others thoughts on this one!

This book was just a wild ride. Alex, as well as 4 other women win a writing competition and are selected to attend a retreat where they'll write a novel over the course of a month. The winner will have their book published and the notoriety of the endorsement of author, Roza Vallo.

Think of the way women writers would lose their minds if Colleen Hoover hosted a retreat down in Texas only to realize they're trapped and things aren't what them seem. That my friends is "The Writing Retreat".

Each of the characters was developed really well and I turned the pages quickly to find out what would happen. The overall plot was fresh and new. Readers who are overly literal may have trouble with some of the more far fetched plot twists. I just enjoyed the secluded, cold wintery February when the book takes place. As a reader I didn't know who to trust and how dark the book would go. The ending was wrapped up well and I closed my E-Reader thoroughly satisfied.

Alex, an aspiring author, is newly thirty and has lost her mooring. She is miserable at her current job, estranged from her best friend, and suffering from a crippling case of writer’s block. When she is selected to participate in an elite writer’s retreat sponsored by her favorite horror author (and childhood idol), Roza Vallo, Alex jumps at the prospect of a fresh start. What she finds when she arrives at the mysterious Blackbriar estate is a mysterious history, an enigmatic host, four talented competitors, and the daunting (for Alex herself, seemingly impossible) writing task of 3000 words per day. Tensions rise as the five young writers all seem to be competing for Roza’s affection and attention even over the promised prize of publication. But when one of the writers disappears during a blizzard, Alex snaps out of her writing-induced reverie and realizes that she and her fellow competitors are in greater danger than writerly obscurity.

This book started off strong for me. I loved the setting of a creepy, isolated mansion with a sinister history. I also loved the concept; a lot of authors write characters who are authors, but this was a unique take. I thought the idea of a writing retreat was really interesting. I also liked the inclusion of excerpts from the book Alex was writing. However, this book lost me about halfway through. It was like the author couldn’t decide whether to make the paranormal elements real or imagined. The second half was very chaotic and there was just too much going on. I also didn’t find any of the reveals shocking because there was just too many. 2.5 stars

Review will be posted on 2/20 on Instagram @readwithkendall

A real can’t put it down plot. Not like anything I’ve read before. The twists in the plot are memorable and the level of involvement with the characters is notable. My only quibble is that the book within the book interrupts the flow of the plot. When I wanted to rush ahead to find out what happened.
This is a book I could recommend to lots of people.

The second I saw the description of this book, I knew it was one I had to read! The premise is a young and struggling author Alex gets invited to an exclusive writing retreat hosted by her favorite author, Rosa Vallo. Once at the retreat, Alex realizes that Rozas intentions might be more sinister, and things turn into a nightmare from there 🔪📝❄️

I loved the gothic, snowy setting and locked room component of this book. Goodreads compares this to THE PLOT meets PLEASE JOIN US which I totally cosign!

I totally recommend this book and think it’s the perfect thriller to get you through the dreary month of February 🙃

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced review copy of this book! 💚

I truly love a book with an a book and the way it was done in this story was phenomenal.

From the moment I started this book, I could tell it was going to be a five star read for me, and that never wavered throughout. This was such a pulse pounding, intriguing read, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

When our protagonist, Alex’s dream comes true to participate in a writing retreat hosted by the author she idolizes, she jumps at the chance… Finding out that her ex best friend and current nemesis is also in attendance definitely puts a damper on her excitement, but Alex has had writers block for months and she does not want to miss this opportunity.

The synopsis declares that one invitee to the retreat goes missing in the night, but that honestly doesn’t even happen until like halfway through the book. So you already have so much story established before this main event even happens. And I thought that was really cool because it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for that shoe to drop, so to speak.

While the first half of this book is fast paced and moves along really well, it’s the second half of the book that really propels you forward. This book will definitely make it onto my favorites of 2023 list..

This one has been on my tbr for a while, but a recommendation from @crimebythebook got me to bump it up my list and I’m so glad I did!

Imagine being invited to a writing retreat but your favorite (and somewhat reclusive) author at an isolated (maybe haunted?) mansion. A terrifying dream come true, right? Now imagine getting there and finding out one of the participants is your former best friend who cut you out of their life? And that’s only the start of your problems, because people are starting to disappear and you might be next.

That’s the setup to this twisty and eerie Agatha Christie style mystery. The debut novel from @juliabartz explores the nature of female relationships, both friendly and more than, as well as the various ways that women can use or abuse their own power.

Not only will this locked room thriller keep you guessing, but it also utilizes one of my favorite tropes; a story within a story, and one that’s every bit as interesting as the main plot.

A year after a dramatic falling out, Alex finds herself invited to a writing retreat at the secluded house of a famous author with her ex-best friend Wren and three other hopeful authors to be. The five girls quickly find that the retreat isn’t as straightforward as it sounded. The question is no longer if they’ll finish their manuscripts, but if they’ll survive.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat for its entire second half. Constantly unsure of which of the authors can be trusted, I found myself flying through chapter after chapter. I highly recommend anyone in the market for a thriller pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

I went into this book blind and I’m kinda glad I did. Although I felt like the book moved slowly at first, I did enjoy this read. I was able to predict a lot of things, but when they actually happened, it was waaaay more than I thought and then something bigger would happen that was not even in my radar that just had me questioning how I didn’t notice it before. I kept thinking how could these scenarios for these characters get worse, and then it would but in a wonderful twisty thriller way. Let me just say, midway through the retreat on Valentine’s Day things get HECTIC, that my previous thoughts of it being slow paced went right out the window. After that, I could not put this book down.

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because it was a bit all over the place and the here and there erotic scenes kinda felt weird but all and all a great debut novel in my opinion. For sure would read Julia Bartz next book if also in the thriller/mystery genre.

All I knew about this book was that it was trending on all the social medias. I went into it not even knowing what it was about besides guessing a writing retreat was involved.
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This book had a little bit of everything going on. Suspense. Thrills. Murder. LGBTQ. Feminism. Ghosts? Yeah that surprised me too.
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A ton of shocking twists and turns had me wondering what in tarnation was gonna happen next. There’s no way I could’ve guessed the ending from the beginning.
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This book is being published 2/21/23. Thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for the advanced readers copy. 🤍

There was the slightest bit of something being off with this one. TBH I think this would of been more of a hit for me if it were a movie — and that is deeply ironic since it's about a bunch of writers, ha! I think I wanted an unputdownable whodunnit and the personal relationships (and the sex) was a bit distracting for me? But, at the same time, I feel like these relationships were maybe pretty integral to the novel. Idk, I'm conflicted! It was just OK for me, but I did like how the story wrapped up!

Alex is a writer with a year long writer's block that is struggling with life specially after her fallout with her best friend. Until there is a chance for her to go the writing retreat hosted by her favorite writer, Roza Vallo. She feels that her dreams are comig true until weird things start to happen.

So, in one word: predictable. From the beginning of the retreat, you know what's going to happen. Every single big twist is extremely telegraphed since the beginning. And since the plot is pretty clear, my attentiont went back to the characters. In a thriller I'm not looking fot the best ones but since the story was so completely predictable and non-moving, I was hopping they would be the saving grace. But, nope. The characters are completely flat and they are more caricatures then actual people. Each woman in the retreat is defined by one single word even when the author tries to inject some more personality into them: Taylor quirky, Poppy secretive, Wren high-maintenance, Keisha smart, and Alex troubled. Even the book points that out by the end even if I don't think that was the intention of the author.

There are so many threads that simply go nowhere as if the author was also in the writing retreat and had to fill the daily word quota. I was going to give the book 2 stars but the ending was so awful in my opinion that I had to give it one star.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

"The Writing Retreat" is a wild ride full of tension, fear, and so many good plot twists. This read will have you on the edge of your seat as a young author goes on what should be the writing retreat of a lifetime...But when a dark turn of events occurs, the reader enters into a thrilling ride that illuminates a strife for survival and a fight against natural instinct.

This was not my favorite thriller, but it definitely had me intrigued throughout. Julia Bartz knows how to write an enticing story, and I will recommend this book to any fellow thriller-lovers.

Sadly, this one wasn't for me... Too many things didn't click with me from the start: weird sexual tension, the writing style, too many distractions. I really wanted to like this book and was looking forward to a page turning thriller, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thanks to Negalley and Atria Books eGalley for the E-ARC. I honestly dont know how to feel about this book. While I understand that it is a debut and I dont have anything else to compare it to I can say that this book had me feeling all over the place. There were some things that I could of done without, times when I threw up my hands up, and times when I was completely shocked by what was going on because it was good and unexpected