The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz was listed as a must-read book on Goodreads for 2023, and when I stumbled upon it on NetGalley, I decided to give this one a chance, as Bartz was a new author to me. I enjoyed the plot immensely: a famous writer offers a retreat for 4 young female authors under 30. One declines, and somehow two replace her. One of them is the protagonist, Alex, but she's shocked to learn a former friend has also been invited. When they all arrive, they're in lockdown with 3 support staff and the famous author, and they must write a full novel by the end of the month. Also, the best one voted by the group will win a million dollar publishing contract. Unfortunately, it becomes clear there is more going on behind the scenes, and then one of them disappears. From there, it ventures into a horror-esque tone with a psycho on the loose. Really connected with the main character, but the others were all a bit strange. Lots to unpack with the famous author's true intent, and as we learn of partnerships behind the scene, the scene turns deadly. Will definitely read more from the author and look forward to seeing her growth in the industry.

Wow!! In The Writing Retreat, Julia brilliantly melds the mystery/suspense and women’s fiction genres to create a storyline that will knock your socks off!! The characters grab you from the very beginning and have you emotionally invested the entire way through. The pacing was perfect- honesty you won’t be able to put your kindle down so plan accordingly!! Julia Bartz is any automatic read for me— because of that I went into this novel completely blind and boy did she “wow” me!!! The Writing Retreat is a 5 star novel that would make a fantastic book club selection!!! This is truly a novel you will be able to discuss and dissect for hours!!! I am already looking forward to Julia next masterpiece!!

To be honest, this book was barely a 3 for me. I love books where you have a remote location with a sequestered group and a mystery but this was not my favorite. First, I found all the characters dislikable, especially Alex and Wren, the two main characters. Not a single depiction of any female in the story was positive. Additionally, it was woke and had a social agenda. Lastly, at the half-way mark I was ready to not finish it but it turned and got a little more interesting so it went from a 2 to barely a three.

In this book we meet Alex, a young author, who has basically given up on becoming a published author when she receives a once in a lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month long writing retreat at the estate of her favorite horror writer along with 3 other aspiring authors. Sounds awesome, right? —- WRONG!

I absolutely enjoyed this book! I was hooked from the first few pages. Friendship drama, a creepy mansion in the woods, one of the retreat attendees missing/presumed dead sets the stage for an unforgettable, twisty read.

Now some of the events were over the top but down right entertaining. I couldnt stop turning the pages. The last chapter did feel a bit rushed but after the wild ride I was taken on I didnt mind it ending.
Thank you so much to @atriabooks for the #gifted early copy of this book.

Phew - this book! From the first page, it gripped me and I teetered between wanting to devour it in one sitting and slowly savoring it by pacing it out. Ultimately, I decided on the later and each time I picked it up it felt like a dark and delicious treat.

This debut novel by Julia Bartz follows our protagonist, Alex, on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Caught in a dead-end job she hates and recovering from a brutal breakup with her best friend, Wren, Alex is selected as one of five women to attend a writing retreat at the estate of famed feminist horror author, Rosa Vallo. Quickly, Alex learns that one of the other women selected for the retreat is no other than her former best friend. The women are tasked with completing a completely new novel within a month, the best one of the bunch, being selected for a seven figure publishing deal. But quickly, it becomes clear that something sinister is afoot as elements of the horror books Rosa has become famous for creep into the competition.

This book is unapologetically dark and twisted, while teetering on a line between horror and thriller and is a musts read for anyone wanting a book to get their heart rate up.

While this book will certainly appeal to readers who are writers (and make them think twice about writing opportunities that come out of the blue!), this is also a prime example of a deeply unsettling remote location/manor house thriller that will appeal to fans of The Family Game and Lock Every Door.

First, the good. Julia Bartz's The Writing Retreat is exquisitely written and utterly compelling. It is a great winter thriller - a bit of horror, a lot of intrigue, and so much mystery... and my new favorite thing - a book within a book! I literally did not want to put this book down and I kept trying to figure out what the heck was going on with this creepy writing retreat. The author in question, Roza, was just so much EVERYTHING. You never know what you're gonna get with her, and her character really made this story interesting.

However... I was really put off by two things. One, this odd sub-plot (really just a mention) of a Jewish woman who falls in love with a Nazi during the Holocaust. Just... no. Why does that have to be part of a book published in 2023? I don't get it. I know you can argue Stockholm Syndrome or whatnot but DO BETTER. That is to the author, the editor, the publisher. This book did not need that, and it's wrong on so many levels.

The other thing that bothered me was all the sex content. Mention it, fine. But there were so many weird sex dreams and a long tangent into discussions of sexual orientation/sexual tension. If you want to write that, fine. but that seemed to be a large enough part of the plot that I would have thought it would have been part of the book description. I never would have read this if I had know that there would be multiple chapters devoted to weird sex dreams (some with a demon, no less). This definitely was on the "open door" side of things, and typically those books allude to it in the description, so this caught me off guard.

All in all, this book was two things at once - a great, well written thriller but also a bit surprising (and not in a good way), The surprising negative aspects definitely brought the start rating down for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Alex is given a once in a lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive one-month writing retreat with a very famous author (and one of her favorite). Knowing that her ex-best friend and current rival, Wren, will also attend won't even dampen her excitement. But the challenge is hard, and the stakes are high...
I read this psychological in one sitting. Think of a mix between The Plot, Please Join Us and The Villa. The characters were acting a bit like high school girls, which was annoying at times, but the dynamics between them was interesting in the circumstances. There was a lot of tension, and you do have to suspend disbelief at it is over-the-top, and the ending felt a bit rushed, but I loved the retreat, closed setting, with an eerie, weird and twisted atmosphere.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: 4/5⭐️

Alex dreams of being a published author but with every day that goes by, she feels her dream slipping away. In the midst of dealing with a one-year long writers block, Alex is invited to the notorious writer’s retreat at the home of Roza Vallo, Alex’s all time favorite author. What Alex doesn’t know is that this retreat is going to be full of secrets, games, and even death.

Alright y’all this one was SO GOOD. I was able to guess a lot of what happened, which is why it gets 4 stars from me, but I absolutely loved this. And there were a few twists that got me towards the end. My brain was going a million miles a minute trying to put all of the pieces together. This book definitely grabbed my attention and held it the whole time. The Writing Retreat is incredible for a debut novel. Julia Bartz is definitely going to be one to look out for in the thriller world!

This book kept me hooked from start to finish. So many twists and turns. I loved that you could read her story as she was writing it, that added an extra element that made this book really stand out for me.

Alex has basically given up on her dreams of being a published writer when she gets a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a month-long writing retreat with the famous novelist Roza. Alex is ecstatic. However, when she arrives, she finds out not only does she have to share a room with her ex-best friend, but she is expected to write a full-length novel during the retreat. With a bunch of people confined in an old spooky house together, it is no surprise with things start to become sinister. When one of the aspiring novelists goes missing, Alex struggles to figure out what is going on to save herself.

This was a unique take on a close proximity locked room thriller. I’m a sucker for getaways going sideways, and this one did not disappoint. I don’t know why but I always enjoy reading about how wonderful trips go wrong. The gothic vibes to this one was also fantastic and right up my alley. There were several twists and turns that I didn’t see coming!

I am still trying to comprehend that this is a debut novel – it sure sets a really high bar for this authors future work – and I’m here to read all her future books. I loved this book and it is a fantastic thriller.

If you are ready to buckle in and go for an amazing wild ride, then check this one out February 21st! Thank you so much to the publisher @atriaBooks, the author, and @netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for this honest review!

Wow. This book was an absolutely wild ride filled with chaotic energy.

When I read the description for this book I was hooked and drawn right in, but something was missing. The plot was interesting and most of the twists were good, but some of them felt chaotically placed and I didn’t vibe with the ending. That being said I did read it in one day, so there were definitely aspects of this story that I loved.

I feel like a lot of fans of horror and psychological thrillers will enjoy this debut thriller and should definitely give it a try, my feelings aside.

Thank you to Atria books and Netgalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

The Writing Retreat is a tense and twisty psychological thriller set in a remote location.

Alex jumps at the opportunity to attend a month-long writing retreat hosted by lauded feminist horror novelist Roza Vallo. The only downside is that her former best friend, Wren, will also be there. The two parted on less than amicable terms a year ago.

When all five attendees arrive at their host’s gothic estate, Roza announces that this retreat will not be a relaxed, write-whenever-you-feel-like-it affair. Instead, they must compete to win a seven-figure publishing deal by writing a new novel.

With the sense that this is her last opportunity to get published, Alex attempts to start writing right away. Only, between the creepy atmosphere in the house, Roza’s mercurial behaviour, and Wren’s intimidating presence, Alex finds herself struggling. And then weird and dangerous things start to occur.

This gripping thriller solely follows Alex’s pov. It has a dark gothic vibe and a bit of spice. The plot becomes fairly wild and almost nightmarish, but I enjoyed the drama of it. The characters frequently did things they knew were unwise, but it made for an entertaining read.

My least favourite aspect was the story within the story. However, since the majority of the plot focused on the retreat, it wasn’t a huge drawback.

I also liked the insights into the publishing industry.

I was excited to read this debut, and it did not disappoint in the least. If you enjoy dramatic, tension-filled thrillers, I think you’ll have fun with this one.

Thank you to Atria for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

The Writing Retreat is a decent debut from an author to watch. Set in upstate New York, it centers on Alex, an insecure writer who has been handpicked by her literary hero, Roza Vallo, to participate in a month-long writing retreat at her sprawling estate. Shortly before Alex arrives, she discovers that her frenemy, Wren, will also be there.

A year prior, Alex and Wren, who had been best friends and roommates for many years, had a tumultuous breakup that ended with one of them in the hospital. Ever since, Alex has been numb, unable to write a single word. She is one of five women chosen to participate in the writing retreat, and is relieved once she gets there that Roza is requiring all of them to start brand new novels. Roza's demands are high: each day they must produce 3,000 words, and have a completed draft of a novel by the end of the month.

But bizarre things begin to occur almost immediately. Alex has terrifying and realistic dreams, some of which are very erotic, and she can't shake her paranoia about Wren and the other women. However, she is writing--and what's pouring out of her is fantastic, even according to the great Roza Vallo.

The tension builds in the story, leading to an unexpected turn of events, which I will not spoil here. The latter half of the book requires a HUGE suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. I was able to go along for quite a while, but eventually the events take on an almost cartoonish outlandishness. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. There are a lot of implausible outcomes, some of which I couldn't get past.

Despite my misgivings about the latter third of the book, overall it was a fun read with some truly gory moments. If you're a fan of Andrea Bartz and feminist thrillers, this one will be up your alley.

Wow- what a wild ride! This premise intrigued me right away, so I was very excited to receive an ARC of this! This psychological thriller follows our main character, Alex, as she embarks on a mysterious writers retreat at her favorite author's creepy, isolated mansion- with a very small and exclusive guest list, that includes her ex-best friend. What could go wrong!! These five aspiring writers do not know what they are in for, as it is revealed just how high stakes this competition is when they arrive. As time goes on, this retreat goes from stress inducing and bizarre to downright terrifying, after a disappearance of one of the writers. This story leaves you trusting no one. This book also wades into ghost-story territory, without being too unrealistic, leading to a very creepy and unexpected tale. Overall I loved this book, and I can't believe this is Julia Bartz's first novel. This book had me up so late trying to finish and see how this all resolved. I would definitely recommend this twisty tale to any mystery/thriller fans looking for something different! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced copy of this book! Out everywhere 2/21/2023!

I had really high hopes for this debut novel when I read the premise of a woman who is selected to attend a writer's retreat hosted by her favorite author. And at times it felt like a compelling locked room thriller! The setting felt very atmospheric and perfect for those who enjoyed a winter backdrop. Some plot twists were exciting, the others were... not.

At one point in the book though I thought to myself... wow none of these characters were enjoyable to read. They all came off as juvenile with no redeeming qualities. I usually am a big fan of breaking up the story with inserts from books or podcasts, but the book the main character was writing felt discombobulated and boring. Then the story took a weird turn with odd sexual encounters that felt out of place and uncomfortable. Hoping to give this author in another chance in the future still.

Overall Rating: 2.5 Stars

I quite enjoyed this book. It didn’t start like a typical thriller, and I loved that. It read like literary fiction until it became a thriller and the ride was wonderful.

There were so many moving parts to this book, and I had so much fun reading it!

An ARC was provided by Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this novel was appealing to me, but overall, I don’t feel like it delivered what I expect in a thriller. A lot of the scenes and plot points felt chaotically placed and the ending didn’t make a lot of sense.

One of my biggest pet peeves: when the publisher's description doesn't prepare you for a book. The publisher fails to mention that The Writing Retreat is a spicy sapphic thriller with major horror vibes.

Our protagonist Alex spends the first part of the novel obsessing over Wren, her ex-best friend who ditched her after they hooked up. As Alex gets over her writer's block, she feels like she is almost channeling the house's spooky history and her dreams are full of sexy hookups with the other writers.

It doesn't bother me that The Writing Retreat is a sexy sapphic thriller/horror novel. It bothers me that it isn't well-advertised as one. If that's what you want to write, then sing it loud and proud. That way you can pull in readers who would love to read your book. And detract readers, like me, who are looking for something with less steam.

Though, I think I would have still hated this book even with less steam.

The Writing Retreat was a fun thriller set in the context of 5 female writers competing for the top spot. I liked the story of the main character having to be around her ex, it made for some awkward moments. This book kept me interested and I loved the excitement of reading it.