The premise sounded interesting; there was so much potential. But I felt like this was just a boring, convoluted story with horny characters. I skimmed the entire second half of the book. A waste of time for me. Great cover, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

“The Writing Retreat” was a solid debut from Julia Bartz. I appreciated the original plot idea. The first half of the book was a bit slow, but once I hit the middle of the book, it picked up the pace and I finished it in almost one sitting! The book centers on women writers who get a chance of a lifetime to attend a writing retreat hosted by a famous author. The setting is a spooky house and the book takes a dark, twisty turn! 3.5 stars rounded up!

What an incredible atmospheric psychological thriller! It did take me a little bit to get into this, it was a bit of a slow start, but once I did I was HOOKED. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next! What a great read! Definitely check this out when it’s released in February!

I was instantly hooked on this book.

It's about two former best friends, and aspiring authors, who get accepted into a writing retreat hosted by their idol. There are 5 women total and they all have to write a brand new book in a month, the best book gets to be published and mentored by their idol. Everything is great except writers block, a past trauma between former friends, a lot of sexual tension and a ghost story of the former occupants of the house. Oh, and a potential demon lurking around the corner.

Then one of them goes missing.....


Definitely finished this book in 2 days.

4.5⭐ Thank you to Netgalley and the Atria books for this advanced copy! Part thriller, part mystery, part horror, this book had it all! I really loved how intricate and dark the plot was. The atmospheric setting felt like a character within itself making the story incredibly captivating. Although some parts I found to be a tad predictable, I overall thought this to be an obsessive read that you can't possibly put down! If it’s any indication to just how good this book is, I read this in the middle of my nursing school finals and finished within 48 hours!!

The Writing Retreat is a fast paced mystery/thriller. A locked room mystery, everyone is at a retreat with a famed feminist horror writer. These authors are told that they have one month to write a book in order to compete for a lucrative publishing contract.

Lots of twists and turns (the book is a bit slow starting but you will be oh-so-glad that you kept going,) and once thinks start popping they do not stop.

A haunted house, some crazy people and a fierce competition make this book one not to be missed

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

This was a wonderfully suspenseful story with twists that leave you spinning! I can just imagine how difficult it was to write not just one story but also the plots and twists of the books written by the characters on their writing retreat - not to mention the bestsellers written by their retreat host! So many great story ideas are tossed into the pages that you are almost sad that you cannot read these books as well! The characters come to life as you meet them; even more so as you learn their secrets! Every character has questionable motives, and alliances shift as the events become more sinister. I loved the estate back story - who wouldn't want to write a dark story in a haunted mansion with secret passages?! This story grabs you tight from the moment that the group assembles -- it is very difficult to tear yourself away - you just have to know what happens next! This story would make a thrilling movie!

Wow this book was AWESOME! It was so thrilling and captivating! It hooked me from the very beginning and kept me there.

Oh boy! This is crazy! This is one of the wildest and bleakest bloody rides! You are drawn into this action packed, twisty madness from the first chapter and till the end you keep fidgeting at the edge of your seats, stomaches tight, hearts raising, eyes glued!

This is fantastic debut! It seems like writing gift is genetic and runs in the family! This book introduces us Andrea Bartz’s sister Julia: such a gifted mind! She nailed it with her first work and I’ll look forward to read her future works!

The gothic, spine tingling vibes, the book inside book concept, murder house, claustrophobic trapped in one location themes blended so perfectly with flawed characters!

It reminded me of Nine Perfect Strangers ( Roza’s character and dangerous methods had similarities with Masha played by Nicole Kidman on Hulu adaptation) meets the Plot.

Here’s the quick recap of plot:
Can you imagine to get stuck in a job that sucking soul and energy? That’s how Alex feels who hates her boss, her over demanding job at publishing company. Lately she fell apart with her best friend Wren, stalking on her at the social media after having a cat fight with her at a party resulted with blood bath.

But now her luck is about to change: she has a dreamy opportunity to become one of the candidates to join the writing retreat of her idol- her all time favorite author- mystical- eccentric Roza Valo. She also finds out her frenemy Wren is also invited to this retreat which will take place in haunted Blackbriar Estate which has been renovated lately.

She meets with other attendees energetic Poppy, artsy queer queen Taylor, disciplined- tight lipped Kiera: the only black girl of their group. And of course Wren attends, showing off her big diamond ring, avoiding to make a contact with Alex!

Roza brings all those aspiring young authors together and tells the main purpose of their retreat: in one month they’ll start to write a book from the fresh, at least eighty one thousand words: each of them edit the other’s book and at the end of the retreat, one of their works will be chosen to be published!

It’s absolutely challenging to finish a book in such a short time when you suffer from writer’s block just like Alex does. But she is so adamant not let Wren take this opportunity out of her hands. She decides to channel with haunted history of the Blackbriar Estate, pouring out her secrets by having one on one writing seances with Roza

But the only challenge is not finishing a book, adjusting Roza’s unconventional and unethical methods. There is something more sinister plan that put all of their lives in danger.

Especially last third of the book was so much extra bleak with shocking twists and epic revelations. It highly deserved its dark, haunting, spine tingling stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/ Emily Bestler Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This book was fun, although I feel like the writer kept trying to throw too many twists. A few of them were fun but by the end it felt like a few too many. I did like the creepy setting and most of the characters were interesting.

Loved everything about this book. The setting. The characters. The writing. The tension! WOW! Highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

What a chilling read! I was horrified and thrilled in the best way possible. Julia Bartz, you have outdone yourself with this masterpiece of a book. First of all, a writing retreat with a possible book deal? That is every writer’s dream, including mine (well, not this particular retreat). I was hooked from the start. The characters are engaging, and I enjoyed hearing about their writing. And THE SECOND HALF AHHHHHH!!!! I was screaming and yelling at the characters!! Wren! Alex! Ah! Help I need more from this brilliant and talented author!! Julia, I cannot wait to read more from you, and I just know that you will have more than one masterpiece in you.

Hi,
Before I start, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this debut novel. It was definitely a good read and I liked all of the characters. Alex was a good lead with the supporting characters giving the novel an exquisite twist and turn.
The only thing I think I missed at the end was what had happened to Wren. I don’t remember seeing a mention of her by the end.
Thanks again,
Renee Soriano
IG: coffee_n_ink

The Writing Retreat completely sucked me in. The writing by Julia Bart’s was beautiful and full of suspense of where the story would lead to next… and it always took me by surprise. I would rate this book in my top 5 read this year.

The story about writers going to a secluded writing retreat with one of the most secretive authors is what made me pick up this book to begin with. The pain and beauty behind writing their novels is what made me fall in love with it.

One morning, aspiring writer Alex receives news that she has won a chance to go to a month-long writers retreat to the secluded mansion of her favorite author, Roza Vallo. Her excitement soon turns to trepidation when she learns that her ex-best friend Wren will also be there, whom she hasn't spoken to in a year. Upon arriving, emotions escalate, rumors whirl and fear becomes terror when Alex becomes suspicious of everyone's true motives of this retreat including her idol, Roza herself.

This didn't feel like a debut to me, it honestly felt like I was reading a book from a seasoned author. I truly, thoroughly enjoyed this. It was perfectly paced, creepy, suspenseful and highly entertaining. From the isolating atmosphere, to the wide range of characters, this was such a well told story..... with a little bit of a story within a story to go along with it. I was not expecting what I got when going into this. I highly recommend this one but I must say, I do hope that this author has more than one masterpiece in her. Five Stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The beginning was certainly bumpy and I didn’t have much faith, but I was proven wrong. The writing isn’t wonderful but the plot is very absorbing and I ended up devouring this book.

Only regret I have is not reading this in the middle of a snowstorm. I definitely want to read more from this author.

Couldn't put it down! Very fun, exciting, and propulsive, especially for anyone with writer's workshop experience.

Best thriller of the year. Writers retreat turns competitive and potentially deadly!!! I absolutely loved this book. It had all the elements of the best thrillers a great mystery, interesting characters, inclement weather and a scary mansion.

Night film meets the secret history?


This book was a wild ride about a writing retreat turned deadly and I couldn’t put it down.

This was a fun one! It was fast paced and I couldn’t put it down because I was excited to see where it went next. There were times when I thought I had figured it all out but almost every single time I was surprised.