I truly loved this dual timeline mystery! It was riveting to listen to both stories unfold in the same villa 40 years apart. The narrator was amazing and kept me hanging on every word and the twist at the end was everything I wanted in this book. Definitely recommend this audio for anyone who loves a good thriller! Such a fun listen!!

This was a terrible read. I kept waiting for a twist and it never came. I felt so let down. The characters weren’t good and the story line(s) weren’t intriguing and didn’t hold my attention.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins was such a smart, claustrophobic, suspenseful ball of fun and a really enjoyable read. We are following two different timelines here and tension is built expertly by Rachel Hawkins leaving you wanting more of each storyline at the end of every chapter. This made the pacing of the book, in my opinion, excellent and results in a dynamic and quick read. The friendships and relationships in this book are so layered and add so much depth to the characters in a fairly short book. I didn't see the twists coming and that is always nice when reading a thriller that has you suspecting everyone and questioning everything.

The audiobook was an absolute pleasure to listen to and Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio lend their talent and absolutely add to the atmosphere and setting which is really a character of its own. Overall, I would recommend this to mystery lovers and if you can get your hands on the audiobook it is a great way to experience the story!

"Houses remember..." 🍋

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I thought it was done really well. I appreciated the different narrators for the main characters. That definitely helps keeps the story straight with multiple POVs and alternating timelines. I enjoyed each narrator, however I enjoyed the present day storyline a lot more than the one set in the 70s. I thought this book was well written and interesting too, but it was definitely slower than I was expecting and I did find my mind wandering quite a bit. I loved the premise of this book. It had all of the things I love in a book, but the execution and ending could have used a little more in my opinion. Overall, a decent, intriguing, mystery that I think many people will enjoy!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• multiple POVs
• alternating timelines
• beautiful settings
• slow paced mystery
• story within a story
• different narrators (audiobook)

𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 7h 57m
𝙋𝙪𝙗 𝘿𝙖𝙮: 1/3/23
𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧: Macmillan Audio
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧s: Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC!

3.5⭐

Really enjoyed this latest novel (coming out in a few days - January 3, 2023!) by Rachel Hawkins.

The novel centers around the Villa Aestas, and Ms. Hawkins uses dual narratives to tell the story. In the present, Emily is struggling trying to write her latest novel while going through a divorce from her husband. She agrees to go to Italy with her best friend Chess and stay at the Villa where a notorious murder happened in the 1970s. The second narrative is that of Mari, and that infamous summer of 1974.

As the pages turn, the two narratives weave back and forth and the Villa almost becomes its own character. I liked the gothic vibe and the way the two timelines worked together, I just didn’t want to stop listening. Ms. Hawkins throws twists in throughout, and just when you think you’ve got things figured out, another one comes right along.

The audiobook is narrated by Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell, and Shiromi Arserio; they are all fantastic. Having different narrators makes it much easier to keep track of the dual narratives as you are listening as well.

Pick this one up - it’s a fun book to kick off the new year, and one of my favorite reads of 2022!

I found both of the main characters pretty unlikeable so it was hard for me to root for either of them! It was extremely well written and I loved the dual timelines.

It took me a little bit to get into The Villa, I wasn't loving the story or characters. It's very much a slow burn and more of drama than thriller. I was pulled in near the ending but I was really hoping for more.

The narrators were fantastic, they gave great performances and really brought everything to life. I definitely enjoyed listening to this over reading it.

I just finished this so I'm honestly still just trying to wrap my head around it all. In true Rachel Hawkins style, The Villa had so many different angles that I'm sure I could read it again and pick up on something new.

Emily and Chess take off on a summer trip to a villa in Italy so that both of them can work on their writing. Emily is separated from her husband, Matt, and Chess has secrets. While there, Emily starts looking into the history of the villa, which has secrets of its own. Will the darkness that is Villa Aestas take over this strained friendship?

I really enjoyed this novel, as I do all of Rachel Hawkins novels. Every once in a while some subplot confused me for a minute, but it was easy to catch back onto. There were twists and turns I never expected, but it all works out when you think of the journey it took to get there. I would recommend this to other fans of Rachel Hawkins. *Releasing January 3, 2023

There is a lot going on in The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. A book within a book meshed with news articles, podcasts, song lyrics, oh my!

There are two timelines within this novel, one set in modern times and the other in the 1970s. It was difficult getting into both of these timelines which is why I had to move over to the audiobook.

Had I not had the audio, I might not have finished this story because I could not seem to connect with the characters or their story. There were some parts of the story that still left me with questions but I did not feel so strongly in discussing or really thinking about what could have happened. Thank you to Julia Whelan; Kimberly M. Wetherell; Shiromi Arserio for making this a more bearable read that I was able to tackle in one sitting.

This is a story that I can see many people enjoying but I just get tired of the unreliable female character trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Reckless Girls and was super excited to be approved for this ARC.
This story is told in two different timelines:
1974: Mari is the daughter of famous authors Marianne and William Godwick.. Through her writing we learn about her boyfriend Pierce Sheldon, her step-sister Lara, a famous rock star Noel Gordon, and an entertainment director Johnny and their summer vacation spent at Villa Rosato. We learn about the events that lead up to Mari writing a world famous horror novel, Lara becoming a platinum artist, and a murder that takes place in the summer home.
Current day: Emily and Chess, who have been best friends since childhood, have slowly drifted apart over the years, but out of the blue Chess contacts Emily and asks her to go on a vacation to Italy for the summer and stay at Villa Aestas formerly Rosato, a high-end vacation house. When the girls arrive, Emily begins to look into the history of the villa and starts to wonder if there is much more to the story of the famous murder that took place there in the summer of 1974.
As the story goes along it seems everyone has a secret, and the villa could just be waiting to claim another victim because "Houses remember".
In my opinion this wasn't what I would consider a thriller. It was more of a drama or maybe a cozy mystery. Nothing super exciting ever happens and a lot of this was pretty dull to me. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters. The story itself was a nice idea and it did all come together nicely but their weren't any mind blowing twists for sure. Both narrators did an amazing job and helped bring all the characters to life and this is honestly a big part of what held my interest. I would say if you are into more drama based, slow burn type mysteries definitely give this one a try but this wasn't my favorite.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rachel Hawkins for allowing me to listen to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley!
I loved Reckless Girls so I had to give this one a try. I liked this one even more! I thought I knew the plot, but boy was I wrong. I am usually about 85% accurate in guessing the ending so when I find an author that stumps me I have to keep reading. I loved the characters and how opposite they were but how they managed to stay friends after 20 years when it seemed like they really didn't like one another. The plot was excellent. I will definitely recommend this to others; hopefully, we can do it for book club. I would like to hear others' thoughts on the book and if they tripped up on guessing the end. I can't wait to see what Hawkins writes next!

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

I love Rachel Hawkins and this book did not disappoint!!! It is a wonderful written mystery thriller with a creepy plot line of two stories about friendship, betrayal, and murder.
Two best friends Chess and Emily set out for a trip to Italy for the summer. They stay at the Villa Aestas which is also the site of a famous murder in the 70’s. This villa has secrets and the girls find themselves trying to find out the truth of what happened in the past. They also unearth truth and secrets about themselves.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

3.35⭐

Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, dual timeline ~ present & 1974, infidelity, murder, illness, miscarriage

Our narrators are Emily in the present and Mari in the past.

BFF's and author's Emily and Chess head to Italy to reconnect and write. They stay at a Villa where a murder took place decades ago that involves Mari, who is an author too. Emily is fascinated by this and wants to figure out what happened. It's a book within a book since we have multiple authors putting their two cents in. Wasn't super in love with any of the characters really.

Regarding the infidelity ~ I called who it was with and I didn't like it and I didn't like how Emily dealt with it.

Had a bit of an eye roll at this part
"So, maybe it wasn't completely crazy to think Mari came back here to hide one last thing. Maybe I just misinterpreted the riddle.
That's when I spot it."
seemed like she was in the right place at the right time to have this thought.

Overall, it was fine, not mind-blowing, with an eye catching cover.

I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. Both ways were fine, but I did more listening than reading. The narrators are Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio for 7 hours and 57 minutes and 44 seconds. I was very pleased with all of them and so happy there were three.

Another riveting thriller from Rachel Hawkins, The Villa is about 2 friends who have grown apart over the years, until they embark on a summer trip to a villa in Italy, which they later find out has quite a history! This introduces some gothic elements to their story.. it's a bit hard to follow at first due to the number of timelines and characters but quickly comes together to reveal lots of surprise twists.
The audiobook narrators are one of the reasons I requested this book from NetGalley - Julia Whelan is one of my favourite narrators, and Kimberly M. Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio rounded out a fantastic cast who really brought the story to life.

Within a few chapters of listening to the audible, I was a bit confused, then figured out that there were a few storylines going on.

Two long-time best friends who decide to spend the summer at a Villa in Italy find themselves in a Villa that once hosted a few rock stars in the 70s and their friends.
As the '70s were known for sex, drugs, and rock and roll, their trip had a not-so-happy ending.

There is more to both vacations in the Villa! Rachel Hawkins weaves a web that intertwines them all seamlessly.
As with all thrillers, the ending left me wondering exactly what was true and what wasn't!

The narrators did a fantastic job of bringing this book to life!

The Villa is part gothic, part mystery, part karmic-payback drama, with a dash of aspirational Italian vacation, and it all combines to a really delicious and enthralling read.

I listened to it on Audible, and Julia Whelan is a spoken-word rockstar as usual, moving back and forth easily from Emily's angst to Chess's Southern drawl. I also appreciated that the narrative moved into distinct British accents that helped navigate Orvieto's timelines. Tense and stylish, and a great listen. Thank you NetGalley.

The Villa, the new psychological thriller by Rachel Hawkins is fantastic. Told from two perspectives over two time lines, it held my attention from start to finish.

Emily and Chess are best friends. Emily, the author of cozy mysteries, and Chess, the author of self help books, decide to spend the summer in Italy at the Villa Aestas in Orieto. It is meant to be a time to relax, reconnect and each work on their current new books. But as Emily digs into the villas history and a murder that took place there in 1974, things begin to heat up.

In 1974 Noel Gordon, a rock and roll superstar, rents the villa for the summer and invites Pierce Sheldon, an up and coming musician, to join him in hopes of recharging his creativity. Pierce brings along Mari, his girlfriend, and Lara, Mari’s step sister. Also staying at the villa that summer is Johnny, a want-a-be musician and part time drug dealer. By the end of the summer, one of them is dead and one of them charged with the murder and all of their lives are changed for ever.

I read this in one day right before Christmas when I had a million things to do but I just couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and dark mysteries

I really enjoyed The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. Dual timelines generally aren't my thing but it worked really well here, with both timelines being equally interesting. The narrators did a wonderful job as well! 4 stars.

Wonderful book by Rachel Hawkins! Kept me guessing until the very end. Loved the setting of the Villa and the character development was spot on. Can't wait to read another one soon!

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Timeline #1 - Musicians and writers all spending time together in a Villa in Italy makes for a lot happening. The 70's is a excellent setting for Mari's timeline, an important story serving as the backdrop for another taking place at The Villa.

Timeline #2 - Emily and Chess are spending 6 weeks in Italy at this same Villa where the famous murder took place 50 years ago that we learned from Mari's story. Emily is going through a nasty divorce and Chess seems to have it all together, but we sense right from the beginning that something is off. They were both working on writing their books separately but the mystery of the Villa was too hard to resist.

Being a child of the 70's and a lover of music, The Villa's opening story ticks all the boxes for what keeps me turning pages. And being set in Italy was extra icing on the cake! Though it was a struggle at first to connect with Mari on audio, the tangled web of drama that is her story unfolds in a well crafted timeline.
Fast forward to the present day, Emily has some pretty challenging problems in her life making her very relatable. It's hard to know what to make of Chess and I didn't trust her from the beginning. Both being writers, they are focused on their own projects, but the history of the villa they are in, Mari's history, demands their attention. This book was a fun mystery set in an ideal place and was a great audiobook. I absolutely loved the narration!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
Publish date: January 3,2023