I am a fan of Lisa Scottoline and usually really enjoy her books. This one was not a favorite. I loved the setting, a villa in Italy! Julia inherits it from a woman she supposedly never knew. Having recently suffered a tragedy; she goes to see it. Being adopted and having lost her adoptive parents, she hopes this may be a key to her biological family. All sounds right up my alley, however Julia herself was not very likeable to me and there is a fantasy/supernatural element to the story that is not my thing. Overall, the writing is great and if you enjoy those sorts of stories, you will probably really enjoy it.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lisa Scottoline and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of July 15, 2025.

Following the trauma of her husband's murder, Julia inherits a fortune and Italian Villa from a woman she never knew. Could this be the key to finding her biological family or just the catalyst to her slow descent into madness.

The Unraveling of Julia is a chilling, action packed story that twists the reader in knots as Julia's sanity hangs by a thread. Full of colorful characters, earthly and otherwise, it's a tense read that I couldn't put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central for this advanced readers copy.

Fell very flat for me.
No substance to the characters and the plot left a lot to be desired.
I expected so much more from an author of this magnitude.
Reads more like a debut than a work by an author with dozens of novels under her belt.
The main reason I kept going with it is sort of like when you watch an accident on the side of the road, you want to look away but you have to know how bad it is?

I have read from this author before, although many years ago. This almost felt similar to another beloved thriller author who took a step into the paranormal waters recently. His came through well and translated great on page, this just comes off as gimmicky and not at all well executed.

This was not what I expected from Lisa Scottolini. Julia and her husband are walking in New York when Julia gets a strange feeling that something bad will happen, Then, suddenly, three men appear and her husband is murdered. She is overcome by grief, and barricades herself in her apartment. It is only when she receives an unexpected inheritance from someone in Italy that she has never heard of that she begins to face the world again. It is an ok story, but I have a hard time with visions, premonitions, and the use of mediums to communicate with the dead and solve mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.

I have loved this author for years. Her stand alone novels never fail to make you feel all the emotions. Julia was such an emotional wreck that believes in all the outlandish things most of us laugh at. I think a few spots in this story were a bit long but the story was fun and Scottoline remains an auto buy author.

I received an ARC of this book from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I have read and enjoyed this author before, but unfortunately, I could not get through this book.

Many things contributed toward my opinion of this book. Julia is extremely annoying. I absolutely sympathize with her losing her husband, but much of behavior seemed like wallowing and resistance towards actual healing. A lot of the book reads like a Hallmark movie, or a teen romantic comedy (literally bumping into a good-looking Italian on a motorcycle). And most notably, all the astrology/ ghosts/ weird nightmares. I am not into the supernatural at all, so I don't like reading about it.

I did enjoy the idea of a surprise villa in Tuscany, as well as the descriptions of the small towns, and especially the stories about Caterina Sforza.

I was trying to keep reading to find out if Julia does discover her birth family, but after a scene where her laptop started levitating, I had to stop.

DNF at 39%.

Julia has been knocked down by life. Just when things seem like they can't get worse, an unexpected turn of events changes the course of her life. The big question is: Is this turn a blessing or a curse?

There was definitely an emotional pull that kept me invested in Julia's journey. The pacing was a tad slow, but I found myself really wanting to see where her story would lead.

The themes of personal growth, dealing with life's challenges, and the uncertainty of fate are well-explored. That being said, I felt overall it was a thought-provoking book with an unexpected twist, and definitely worth reading.

3.75*

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline’s books and was so grateful when I was given an opportunity to read this!

To me this book is a full on refresh!. This book is a psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night unable to put the book down. This book has everything! Quirky, wonderfully crafted, characters, Tuscan sunshine, a small bit of romance, long buried family secrets and a twisty plot that rivets your attention.

I seldom read novels twice but this one is worthy of doing just that- and I will enjoy it all over again!

I am reviewing the uncorrected proof of this book, which I read in April 2025, prior to its release. It has been a while since I have read a book by this author, and I have only read a book or two, quite a few years ago. I am not sure why she has not been on my radar, but after finishing this proof, I only have myself to blame. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Julia is far from perfect, but the telling of her story lets you get to know her intimately. I was not sure if her decisions were courageous or foolhardy but was compelled to be right there with her as she stayed true to her mission of discovering the truth and trying to get justice for the events that deeply affected her. I have never been to Tuscany, but the descriptions made me visualize the beauty and want to go. I also appreciate that the author did more than just do research, but actually spent time and got to know the area and culture and history. I will now make it a point to read the book upon its release, and delve more deeply into the author's other works.

2.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I was excited to receive this ARC and I have enjoyed her books in the last, especially What Happened to the Bennetts. Unfortunately this was did not seem to be on par with her other works. I did not realize there was a heavy supernatural element, which is one of the main reasons this wasn’t for me. There was lots about astrology, ghosts, mediums, etc, which did make more sense as the story went on but was just not my cup of tea. I also felt the writing was very elemental. I will say, I enjoyed some of the interesting historical Italian references. Overall, this did not work for me but might be a good fit for those who would enjoy an historical mystery with a heavy supernatural element.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 Stars ⭐️

It really pains me to say this because I really am a fan of Ms. Scottoline and I was excited to be able to read this ARC. Unfortunately, the first half of the book is NOTHING like anything I have ever read from her previously. What does that mean exactly? Well, I was seriously wondering if someone else wrote it.

The characters - specifically our FMC Julia Pritzker - is not only an unlikeable FMC, but her behavior begins to really skirt the line between irrational, unhinged and totally irritating. The "visions" or possibly nightmares that she experiences are SO crazy that I just ended up skimming them because they were so detailed, yet so crazy and hard to follow along with. They were WAY out there and without setting any type of explanation for the reader as to WHY this might be happening. We have to watch this occur and at the same time, think "wow, this is just really weird."

After finishing the book, I think I know what the author was trying to do - it just did not flow the way I think it was intended to, and it seriously continued to pulled me out of the story. I ALMOST DNF'd but decided I was going to skim a little bit and see if the story picked up farther into it. Thankfully, it did.

The first half of the book suffered from inconsistent pacing, and very odd behaviors from many of the characters that we are introduced to. It just really didn't have a flow that helped the reader (and by reader, I mean me) follow along and gain any investment or actually ANY interest. It was just weird.

But, something happens around the 60% or maybe 70% of the book where things FINALLY start to gel a bit. Some of the very odd behavior from the beginning is explained and does actually have a reasonable explanation. Then, that was when I felt like I could finally see Ms. Scottoline in this writing.

Things take off for the last 25% of the book and that is what redeemed the book in my mind. Did it make up for the prior 3/4 of the book? No, not really. BUT, I didn't feel like it was a total waste. It truly was a shock for me because I WANTED to like it. Unfortunately, by the time it found its footing, it was just too late to make up for the irritation that I felt for most of the book.

Everyone is allowed a one off- even more than one for authors who put out that many books and this will not stop me from picking up a book by her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This book will be out for publication on July 15, 2025.

Captivating. I literally could not stop reading this book. What a great read about a young widow, Julia who inherits an Italian villa in Tuscany from a person she has never met. But there is a connection. Julia, becomes a detective in tracing down not only her biological family but everything else that is happening to her. Interlaced with beautiful Tuscany details, this book transports you to Florance and all things about the Italian countryside. A wonderful romp with Julia as she uncovers family secrets and love. There's some astrology and suprises that only embelish the story.
A must read. Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected eproof ARC of 'The Unraveling of Julia' by Lisa Scottoline - expected release date of 07/15/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 10th book I've read by Scottoline and I've got to say, it didn't seem like she wrote this one. The premise of the story sounded great but it just didn't come together right. The writing/storytelling was amateur-ish and very all over the place, which was weird for such a seasoned author. The FMC was so destroyed over the loss of her husband that she became a total recluse who can't even go to her mailbox without freaking out, but then travels alone to Italy and is totally fine openly exploring the area and falling in love again? It was slow moving and didn't need to be 400 pages and focused on Italian historical fiction, supernatural activity, mediums, and astrology which is pretty far off from her usual type of writing. That may be why it seemed off from her past work?

I didn't like any of the characters but the best friend Courtney was the absolute worst. I kept going to see if / how all the storylines tied up and I'm underwhelmed with the reveals.

very interesting thriller with a fantasy-esque aspect. a lot of page-turny content in there, would def recommend. 5 stasr. tysm for the arc.

I received an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. This book is due out in July.

The novel tells the story of Julia, who, months after her husbands murder, inherits a Tuscan villa and millions from a woman she does not know. In typical thriller fashion, secrets come together when Julia takes off to Italy to figure out her connection to the deceased.

I had trouble connecting with the characters in this novel and found little interest in them or their outcomes in the end. The title also threw me off a little bit and I am curious why it was chosen given how the book unfolds. Several plot strings I felt could have been much cleaner and better resolved. I liked how the setup but the execution lacked. 2.5 stars.

Julia is devastated after the murder of her husband. A mysterious call from Italy saying she has inherited millions and a villa in Tuscany pulls her out of her hibernation and into a mystery set in Italy.

As a Philadelphia lawyer I jump at any chance to read Lisa Scottoline! Add in Italy and I was definitely in! This was not a typical Scottoline book and I wasn’t sure how I felt at first. Not a fan of the supernatural but I was pleasantly surprised at where the story went. It wasn’t long before I was hooked!

Thanks for NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was such a fun read, and so far different from the other books that I have read by Lisa Scottoline! There was so much Italian culture, history, astrology and scenery! This was a very fun read that had you wondering if the story was about paranormal activity, mental illness, drug abuse or just some crazy random stuff. There were a couple of unrealistic elements: Even today, under the American czar, there is no directory of international visitors to an American city at any given time - that is not a thing, at least not yet. Also, I have to say that I really wondered about Julia's friend's involvement when she just let herself into the villa uninvited and was searching about - like, who does that? I found this to be a tension-building almost-horror read with a very satisfying ending! A very fun read, indeed!

Buckle up, because this felt like a wild ride. ‘The Unraveling of Julia’ by Lisa Scottoline is an emotionally charged, yet psychologically layered novel that explores themes of trauma and identity. Unfortunately, I felt as though the story ultimately fell short in its execution. The plot often felt chaotic and unfocused, with emotional moments that didn’t fully land and twists that lacked impact. The pacing was a bit uneven, and rather than building tension, the story meandered through Julia’s unraveling in a way that felt more confusing than compelling.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my voluntary and honest review.

This book has history, suspense, mystery and a romantic setting in Italy. The death of her husband starts the journey of unraveling Julia, the main character. She then moves to Italy and doesn't know what is real or in her mind. Truly a good novel. Stick around to the ending. Its worth it.
Thank you net galley for this ARC.

Just when you think after all of these years that you have a handle on Scottoline and her thrillers, you find this gothic tale which is extraordinary!
Julia has had a very bad time of it. Her parents are dead. Her husband has just been murdered in front of her and she may or may not be losing her mind.
Julia is wallowing in her grief and fear when she receives a letter telling her she has inherited a villa in Tuscany and millions of dollars. But Julia has never heard of this person.
But her horoscope is pretty clear that she needs to go. And Julia is going.
When she arrives she finds a rundown villa, a town that hates her predecessor and now her as well. Then things begin to go wrong. Nightmares, waking up outside, Rossi was a recluse by all accounts and supposedly burned all of her belongings before she died.
Now Julia is sure she is being followed, but the truth is much worse!
This was a page turner! I loved every second of it!


NetGalley/ July 15, 2025 Grand Central Publishing.