The front cover looked appealing, and this was initially labeled as mystery/thriller. But this was more a family drama between a mother and two daughters.

Nora invites her daughters, Libby and Emma and their families to spend the vacation at a villa in France. During their stay in the villa, a secret is soon revealed that threaten to ruin the relationships between each of the family members.

OK, initially, I thought this was a mystery/thriller but I realized this book was more of a family drama book. The story is told from the perspectives of Nora the mother, and the two daughters, Libby and Emma. I hate to say this but I found this book boring to me. Too much of mindless senseless dialogues and I was slightly confused to the story...but maybe, it was just me. The ending though predictable was slightly emotional but nonetheless, I felt like this was more like a family drama soap opera.

Overall, if you like a book based on family drama, this book maybe one for you. I do like the books based on family drama but this was not my cup of tea. Worth 2.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

First off, I wouldn't agree that this book is a thriller. The first few chapters were really frustrating for me because I was waiting for the thriller aspect to kick in and it just never did. Once I realized it was more of a contemporary drama, reminiscent of Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, I was finally able to start enjoying the story.

The story begins with Nora having booked a fabulous French holiday away with her daughters, their partners, and her grandchildren. Nora has previously hinted that she has something to tell them during the trip and will do so over dinner. Upon arriving at the Villa and seeing how luxurious the building and their location are, the daughters realize that their mother has spent a fortune on this vacation. It's really unfortunate that the rest of the vacation turns into the vacation from Hell.

Wow! There was a huge shocking twist that I didn't expect at all. I still wouldn't call it a thriller though because that twist was alllllllll about the family drama. The author illustrated the differing perspectives of the main characters very well, which is something that I always appreciate. I hated Nora's character, but I still enjoyed reading her chapters! The characters were all very complex, but I wish the author had expanded on some of the backstories a little more. This story was also quite long and at times I found myself wishing that the characters weren't so reflective and that the story would progress a little faster.

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the advance electronic copy of The Villa in exchange for my honest review!

The Villa is a tense story about N9ra and her 2 adult daughters Libby and Emma. Nora has an announcement to name to her family and plans to do it in a family holiday to a swish villa in the South of France. The story is simmering with secrets and half truths, everyone, even the grand children are on edge, and eventually more secrets come to light than anyone bargained for. Ultimately it's a story about a mother's love for her children and the deep, deep scars left by emotional trauma. Superb.

Costume designer Nora has rented a luxurious villa in the South of France. She has invited her two daughters, Emma and Libby with their partners and children for a two-week vacation in the sun. But this is far from a happy families situation. From the start it's clear she's a self-absorbed individual who is convinced her actions have always been in the best interest of her two daughters. After her divorce, she threw herself into her work, which often took her away from home. This meant the girls were looked after either by her ex-husband or neighbours. She has never been the kind supportive mother she actually believes she is as those moments, when they did occur, were few and far between. But there is a serious reason for Nora bringing the family together under one roof. She wants them together to enjoy a perfect holiday. She feels it will make the news she is about to break easier. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
At the age of 64 Nora looks back and sees her mistakes and how she might have handled things differently. Unfortunately she cannot help making more. The dynamics of the family group makes for a compelling read and kept me turning pages, eager to see what would happen. It’s also a very sad story. What Nora seeks is too little too late. The only positive for me was it brought the two siblings, Emma and Libby closer. It’s difficult to write any more without giving the plot away. So all I will say is Clare Boyd has assembled an interesting group of characters, some flawed, others not so, and incorporated them into a truly absorbing and sometimes moving read.
I would like to thank Clare Boyd, Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC of The Villa in exchange for an honest review.

The Villa. Two weeks in an a luxurious rental in the South of France. A mother, her daughters and their families will spend precious time together, away from their busy schedules. It’s a dream, right? More like a nightmare.

Nora has invited Emmy and Libby and their children on this unexpected trip. She has disturbing news to share and has chosen this beautiful location to do so. Emma’s husband Patrick is with her while Libby’s partner Cooper is on a surfing trip to Costa Rica. However, he makes a late decision to join them. Things do not go as expected from the very first night to the unsettling conclusion as the deep cracks in Nora’s relationships with her family split open.

The Villa is thought-provoking family drama. The problem is that none of these characters are at all likeable. Nora, as described by her family, is narcissistic and cruel. The discussion with her grandchildren is especially upsetting. Early trauma in her own life does not excuse her. Emma and Libby both have serious issues with their marriages. Even the grandchildren show signs on the family tension that fills their young lives. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Clare Boyd for this ARC.

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC! I went into this book thinking it was a thriller, but it’s definitely contemporary lit. I think this was a slow start for me because i had that thriller mindset. Once i realized the route this book was going, i was able to focus on the heart wrenching story it was telling. I was angry one moment and wanting to cry the next. There’s no easy way to handle the hardship everyone was going through, but dang i was so frustrated with most of the main characters. Over all this was a pretty good read as i wanted to keep picking my kindle up to finish it! This book comes out 3/17/22!

I absolutely adored this stunning, emotional family drama set against the backdrop of the South of France. It is just the type of slow burn, getting under the skin characterisation that I enjoy and I'm really looking forward to discovering the author's backlist now. My only issue was with the marketing of the book. It wasn't a thriller and shouldn't have been marketed that way, which doesn't do this beautiful novel justice.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Villa by Clare Boyd. This started off well for me but lost steam and went in a very unsettling direction about halfway through.

Nora brings her two daughters and their families to a magnificent Villa in France to break the awful news to them that she has stage four cancer. As secrets, past traumas and infidelities are revealed, the vacation turns into an ordeal that continues to unravel with each passing day.

This story really pulled at my heartstrings. I have just lost my father to terminal cancer, his diagnosis was completely unexpected and the cancer took him in just a few months. Once I realised the subject matter of the story I expected it to really upset me but strangely it didn’t, it made me see things from different points of view and I could relate to the characters. A well thought out plot with a poignant ending.

The Villa by Clare Boyd had an engaging storyline. Although it started out a bit slowly, it gained momentum as I got deeper into the book. I was compelled to reach the end to see what would happen. It was an enjoyable read.

This was a bit of a slow burn for me. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster!

Nora is the attractive mother to 2 grown up daughters, along with one of my sons in law and grandchildren, the family travel on a 2 week holiday to a beautiful French villa. Nora reveals she has a secret to tell her daughters and this is shared once they arrive at their location, suffice to say the holiday does not turn into the relaxing break they were hoping for.

This is a book about family dynamics, motherhood and fractured relationships. Readers who like a good dose of real emotion won't be disappointed!

My thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

I was in the wrong headspace for this book.
It's being marketed as a thriller, but it's very much not that. This is contemporary family drama in the vein of Celeste Ng.

That being said, this is a heartbreaking and emotional story that explores how our experiences shape us and how the secrets we keep can not only destroy us but the relationships with those we love most.

This really is a beautiful and powerful story that's perfect for anyone who enjoys the exploration of family dynamics. But if you want a thriller, look elsewhere.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not a thriller. Women's fiction, drama at most. It's not twisty or psychological; it's sad. The pacing is sooooooooo slow. The characters are all utter jerks. And the POV was all over the place. Nope; not for me.

📚Between Book Review📚
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The Villa
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Cayla : 3.5⭐️.
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This family drama follows one family’s vacation to a French villa thrown by their matriarch, Nora. Emma and Libby and their respective families begrudgingly go on vacation while knowing there is more to it than just a simple family vacation. As the learn that Nora is dying of cancer and wants to end her life after the vacation is over, emotions run high and secrets come tumbling out.
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💭Thoughts💭
The emotion and feelings of the characters were so on point. Feeling one way and then immediately an opposing feeling is so natural when you’re thrown into emotional chaos. I truly did not feel that bad for Nora though. She was a narcissistic, selfish, and phony character and I felt that she was painted a bit too nicely at the very end.
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⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
My favorite moment was just picturing the villa and the surroundings. It sounded absolutely amazing with the pool, the sea nearby, and endless croissants!
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🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
French countryside vibes! Some baguettes and Brie, croissants (don’t forget the chocolate ones), and some French wine. You can also have some tomato soup and crusty rolls with butter, which is the final meal Nora, Emma, and Libby share together.

Thank you for the advance copy, really enjoyed the book. The holiday and all the surprises you get with a family! The most I enjoyed was the ending, didn’t see that happening.

I found The Villa very different from the writer's other books I've read. While the book is categorized as a thriller, it's more of a family drama and a really twisted one at that. I like dark and twisty, but this one was too sad and twisty for my taste. And does childhood trauma give you an excuse to inflict that damage on others? No - there's a choice, there's always a choice.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book isn't what I expected at all. The cover says "thriller" but this is mostly a general fiction book about a dysfunctional family on vacation. I still rated this book 4 stars because it excelled as a general fiction book based on the depth of the characters. I'm quite comfortable with dislikable characters and Nora is one of the most narcissistic characters I've encountered. The author does a great job of portraying someone who is truly despicable but still loves her kids. This book is a slow-burn and not for everyone but still enjoyable for me,

Thanks for the advance review copy.

This was in the mystery/ thriller category and I'm not sure that that is where I'd have put it. I went into it expecting a bit more "thrills" I guess and it didn't deliver. Its well written, if a bit slow and is definitely a good book about mother/ daughter relationships and the turmoil that can be involved but I wouldn't say it much in the way of thrills which let me down a bit. I did struggle my way though it and enjoyed it as a very depressing kind of chick lit type but it wasn't what I was looking for and wasn't to my taste. If you want the troubled family dynamics, moral quadries and emotional dilemmas then you'll probably enjoy this one

I’m not sure what I was expecting from The Villa based on the synopsis and cover but it wasn’t what I got. The synopsis alluded to an addictive page turner, with motherhood at its best and worst, and the lies we tell to protect the ones we love. However o felt the whole book fell flat. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, the overall book was unbearably slow and it just lacked any kind of essence for me. I know others have loved this book but for me it was a disappointing 2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

Clare Boyd has written a family drama a tense page turner.I was drawn into the story the characters kept me turning the pages.#netgalley #bookouture