⭐️: 4/5

Emily and Chess have been best friends since they were kids, and when Emily’s marriage ends and she’s facing writers block while working on her next book, she jumps at Chess’s suggestion for a girls trip for the summer to Italy. They stay at a villa with a storied past, where a group of five artists go to stay for the summer in 1974 and only four make it out alive. While searching for the truth about what happened back then, Emily finds out some difficult truths about her own present.

This was the first book I’ve read by Rachel Hawkins (at least, writing as Rachel Hawkins), and it was a really good one, and definitely makes me want to go back and read Reckless Girls, which has been one I’ve been wanting to read for a while. There were two main storylines in this book, one following Emily in the present day, and the other following Mari in 1974. Additionally, there was another almost secondary storyline, of the book within the book, Lilith Rising, which was written by the character of Mari. All three of them paralleled each other, so part of the fun of the book was figuring out what happened at the end of Lilith Rising, because the reader was led to believe a similar end would come to both Emily’s and Mari’s stories. I was a little confused about the genre of the book at first, because I think I went in with the impression it was going to be a psychological thriller/maybe haunted house story, but it was…kind of neither of those? It was more of a portrait of female friendships and the art produced out of those relationships, with maybe a few twisty parts. I particularly liked the extra material that was present throughout the chapters, whether it was excerpts of biographies of Mari or Lara, emails from our characters that revealed a new plot point, or conversations between podcast hosts about the events at the villa in 1974. This was a fun and pretty quick read, and I definitely recommend picking it up!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

A story of intrigue, friendship, suspicion, and murder. Now this ain’t my favorite Rachel Hawkins ever but I still felt the urge to keep reading and find out what happened next! A mystery filled with drama and questioning relationships. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

The Villa is a dark suspense novel that’s loosely based on Mary and Percy Shelley’s history, and the events leading up to Mary writing Frankenstein. The dual timelines follow Mari in 1974 and Emily in present day, as they both travel to a gorgeous villa in Orvieto, Italy. Both women face heartache and tragedy in their personal lives, mixed up with complicated relationships and the desire to rise above the men in their lives to make their professional and creative mark on the world.

The villa, although idyllic and serene, brings its own darkness to the stage. In 1974 when Mari visits, a horrific murder takes place. Decades later, Emily finds herself trying to uncover the hidden details of that fateful night, piecing together Mari’s words from her famous horror novel to uncover the truth. But when Emily’s best friend and fellow writer Chess becomes interested in Mari’s story, Emily soon realizes that her current situation at the villa is precarious, as well.

This was a quick read, and I immediately loved the setting. I enjoyed the dual timelines, but I definitely enjoyed Mari’s story more, especially since it parallels the story of Mary Shelley. I do think that some parts were a bit predictable, and I don’t agree with some choices that were made towards the end. There is an additional twist towards the end that I did not expect, and it left me unsettled, but in a good way. If you like a slow burn suspense with a gothic feel, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy.

3.75/5 stars

"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 Fleetwood Mac, true crime, and just spent time on Lake Geneva and saw where Lord Byron penned his famous poem, so this should have been a winner right?

Sadly it was not. I did not care for the past story line with sex, drugs, and rock n roll.

I have mixed thoughts on this one. It probably wasn’t the type of book I would go for voluntarily but it was sent to me by Net Galley and St Martins Press to read in exchange for my honest review. Maybe it was my fault by reading it throughout a vacation so I had to stop and start it many times so it was a little hard for me to follow. Going from two time frames was fine but then the book Mari was writing just made it a little more confusing. I hated Chess as a character and I hate that she was able to convince Emily to forgive her after what she did. She made it out to be “for her benefit” which I just really hated and disagreed with. I was probably at a 2 star until the last few chapters when it all came together, then I was way more into it. But still, it was good but I think I was just too confused most of the time (which again could have been my fault). Good story, a solid true crime novel, but just not my favorite

I have always enjoyed Rachel Hawkins books - so was very excited to be approved for her. next book coming out in Jan 2023! I really enjoyed the villa and the two connecting stories. it’s set in Orvieto, italy and follows two POV’s - one in 1974 and one in present day. A terrible murder happened at the house in 1974, which inspired a book and album, and Emily and Chess become fascinated by what happened and try to find out the truth, while also dealing with their own problems. This may be. my favorite of all her books so far! and. enjoyed the audio version that I read along with the written book
Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

This was a fun, suspenseful novel from a tried and true author for me. I have enjoyed all of Rachel Hawkins' thrillers and this is probably my favorite! I really enjoyed the timeline switch between present and past. I felt the tension between Emily and Chess grow throughout the book, and then was surprised by the twist at the end in regards to their relationship! I would say that this book isn't super murderous or shocking, but I don't expect that from Rachel's books. I expect a fun, suspenseful ride that keeps my turning the pages and this is what that was. I do wish the characters were more fleshed out because some of their decisions at the end did not make sense based on the character arc they had throughout the book. Thank you St. Martin's Press for a gifted e-book in exchange for an honest review!


See below for Goodreads Synopsis:
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.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

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! The Villa is so good! I can’t wait to recommend it. The relationship between Emily and Chess kept me on my toes. I found the connections interesting between the past and the present. The current day relationship with Emily and Chess and the similarities to Mari and Lara in the past.

All in all, I don’t want to spoil this page turner. I highly recommend you read The Villa as soon as it is released.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a slow burn mystery drama with dual timelines, story within a story, two best friends both of whom are writers, uncovering a murder mystery that happened 50 years ago!

The Villa is packed with all the drama, mystery, Italy, historical fiction vibes and amazing story telling by Rachel Hawkins.

Thank you Libro.fm, macmillanaudio, Stmartinspress and NetGalley for the complimentary audiobook and digital galley. I enjoyed the narrators and the option to switch between audiobook and ebook!

"Houses remember!"

Two estranged childhood best friends reconnect on a girl's trip to Italy. Their summer adventure consists of staying at Villa Aestas in Orvieto, a high-end holiday vacation spot., In 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, which was rented by a famous musician and friends. The summer of 1974 consisted of sex, love, rock and roll, and all forms of creative expression until things suddenly ended in a brutal murder. The story is told from a double perspective of Mari's account of past occurrences and Emily's present-day adventure as she digs into the complex history of the house to see just what it remembers.

The Villa was a solid average read for me. I preferred the audio version to the kindle ARC. I struggled to engage with the story at first, but I am glad I continued reading. I originally connected more with Emily's story, but my interest in Mari's story grew by the middle of the book. There are some mildly suspenseful moments. However, this is more of a fictional drama than a thriller like I had expected. I enjoyed the pacing, storyline, and especially liked the ending. The Wife Upstairs remains my favorite book by Rachel Hawkins, but The Villa earns 3.8 stars from me.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide a review of The Villa.

✨ Review ✨ The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

I didn't love the last book I read by Hawkins, so this exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed this dual timeline book about THE VILLA, an expansive Gothic home in Orvieto known at different points in the story as Villa Aestas and Villa Rosato.

The book includes two timelines:

First, Emily and her best friend Chess in the present day, who have retreated to Villa Aestas to write together for the summer after Emily's messy divorce with her husband.

They begin to uncover layers of Villa Rosato from 1974 when five late-teens through twenties artists and lovers flock to the Villa. As a result of the 1974 summer, there was a legendary book and legendary album produced, but also one would be dead and another imprisoned.

What shook up these inhabitants and what really happened that summer? Emily and Chess try to solve these mysteries of the past, which is revealed to us through narrative flashbacks, excerpts of the book and album produced, news articles and more.

I enjoyed the book, but also felt some TJR vibes in the style. I enjoy this kind of dual timeline, interlaced-ephemera style. The story itself felt just a little predictable and echoed of things I'd read before, but overall, I enjoyed how the stories paralleled each other. I also appreciated the reflection on what inspires / urges on feminist art (writing, music, etc.) and how these stories stretch across the multiple timelines.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75)
Genre: mystery/thriller (but not super thriller-y)
Location: Orvieto, Italy
Pub Date: Jan 3, 2023

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

3.5 stars

In this newest installment, Hawkins relies on a tried-and-true technique: a woman m.c. who is impacted by location, creepy dudes, and a pivotal moment in her life.

Emily, the m.c., is the one who fits the aforementioned bill. Though Emily is an intriguing character in her own right - a published author, a woman struggling in the middle of a less-than-pleasant divorce, and a person experiencing some challenging health issues - one of the most noteworthy aspects of Emily is her childhood friend, Chess. Chess, who started as Jessica, has had about as many refreshes as her first name, and she's become something of a touchstone in women-centric nonfiction. She has enough fame to be recognized and to - most importantly for this novel - be able to foot the bill for these two BFFs to vacay in an Italian villa. It's much clearer to readers than to the two characters that there's something afoot in their relationship and finding out exactly what that means is a lot of the fun here.

Though I was hooked quickly after just the first chapter, I struggled often to connect with the past storyline. By the end, I was relatively engaged in this, too, and it is fun to see how both timelines intertwine, but I wish that engagement and interest had happened much sooner.

I'm all for some suspend disbelief material in any piece of literature, but there are some details that seemed so wild to me that I just kept cracking up at them, and I'm not convinced that was the intended result. I wish there had been some different plot related choices, especially near the end, but this remained an entertaining and quick read despite the minor challenges. Oh, and the narration in the Karen and Georgia parody? It's spot on. Go for the audiobook because the narration is solid but ESPECIALLY if you're a murderino. This part will make you laugh.

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.
Fleetwood Mac is one of my favorite bands and true crime is one of my go to reads. I was super excited when I got the chance to read this as I am a fan of other works by Rachel Hawkins.
I am sad to say that this one was a true let down for me. Maybe I had to much hype going in, but I just could not get in to this book. I can honestly say I will not recommend this to anyone.
Thank you NetGallery for my ARC.

Emily & Chess. Best friends since childhood. Sometimes a rocky relationship, but the love is there - they are more like sisters.

Emily writes cozy mystery books but she's definitely in a writing slump. This could be caused by the divorce she's going through with her cheating ex. Or her health issues. Or the fact that's demanding his share on books she writes even after the divorce. Regardless, Emily is struggling.

Chess is a best selling self help author. She sees Emily's struggles and calls her with an offer of a lifetime. Chess wants them to spend summer together at Villa Aestas in Orieto, Italy. She hopes the wine, the food and being in Italy will get both their creative juices flowing while they get in some best friend time.

Even in Italy, Emily struggles to write. She starts digging into the history of Villa Aestas and the murder there in the '70's when the villa was called Villa Rosato, AKA The Murder House.

Now we have dual timelines going on. We still have Emily and Chess. We also have Mari, girlfriend to the murdered musician, and what went on when five young creative people, very into sex, drugs and rock and roll, mix and mingle.

As bits are revealed in both storylines, I was sucked into the storyline even more. And there wer a couple twists in each that made the story even more interesting!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for both and ARC and ALC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is my third book by this author. I loved the first one, didn't care for the second one, and loved this one. I'm glad I didn't give up on her. Definitely for fans of a story within a story. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Villa Aestas, Houses remember…….Told from two time lines, currently Emily and childhood best friend Chess are staying in the Villa to write, catch up and spend some time together as friends after Emily’s marriage has ended. 1974 a group of Rockstars are staying in the Villa and the events of one summer that end in murder. As the storylines unfold you are left wondering who really was the murderer after Emily finds some hidden pages from writer Mari who stayed in the Villa in 1974. I enjoyed the unfolding, the characters and the extra twists at the end. Houses remember and definitely helped tell this story.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced electronic copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is what friends are for.

Emily, a cozy mystery author, and Chess. a self-help author and influencer, are long-time best friends. Emily is going through it. She is in the middle of a nasty divorce and has writer's block. Luckily, Chess invites Emily to stay in a Villa in Italy for 6 weeks. This is just the kind of thing Emily needs to get back on track.

Emily finds out from her friend Google that this villa has quite the history. A group of creatives- rock stars, writers, etc. stayed there in the 70's and an infamous murder occurred. Emily becomes engrossed in the story and wants to write about it instead of her usual book. Chess seems a bit jealous by this so Emily is keeping her information under wraps.

One of the 70's occupants was Mary, who went on to write what is widely considered one of the best feminist horrors of all time. Emily starts to wonder if Mary left easter eggs about what happened in the book, and perhaps even the villa. Is there a confession?

This novel ultimately is about female relationships and how much pressure they can withstand. It didn't drag on, it had a satisfying ending, and the narration was wonderful. Julia Whelan primarily narrates as Emily but we also hear news clips, podcast, snippets, and the voice of Mary from the past. It's sort of like Daisy Jones and the Six, but much darker and with murder. Add to that an air of mystery at a beautiful villa and you've got yourself a great tale of Gothic suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for the chance to read, listen, and review!

The ending of this book left me completely speechless….

Yes, I was able to figure out some of the twists, but there were SO many great twists, that it just kept getting better and better. Sometimes it got a little confusing since it bounced around a lot, but overall, I liked the two timelines. Also, still not sure how I feel about Emily and Chess’s friendship… but I guess if Emily’s okay with it, then so am I.

Do houses remember? The tale of two best friends - both authors- and one very outrageous greedy husband that embark upon a holiday in Italy. The villa that is rented has a bit of history attached to it and that is where the alternating storyline comes in - and also the pieces that dragged the story for me. In the end. The house adds another story to its long heritage connecting the two friends even more deeply together. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

“The Villa” is about two mysteries, one current and one from 1974. The villa itself is located in Orvieto Italy, a picturesque city sitting atop a volcanic tuff, surrounded by defensive walls. Yes, it’s an actual place and after you read this, you’ll want to go. It was the perfect stage is for a crime involving sex, drugs, and rock & roll.
In 1974, two musicians and their muses spent a summer there, full of wild adventures and free spirits. But one person was murdered, and the two muses were actually the only ones who went on to become famous. One, Lara was a singer with a platinum debut album and the other, Mari wrote a best-selling mystery novel titled “Lilith Rising”. The villa prospers through time based on this history and its beauty.
Chess and Emily have been friends for years, but Emily has always been in Chess’s shadow. This is exasperated as they mature and Chess becomes a famous influencer while Emily struggles to write a book. Chess suggests they visit this famous Villa, now named “Aestas” for some quality time and inspiration.
As soon as they arrive, Emily starts investigating the 1974 crime, much to the dissatisfaction of Chess. And it becomes painfully obvious that Chess has her own agenda, and is actually a manipulative “you-know”.
Emily’s research gives her the motivation she needs to write with a fury. But Chess is playing a game with her, a dangerous game involving Emily’s ex-husband Matt (who we all dislike with a passion).
What tangled webs we weave when you take two women from the past with a lurid history and mix them with two present-day wenches who grow more and more suspicious of each other as their histories overlap within the walls of this stunning but sinister villa.
My favorite aspect, without spoiling the story, is how fame and fortune turn the tables in each scenario. Written with a tense pace set in a stunning atmosphere, and unpredictable to the final pages, “The Villa” is a perfect read for mystery and thriller aficionados.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is January 3, 2023.