A delicious gothic tale in an Italian villa, by one of my fav authors?! Yes, please!!
I can’t tell you how excited I was to sit and devour this book this spooky month! This book is fast paced and had me so invested in the life long relationship of chess and Emily, and all the secrets that came with it!! I’m rounding up to 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me a chance to read and review this book early! The first thing that drew me in was the beautiful cover.. I hate to say it, but I’m often one that judges a book by its cover and this one is just beautiful. I also want to state, I am not typically a fan of multiple timelines and stories in a book so I was hesitant at first, but something about the way the author presented each story, timeline and characters in this book, has now made me a fan. I did expect there to be more of a thrilling, creepy vibe to the house since “Houses Remember”, so I was a little disappointed in that aspect, but overall I enjoyed this book. It did take me a few chapters to really get into it, but once we made it to Italy and Emily started writing her book, I was instantly sucked in. I loved how Emily and Mari slightly mirrored each other. Someone described this as a slow burn thriller and that is a perfect way to put it! It had the perfect build up - many times had me at the edge of my seat, unable to put it down because I was anxious to see how things ended, this story was thrilling, exciting, and heartbreaking and for those reasons, I rate this book 4/5 stars. I can’t wait to see what Rachel Hawkins comes up with next!

“The Villa” written by Rachel Hawkins felt more to me like an adult drama than a thriller. It was enjoyable and set in a gorgeous setting, but the story fell short for me. Thank you so much to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

4.5⭐️

This was my first Rachel Hawkins novel and this did not disappoint at all! I was hooked from the beginning to the very end and it reminded me of so many great books I’ve read like Home Before Dark and Verity. This definitely got me out of my reading slump and kicked off the spooky season thriller reads for me.

What I really liked in this novel was the creativity. Since I’ve never read books by Hawkins before, I don’t know if she was testing out a new theme with this novel or if this is how she usually writes but I enjoyed it either way. Em and Chess’s relationship and the past of The Villa gave me something to look forward to. Even though the chapters were long, I was too invested in the story to care.

Chess and Em have a complicated relationship. Chess was manipulative and made me angry whenever I heard her justifications. We all know people like Chess and it made me sad for Em to be stuck in that relationship.

The ending was spectacular. I’m a sucker for confusing, mind-numbing endings for thrillers. I love the “what’s the real story?” Kind of endings because it makes you think for a long time. What really happened in the Villa? Something we won’t know even though the answer is right in front of us. Not a lot of books I’ve read contain that type of endings nor is it well executed but in this situation it was perfect.

I’m not giving this a 5⭐️ because one specific part of the book kind of didn’t make much sense. I felt like it could’ve been explained well but there was too much going on that Hawkins skimmed over the topic. I’m still looking forward to reading more of her books!

4.5 stars out of 5. This is my favorite Rachel Hawkins book by far!! I loved the journey she took us on with these characters. They felt complex and I never really knew where the story was headed. I really enjoyed the twist ending too. Just when you feel like you have it all figured out, Hawkins ended it with an ending that makes you think. The ending gave me Verity by Colleen Hoover which is intended as a huge compliment. Very very good book!!

This is my new favorite book by Rachel Hawkin.
This gripped me from the first page and didn't let go until I had read every word. I loved these characters and the stories they weaved. The suspense was there, and the twists were great.
I can't wait to see what else this author comes out with.

Rachel Hawkins does it again! Two longtime best friends head to Italy for a trip they won’t ever forget. Set from 2 perspectives set 30 years apart, this thriller is a quick read and so worth it.

4.25/5⭐️

Wow, this was a wild ride, and my first Hawkins’ book. I won’t give a lot of specifics here as it would be easy to disclose spoilers.

It’s a dual timeline story (1974 and present day) set at an Italian villa. The ‘74 bit involves two sisters (Mari and Lara) with complicated relationships (with each other and with others) and lots of drugs, sex and (you guessed it) rock ‘n roll (and also a tragic event). The current story follows two best friends (Emily and Chess), again with complicated connections/events, both with each other and with others.

Both stories are set up for comparisons to be made between the two…similarities in characters/situations/moral dilemmas/consequences.

It’s a thriller with a Gothic feel, a mystery within a mystery and feminist fiction all in one. While I wasn’t sympathetic with a single character and had issues with each one, I did find them fascinating, both as individuals and in their various relationships. There’s jealousy, greed, fame, betrayal, secrets and big surprises…lots going on in a book that felt longer than it actually was. There’s lots to say about decisions made (both those spur-of-the-moment and those meticulously planned), and how they affect the rest of our lives, both pros and cons. It’s one with lots of nuances, and I’m sure I’d ferret out more from it with additional readings.

Recommended.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the free early arc of The Villa for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

"Houses remember."

Another great story by Rachel Hawkins! She is absolutely my go-to author to know I'll have good charcter devlopment, a tensioned filled plot and fast paced read.

So this is a story in 3 parts. Each chapter is easily broken out so you know when you switch storylines so it doens't get confusing or feel like you lose a thread of one or 2. The main story is Em. She's had a rough year with her marriage crumbling, a mysterious illness and a stall in her writing. But her best friend, Chess, is having an amazing year full of success, money and touring for her self-help book. Chess misses her best friend and decides to invite her to a villa in Italy for the summer. Em jumps at the chance - especially when she realizes The Villa comes with a dark past of a previous murder.

The second story is the story from the 1970's. It's the previous story of the people staying for the summer, the ones that ends with a murder. I loved these parts because I loved the characters and just how tangled and angry they all were. The POV here is Mari.

Thirdly, while Mari is in The Villa in the 70's, she writes a very dark, blood filled horror story caleld Lilith Rising and you get tidbits of this story mixed in.

The melding of the three stories was perfect. Each chapter fed off the next and really drove the unease and tension higher and higher. It was a fast read because I kept wanting to know more - more about Mari and how it all went down, more about Em staying with Chess and the building mysteriously ominous feeling there, and then Lillith - the dark horror story and how Mari's curent fed in to her writing. The final conclusion was so well crafted, I loved it. As always, now I will be hungrily waiting for more from this author!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

As much as I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs, I have to say The Villa might be my new favorite by this author. It's kinda like a mystery within a mystery type read. The ending is really what made the book for me as it's way more complex than first meets the eye.

Emily is a writer of cozy mysteries and is in the middle of a messy divorce. Her best friend, Chess, is a famous self-help guru and has invited Emily to spend the summer with her at an Italian villa. The two women aren't as close as they used to be when they are kids but hopefully the vacation will go smoothly and Emily will be able to finish writing her latest book. The Villa itself might provide inspiration as it was the scene of a murder back in the 1970s. The story follows Emily in the present day and the past in which Mari in 1974 is spending time at the villa with some musicians.

So you have the obvious mystery taking place in the 1970s but there's also suspense going on with Emily's storyline. It was fun in a 'I don't quite know what to think so I better keep reading' way. When it comes to the conclusion I give the author credit as she came up with something that practically begs for discussion among readers. An excellent book club selection for sure as I know I'm eager to hear other readers' thoughts as it's not a simple ending. I've spent the last week since I finished reading the book to try and wrap my head around it.

A fantastic slow burn gothic style thriller with a unique story line. In many ways it reminded me of the thriller version of Daisy Jones & the Six. The Mary Shelley influence gave the book its own unique voice though. I read this book in an entire day while on the beach and regret nothing. (Spooky books and the beach needs to be a new trend. Just saying.) The ending came full circle and made me wonder what the MC will do to escape the web she trapped herself in.

The Villa is the third thriller from Rachel Hawkins and I have read and enjoyed them all. A villa in Italy? A hidden mystery? A deceitful best friend? What more could you ask for.

I am always a fan of the story within a story concept and enjoyed the two parallel storylines in The Villa as well as the friendship between Emily and Chess (who was a little too Girl, Wash Your Face-esque for me) and while at times predictable, I did enjoy seeing how their friendship played out.

While I overall enjoyed The Villa, it was not my favorite of Hawkins books, but it was ultimately a quick read which I'd recommend.

3.5 Stars.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley + St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

THE VILLA is told through two separate timelines - the first, in present day Italy at the Villa Aestas where two childhood friends take a vacation to reconnect with each other, and the second at the same location in 1974, when it was known as Villa Rosato and was the Summer home of several musicians, one of whom is found dead by the end of their stay. As Emily spends time in the villa, she uncovers some clues that lead her to believe that the death in 1974 was something far more sinister than just an accident fueled by sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. As Emily gets closer to uncovering the truth, her relationship with Chess gets more and more strained, until it becomes clear that Villa Aestas may be hiding just as many secrets as Villa Rosato.

When I tell you I could not put this book down, I mean I could *not* put this book down. I was actually at a lake weekend with friends when I was reading this and I was very antisocial and kept sneaking in pages. The atmospheric writing, both when describing the setting and the overall creepiness of Villa Rosato instantly hooked me. Unfortunately, the ending for me just fell really flat - I was hoping for something more from a plot standpoint. It also felt like we took a big jump away from reality at one point, which was hard to get past. I think the writing is awesome, and I will definitely read whatever the author puts out next!

i don't know if i liked the ending but the mari storyline was more interesting than emily's, i don't understand emily and chess's friendship

The plot is just so contrived and derivative I could not get into this book. It seemed to be three novels in one.

Thanks for the digital review copy.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a suspenseful novel that switches between narrators. The setting is in Italy and in addition to dual narratives, the timelines also alternates. In the present, the story is told by Emily, a writer who has been invited to Italy and is hoping to focus on her tenth novel. Her adventure to anther country inspires her to research a murder that had occurred at the villa they are staying at. Mari's perspective is from 1974 when the murder occurred, and all of the events that led up to it. The timelines and narratives are seamlessly woven together, and they are both beautifully written. It was a slow start for me personally, but overall I really enjoyed the book. I would definitely recommend!

The Villa was my first Rachel Hawkins book but it will not be my last. The Villa was a fun read (if you can call a book about murder fun). The Villa has two storylines, both set in an Italian villa, both involving creatives trying to get out of a writing slump, and both taking lots of twists and turns. Rachel Hawkins writes interesting characters, some likable, some not so much; providing the perfect mix to keep you reading. The Villa would make for a lively book discussion or just a great read for gothic mystery fans. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. Wow! I loved this book! It has more twists and turns than a roller coaster! The characters are all flawed - and totally unforgettable. Rachel Hawkins continues her writing of good people doing things and bad people actually doing good things. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a great psychological thriller with non-stop action and. a HUGE creep factor!

Short synopsis: Childhood best friend Emily and Chess go on a summer trip to The Villa Aestas in Italy. The same home where in 1974 a tragedy took the life of up and coming musician Pierce Sheldon. Emily is determined to find what really happened in 1974.

My thoughts: I had no idea what to expect with this one other than i loved the cover and knew it was about a Villa. This is a fun one to go into somewhat blind, but I got a little confused at the very beginning on the flashbacks, diary entries and fictional published pieces. Once i got a handle on it the plot moved very quickly.

I did enjoy the current timeline somewhat more than the 1974 timelines. I was more anxious to see what happened with Emily and Chess, but loved the separate stories and how they both tied together at the end.

There were a couple things i called early, but definite plot twists I never saw coming. This was such a fun one for October, in love books about houses with history, and this one delivered! Don’t forget… “Houses Remember”

Read if you love:
* Multiple timelines
* Story within a story
* Books about authors
* Houses with secrets
* “True crime”
* Italian Villas

Thank you so much @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of this book. Publication date is set for Jan 3, 2023 so be sure to add it to your New Years reading list!

I always enjoy Rachel Hawkins' thrillers—they're my particular brand of literary catnip. Her THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS was a fun contemporary retelling of JANE EYRE; RECKLESS GIRLS paid homage to AND THEN THERE WERE NONE with a last act feminist twist. As for THE VILLA, it's a really clever pageturner inspired by the famed summer of 1816 at the Villa Diodati, only updating it into 1970s Orvieto with rock stars and writers. If you're at all familiar with the saga of Mary Shelley, Byron, Clare Clairmont et al, you'll have a blast picking out all the references.