Well this cements it. Rachel Hawkins is an auto-buy author for me who can do no wrong.

"Houses remember.
Now the line makes even more sense to her, now she knows how to use it.
Not a love story at all.
Or yes, a love story , but there's horror inside of it. There's death and loss, blood and sweat. Just as there is in every love story, after all."

Now that's the kind of love story I want to read.

Two best, but somewhat estranged, friends vacation in a secluded gothic mansion in Italy. A secluded gothic mansion that was the scene of a famous murder in the 70s. On friend, Chess, is a lifestyle guru who has made her money through self help books and a carefully curated Instagram feed. The other friend, Emily, is a cozy mystery writer, who is going through a divorce, trying to overcome a mysterious illness that no one can diagnose and is momentarily stalled out in her writing career. Chess insists that the time in Italy will be great. She and Emily will be both work on their respective books and reunite and make amazing memories. And she's right--to an extent.

Then we have another pov from Mari in the 70s. She, her boyfriend Pierce and her stepsister are spending the summer in the same Italian villa with a famous rock star. We know this story ends in death, and MAri leads the reader through that fateful summer, while simultaneously telling how she was inspired to write on of the most famous feminist horror books ever--Lilith Rising.

I really, really enjoyed this book. At the beginning, I wasn't totally on board with Mari's pov--I found her a bit dry and I wasn't sure how she fit into the modern day narrative. But then I became super invested and actually fell in love with Mari's story. And the end of this book--chef's kiss. Hawkins is a superb storyteller and I will definitely be buying anything she writes.

I got so excited about getting this ARC because I love Rachel Hawkins. Her stories are incredible, and she does an amazing job constructing an enjoyable story with unique characters, and The Villa was not the exception.

Chess invites her oldest friend to stay at Villa Aestas in Italy after Emily's marriage seems to be in trouble. Now in their 30s, Emily and Chess are both authors with lives on their own, so they jump at the chance to spend a summer together. They have a complicated friendship, but they both seem eager to move pass their issues and reconnect as only old friends can do. As their days pass, Emily digs into the villa's history including the murder that took place in the property in 1974 and the two culturally important pieces of art that came from it. Back then, rock star Noel Gordon invites up-and-coming musician Pierce Sheldon to join him in his inspiration retreat. Pierce shows up with his girlfriend Mari and her stepsister Lara. As their summer unfolds, the decisions the group makes leads to the gruesome death of Pierce and the conception of two important pieces of art: a horror novel and a platinum album. As Emily looks for clues in the novel and album, she realizes that her and Chess' lives have parallels with the lives of Mary and Lara, and maybe her love-hate relationship with Chess will finally change for the better.

This novel was fantastic and a true masterpiece in connecting two stories that don't have much to do with each other but that are absolutely related in more ways than one. The story is told in two timelines, the present and the past. The present is mostly told from Emily's POV who is struggling with issues in her marriage. The summer trip with Chess gives her the excuse to not being around her husband and also to find inspiration for her new novel, which she has been unable to work on for months. Chess, on the other hand, is a successful author and motivational speaker who is also trying to find inspiration for her next book. I must say I did not like Chess from the beginning as she had mean-girl energy, so it was interesting to learn about her life and her friendship with Emily. The other POV comes from the 1970's musicians group. These chapters focus on what was happening during the weeks leading to Pierce's murder and how the choices that Lara and Mari made impacted their ending. Some of the details from the past come in the form of podcasts and news stories, so it was nice to see all of the assumptions made from people who have "investigated" the crime but failed to do what Emily does, which is looking into the horror novel and album to find clues to what actually happened.

Overall, I found this novel truly engaging. I love how Hawkins does such a great job building up a story within a a story. All of her characters have flaws and strengths which result in a great storytelling arc. I truly loved this one!

I liked but did not love this book. Once I got into it, I wanted to know what happened but I found the time changes to be a bit distracting.

The Villa was a great story that kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the twists and the multiple points of view as well as the setting which easily transported me out of the country. This book was much more enjoyable than Reckless Girls and right on par with the The Wife Upstairs.

This was a twisty tale that intertwines a couple different story lines. We are taken from the past to the present. The past murder to the present thriller. Emily and Chess have gone to Italy for the summer and Emily hopes to find inspiration to complete her newest cosy mystery. What she finds is the inspiration to go in a totally different direction. After all, with her ex-husband taking most of her residuals why should she continue to work on her series. With staying at the Villa Aestas there is so much to research about the former players and the murder that happened here. This was pretty much a predictable tale but it was a pleasure to read and listen to and since I had both versions that is how I devoured it.

Highly recommend reading this one! I really enjoyed Rachel Hawkin's last book, Reckless Girls, (not a huge fan of The Wife Upstairs). I think this tops the list for me. Her books get better and better and I'm excited to see what she writes next.

Thanks Netgalley! 4.5 stars.

This book features dual timelines, one in the present and one in the 1970s, that both take place in the same old Italian villa. A girls trip dissolves into chaos, a rockstar gets murdered, and an iconic horror novel connects the past and present. While the story kept me interested until the end, I thought it was a bit short and the writing seemed somewhat rushed. Still, I have read lots of great reviews, so if you are a thriller-lover you might really enjoy this one! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy to review. It is out now!

The Villa is a breath of fresh, murdery air. This thriller, with its story-within-the-story and dual timelines, will keep you guessing right up to the final page. The ending was shocking and, shockingly perfect. Plus, who isn't interested in a historic, Italian villa?

Read if you:
loved Daisy Jones & the Six
are craving an Italian getaway
have ever been in a toxic friendship
enjoy ends that aren't quite neat

The Villa was an interesting read, definitely not what I expected. The idea of a house being an influence on people was not one that really worked for me. I found the scenes set in the past the more interesting of the two POVs but neither fully grasped my attention.

I really loved THE WIFE UPSTAIRS, but I was underwhelmed by RECKLESS GIRLS. Good news is, though, I was really impressed by THE VILLA! I loved the Gothic atmosphere and Italian setting, and I always devour stories about the complicated friendships between women. I enjoyed how the 1970s story was woven in — and the twist at the end genuinely shocked me.

What a twisty read! This book bounces between the present summer and the summer of 1974, between two best friends and a group of a musicians. At first glance their stories are completely different, or are they? It took me a little while to get into the flow of the book as there are several characters between the two timelines, throw in book topics written by Emily and Chess, the characters and story line in Mari's book, lyrics from Lara's album, plus a sprinkling of articles and podcast transcripts, and it is a lot to keep straight. And I loved it! The further into the book I got the faster I read. I couldn't ever decide if I liked Chess or the twists surrounding her. She felt too good to be true. I definitely liked Mari and the twists she brings to the story line. How very clever! I thought for sure I knew where the book ending was headed but nope, I was surprised how it all played out. Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a binge-worthy tale that sucks me in and keeps me glued to the page. Now I want someone to record Lara's album so I can hear the music for real!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Hawkins is a master at suspense in this page turner!

She flips between two timelines. One in 1974 where a group of artists and musicians stay in a villa in Italy. A mystery starts to unfold of the events of that summer and how one of their own ended up dead.
The second timeline is in the present with two best friends in the same villa. Emily gets immersed in the events that happened so long ago and solving the mystery. All is well until it's not....are they really best friends, is her mind playing with her?
I read this book in one day. I could not put it down. Every page I wanted more information. A couple things were predictable or so I thought but with a big spin!

*Thank you netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review*

Rachel Hawkins is an auto buy for me but this was not my favorite of hers.
This book fell totally flat for me. The story of friends, lovers, writers and musicians, betrayal, murder and vacations at a beautiful Italian Villa seemed intriguing but the organization is all over the place. It's set up with regular chapters interspersed with back and forth, past and present changing timelines, excerpts of song lyrics, news, book and magazine articles and podcast excerpts. Nothing about the story was super suspenseful. It was dull. I’ll continue to buy Rachel’s books this just wasn’t a favorite of mine.

Very fun thriller. The flashbacks were well balanced with the current timeline which I definitely appreciated. Loved the reflections of the past in the present.

The Villa isn’t author Rachel Hawkins’s first fiercely feminist thriller—her The Wife Upstairs puts a modern-day spin on Jane Eyre and last year’s Reckless Girls is the first book I recommend to anyone who tells me that they’re going through Yellowjackets withdrawal while we wait for the show’s second season. But she’s bested them both with her latest novel, The Villa, a Gothic thriller that is somehow both everything you think it will be—and absolutely nothing you expect.

A wildly creative story that combines a 1970s rock and roll reimagining of the famous summer at Villa Dodati in 1814 that gave birth to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a competitive modern-day summer writing retreat rife with professional jealousies, and a deft exploration of the uncomfortable truths about the way our society views female artists of all stripes, The Villa is a rare thriller with something substantial to say—about the complexity of female friendships, how our society consumes true crime stories, and more. The sort of book that’s easy to sit down with and suddenly find yourself finishing within a single sitting, Hawkins’ tale is propulsively paced and incredibly addictive. As it deftly shifts between timelines, The Villa tells a story of history repeating itself, of women struggling to be heard as partners and artists, and the toll that the act of creating art can take on those who are making it.

I loved Rachel Hawkins' book The Wife Upstairs, so went into The Villa with high hopes. I wasn't disappointed. This was a fascinating book with dual timelines, both set in an Italian villa being rented for extended stays - one in the 70s, the other current day.
In the 70s, it's rented by a fading rock star who's trying to recover his creative mojo. An aspiring songwriter and his girlfriend end up staying there along with the girlfriend's stepsister (who's a bit of a singer/songwriter herself). It's the 70s and there is, of course, a good bit of sex & drugs & rock & roll happening - and ultimately, a notorious murder.
Current day, the house has been rented by a successful self-help author and blogger, Chess, who invites her childhood friend to come with her for a vacation. That friend, Emma, is a writer as well, but her forte is writing cozy mysteries. She's gone through a nasty divorce, and they go hoping to revive their fading friendship, adult life having played havoc with their ability to spend time together. While they're there, Emma becomes fascinated with the history of the villa, particularly with that murder in the 70s. At the same time she discovers things about her own life and marriage that make her question everything she thought she knew.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Emily & Chess have been best friends since childhood. When Chess suggests that Emily accompany her on a summer long vacation to Italy, it seems like the perfect time for Emily to reboot her writing career and get some distance and perspective from her contentious divorce proceedings.

Staying at Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Italy, Emily is quickly pulled into the story of the villa’s inhabitants in the summer of 1974 - where a group of beatnik musicians and writers stay ended in a brutal murder just down the hall from her bedroom.

Told between 1974 and present day, Rachel Hawkins delivers a twisting tale of danger and self discovery for both her characters stuck in the past and those living in the future.

I enjoyed this one - but I don’t really feel like it was a thriller as some of Hawkin’s other books are marketed. While this was definitely suspenseful and a page turner - there isn’t really any big “secret reveal” or gotcha moment - but rather a slow burn of self-discovery and how far people will go to find peace for themselves.

Thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Hawkins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you like:

+ Malibu Rising & Evelyn Hugo
+ Toxic Friendship Trope
+ Parallel Story Lines

Such a fantastic and complex thriller that kept me turning the pages! I am such a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins, and am happy to report that after her second novel left me underwhelmed, this one was an absolute delight. The writing is very atmospheric, and I loved the different feels of current day vs. the scenes from the 1970s. Highly recommended. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so entertaining!
We have two alternate timelines taking place at the same villa;
a present day one: two best friends (a lifestyle influencer and an author) trying to find inspiration for their careers
a past one: a group of 5 artists (musicians and writers) trying to get away for a summer and enhance their creativity with lots of drugs, sex and alcohol
There is murder, secrets, love triangles, a book within a book, feminists themes, just so many fun aspects. This book had me hooked until the end! I had the best time reading this!

This was too much of a slowborn for me - I wanted more Italian villa setting, but overall I just felt like not much happened and this was not a "thriller".