I sat on reading this book and I am so mad at myself!!! This is one of my favourite reads so far this year. It is SO good! I love how there is 2 stories in 1 and the line up so well!

There was so much going on in this book but yet it all flowed together perfectly!

This is a definite read for anyone who likes mysteries!!

Author Emily Sheridan is behind writing her latest book in a cozy mystery series. She’s suffering from writers block due to ill health and (unfortunately) her series love interest is inspired by her soon to be ex-husband. Their divorce process has been h*** to say the least. Her childhood best friend Chess suggests they spend R+R at an Italian villa together to reconnect. Chess is an author too but they’ve drifted apart after Chess’s big success in writing self-help books. While there, Emily gets caught up investigating the mystery of an infamous 1974 murder that happened in that same villa. She also knows one of the girls (Mari) went on to write a bestselling horror novel, and the other girl (Lana) wrote/performed/released the greatest solo album of that era. How did they become so successful after living through something so gruesome?I love the way this story unfolds to the very last page. It is so interwoven that at times the two sets characters became one. So richly layered.

This was a very captivating read and really enjoyed it…until the ending. I felt how quickly Emma forgave her friend was disappointing but it all comes full circle. It’s also crazy that Mary made up the diary pages. I was shook.

I wanted to love this one, especially when I read that it was "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––". It was even less than 300 pages.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 was a slow-burn, murder mystery with dual, parallel timelines decades apart with unlikable characters, all set in an Italian villa. Yet, I wanted more character depth, better execution, just more in general. I did love the rabbit hole of googling all the events that inspired this book and also the lovely ladies who were in the buddy read!

After 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 and now this, it might be time to break up with Rachel Hawkins... 🤷🏻‍♀️ Thank you to @Netgalley and @libro.fm for this advanced copy!

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Rachel Hawkins and Netgalley.
After reading and loving Ms. Hawkins last 2 books, I was eagerly anticipating this one. Her book Reckless Girls, was my favorite book of 2021!
This one though? It sadly missed the mark for me.
I still had a good time reading it.
So, I'm giving this just 3 stars, but be sure that I'm still on-board the Hawkins train! Even my favorite authors have a misfire occasionally.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great thriller and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rachel Hawkins doesn’t disappoint! Just wish it was a little bit faster phased. Great read!

Unfortunately, this book left me feeling so disappointed! After reading the first couple of chapters I was super excited! There was just so much potential; so many different directions the story could have gone, but ultimately…. I was bored!

I loved the concept behind the dual POV’s taking place in the same location decades apart and the sneakily parallel storylines that connected them but things just moved way too slowly to keep me invested. Not enough twists or action here, and the conflict development / resolution was pretty predictable.

The characters were absolutely insufferable, EVERY SINGLE ONE, but dare I say that this was the only thing that kept me reading?? Everyone was so unbelievably mean to each other that I had to see how far they would go!!

Maybe there is some grand message about friendship here that I’m supposed to walk away with? Can’t be sure.

Rachel Hawkins is a fun writer. Have enjoyed all the books I’ve read before. A solid go to author.
The Villa was no different. Interesting plot and entertains.

I really enjoyed this book for the majority of it. I had heard it really wasn't a "thriller", more mystery/historical novel. I was okay with that, and actually really loved the way Rachel Hawkins structured the book. I loved the dual timelines and getting to piece the stories together and see how they fit together. What I didn't love was the ending itself. It felt really strange and unrealistic to me. The way Emily reacted to some things just didn't really make a lot of sense. And choices that Chess made really bothered me too. I know it's a mystery/thriller and I'm. not going to like all the characters in these types of books, but to me it felt like more than that. The end honestly disappointed me because I was really loving the book the whole entire time up to that point.

One villa in Italy with two different names. Two time periods. Two sets of women. Two murders. This is not your typical whodunnit. There are a lot of twists and turns and a lot of back and forth between the two different eras. And just when you figure out who the killer is, something happens that you change your mind. Again. Definitely an enjoyable book that keeps you guessing until the end.

An amazing and suspenseful page turner! Told in alternating storylines between the past and present.
Emily and Chess, who have been best friends for many years, go on vacation to Italy for the summer to spend time together, rekindle their friendship and unwind. Secrets start to unfold about the history of the Villa they are staying at, that will change everything.

3.5 rounded to 4. Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillianaudio and @netgalley for an #advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

"Not Better, Just easier. The Simplest words I've ever heard. And they cut me to the quick like only she can-- a silk glove on an iron hand."

🍋This was my first book by Rachel Hawkins, and while it wasn't my favorite thriller, I will definitely be reading more !!

This book is told in first person POV by Emily in a present day timeline, and Mary in 1974. While Mary and Emily were very different, they also had alot in common and I really enjoyed the similarities - they were both writers, both recovering from tragic events and trying to escape their realities in Italy.

I found myself enjoying the past timeline more than the present day one. i loved learning about the things Emily was finding out about, but from Marys perspective. Emily and Mary were my favorite characters... all the other characters were a little annoying, but they all had so much in common between the timelines. I also really loved the mixed media- podcasts, interviews, articles, etc. and the setting of Italy was just amazing !!! Overall, the story was good, but it felt a little unfinished to me. I will definitely be reading more of Rachel Hawkins books in the future !

Set at a villa in Italy, across a few timelines, The Villa is a slow-burn story highlighting some female relationships that stand the test of time and the true power of a secret. Rachel Hawkins is always good for a fun read, but I enjoyed the departure to something more gothic and dark for this one. The modern timeline was the tale of two best friends who feel disconnected and each needs some time away. They start to dig into the sordid history of the villa, which was the site of some murdery action in the 70s. From the ashes of the deaths came a very spooky horror novel and a bestselling album every feminist has in their music collection.

I liked the interlocking stories and the switch between timelines. For me, this book struggled with the same thing that every book with two timelines struggles with -- one timeline was more interesting than the other. I think this is probably an issue that is nearly impossible to avoid. All in all, this book was fun and interesting and I enjoyed it. Was it groundbreaking? Not really, but it was a fun read and I liked it. It would make a wonderful beach read.

This was the best book! I read it in one sitting! I would definitely recommend this book! It had such good twists and very well written!

I really like Hawkins’ stories but this one I’m not sure if I do or don’t. I didn’t really care for Chess, thought she was a person who used Emily at times and wasn’t very nice. I didn’t like Mari’s story too much although it did take place in the 7o’s where a lot of unusual free love took place. I didn’t find this haunting or mysterious. The ending to Emily’s story was rather unbelievable too. 3.5 stars

“Houses remember.”
This theme gets interwoven from the past to the present in The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. I so enjoyed the moody setting of Villa Aestas (previously Villa Rosato).in Orvieto, Italy. Why the change in name? Why, due to notorious murder of rockstar Pierce Sheldon in 1974. The how, why, and whodunnit of the murder is juxtaposed through alternate timelines, Mari in the past and Emily in the present day. I raced through this book, so eager to get to the bottom of Pierce’s murder and understand what was truly going on with present day guest Emily uncomfortable relationship with her self-help guru bestie Chess. I adored the atmosphere, the mystery, and the troubled characters, not to mention the ending that had me guessing as well as finally understanding how, “Houses Remember.”

Another fast-paced fantastic read from this author. The story moves quickly but still gives the reader a strong sense of development and fully fleshed-out characters. Fans of both Rachel Hawkins and the mystery/thriller genre in general will love this one.

3.5. I enjoyed this story a lot, however, I found the execution on it, to be a little weak. I thought many things could've been improved had the written been different. The story was very intriguing, however, the entire time I was reading it felt like there was something missing. I did enjoy the 70's rockstar of it all though. Despite my feelings on this book, I will definitely continue reading Rachel's books in the near future.

Thank you, netgalley for my copy of this book.

I have enjoyed other books by this author and also liked this one.

Dual timeline + rock n roll + a little mystery. This one was a quick and easy read that kept me wondering how it was going to end.

I read this one in two days and would recommend it!