"She hadn't thought that perhaps houses hold on to the bad with the good, just as people do."

In The Villa, we jump back and forth between the present day and 1974. While the time periods and characters are different, the house where most of the shizzle goes down in both stories is the same - a luxury rental in Orvieto that was known as Villa Rosato back in the day but that peeps refer to as Villa Aestas now. In the present day storyline, we follow 30-something Emily - the quasi-successful writer of a cozy mystery series who just wants to get away from it all after her douche-nozzle ex husband abandons her and subsequently wants in on Emily's cozy mystery royalty paychecks. Emily is the guest of Chess, Emily's bestie and a famous self-help guru who had the brilliant idea that the two of them could go there to write their latest works and chillax in beautiful Italy for the summer.

Rewind to 1974, and we follow Mari, a 19-year-old writer who will eventually pen the famous horror novel Lilith Rising that she writes while spending time at Villa Rosato. In addition to Mari, we've got Mari's sister Lara (who writes the famous album Aestas while at the Villa - hence the future name change), Mari's boyfriend Pierce, famous rock-n'-roller Noel, and "the entertainment" Johnnie. Between the sex, drugs, and rock-n'-rolling happening at Villa Rosato that summer, jealousies emerge, tensions rise, and someone ends up dead (murdered?). Questions around what really happened that summer have never been answered... and it intrigues Emily enough that she starts investigating during her stay. But what will she be able to find out? And why does Chess seem to be acting a bit squirrelly? Will the secrets of the past somehow connect to the secrets of the present?

Usually when I read a book that jumps back and forth between two different timelines, I find myself more drawn to one of them over the other - skimming through the timeline I like less to be able to savor the one I like more. This was not the case with The Villa, as I found both storylines to be enjoyable reads. In Emily's timeline I wanted to know what shady things Chess was surely up to and what the connection was between the events of 1974 and the present. In Mari's, I wanted to know who was murdered and why.

This book was solidly good but not great. I didn't find either of the main characters to be particularly compelling, but I didn't find them to be off-putting either. I suppose I was rooting for both of them, but not enthusiastically so. I was engaged the whole time I read this book, but I wouldn't classify it as un-put-downable. And while I dug the twist at the very end of Mari's story, I found the almost-ending to Emily's story to be over the top and implausible. But! I'd still recommend this book to friends who dig murder mysteries.

The Villa is about two friends who go on vacation to a villa in Italy and get sucked into the story of what happened there 50 years ago that resulted in murder, and two very successful works of art. The story weaves the past and the present to slowly reveal what happened and its impact on present day.

This is the second Rachel Hawkins suspense book I’ve read, the other one being Reckless Girls. I found this book to be less atmospheric than Reckless Girls. I had some issues with that book, but it really did the sense of suspense and impending doom right. In this one, I didn’t get that much suspense, darkness or creepiness, and definitely not gothic suspense. It read more like a mystery to me, I don’t think this is a bad thing, but I think it helps to set your expectations from the get-go. I think it helped me that I went into the story without knowing anything about it, I didn’t read the blurb at all, I just knew it took place in a villa in Italy.

As far as the mystery, I thought it was very good. It keeps you guessing, and even the things you think you know, are not how they seem. You start suspecting each character, even the MCs, and keep trying to figure it all out.

I especially liked the mystery within a mystery aspect of things. There is the present story of two friends at a “murder villa”, there is the past, which covers what happened at the villa almost 50 years ago, then there are various books within the books. This dual timeline is done incredibly well. What I really appreciated was how the analysis of these mysteries by the characters within the story made you think about if any of it is actually a foreshadowing for the main mystery.

I really like how Rachel Hawkins always serves people their just desserts and highlights women empowerment. At the end you feel vindicated, like justice has prevailed somehow. I think those who didn’t like Reckless Girls because of how it ended will appreciate this one a lot more. I quite liked the resolution to the story, and how there were a lot of gray areas, and twists, of course.

I also appreciate that her characters are flawed, even the ones you root for are not always nice people. I loved the symmetry between the beginning and ending of the book and how the tables turned, though saying anything more would be spoilery.

It takes a bit at the beginning of the book for things to really get going, but I think reading this as an audiobook really helped with that as well.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

Compelling, ominous, and unpredictable!

The Villa transports you into the life of cosy mystery writer Emily Sheridan who, after recently battling illness and a nasty divorce, heads to an Italian villa at the invitation of her childhood best friend and successful self-help author Chess Chandler, where the past will collide with the present, long-buried secrets will be unearthed, and the infamous murder that occurred on the property in 1974 and was the inspiration for the classic, celebrated horror novel, Lilith Rising may finally be solved.

The writing is taut and tight. The characters are self-indulgent, secretive, and vulnerable. And the plot using flashbacks and a back-and-forth, past/present style, intertwines and unravels effortlessly into a machiavellian tale full of manipulation, deception, lies, drama, jealousy, secrets, revelations, mayhem, and murder.

Overall, The Villa is a twisty, intense, sinister tale by Hawkins that does an excellent job of delving into the complex dynamics that exist between friends and highlights just how toxic, parasitic, and dangerous some of those relationships can turn out to be.

Gothic suspense in an Italian villa. Emily and Chess were inseparable as children and then Chess suggests the two of them take a trip to Italy. The villa has a complicated history and Emily and Chess are trying to find out the truth.

The Villa wasn't something I saw opening up my 2023, but we're here now, and I have to talk about it. This story is another case of a literary recap duping the masses. Even though it hits the points of what the synopsis dished out, reading the story was an entirely different feel.

The Villa is about a recently separated divorcee woman looking to reignite her writing career with her best friend in Italy. While trying to get her groove back, she stumbles on a classic horror story that she realizes took place in the house they're staying at. Within finding this remarkable discovery, she also uncovers secrets from her best friend that may make or break their 30-year friendship.

I wasn't in love with the book. It was a long slow burn. I almost DNFed it, but a tiny thread dealing with the present POV made me stick around. It started getting better 70% in.

I like every Rachel Hawkins book more than the last. I raced through this book. It combines all of the things I enjoy reading about right now-beautiful scenery, complicated female friendships, and true crime. The perfect wintery thriller-y escape.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC!

The premise of this book was so promising! A gothic atmospheric setting in Italy, yes please! But ooof, this one fell flat for me. 😬 I wasn’t very invested in the characters and the direction the story took. It felt like there was a lot of build up the first 3/4 of the book, then when things started to unravel I was left underwhelmed.

The past storylines I found myself very bored with and had to reread a few times because I kept loosing focus. The best way to sum up this book was it just wasn’t memorable for me. The story was just okay and didn’t leave any type of lasting impression on me.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

What to expect:
✨ Italian setting
✨ Gothic villa
✨ Mystery
✨ Past/present storylines
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Go into this book blind - trust me!
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Ok, so you want a little more info? This dual timeline thriller includes best friends in an Italian villa, both authors, that stumble upon more information about a murder from almost 50 years earlier. All the principles from that event are dead, but legacies of music and writing have been left behind. I enjoyed all the nods to Mary Shelley and her authorship of Frankenstein but knowing all that was not necessary to enjoy the book. I also enjoyed the pieces of Mari's writing, Lara's lyrics, and even some modern media content sprinkled throughout. This book kept me wanting to know what would happen even as I guessed pieces and missed others.

Thank you @NetGalley for my review copy.

Emily and Chess are writers, and best friends, who head off to Italy to stay at what Emily describes as a "murder house". What is now considered the lap of luxury was once a fancy villa where a musician was killed, a woman was inspired to write a famous horror novel, and another woman penned a bestselling album. As both Emily and Chess work to find their own writerly inspirations, Emily begins to suspect that there might be more to the story of the murder house than anyone knows.

This book has so much going for it-a murder house, a horror novel, and a mysterious past laid out from flashbacks. Hawkins also, as she has before, expertly explores the roles and regulations surrounding women, and what happens when a woman tries to subvert the space she has been allotted. I have really enjoyed everything Hawkins has previously written, and this book was no exception.

Do you enjoy mystery and suspense? Do you enjoy gothic atmosphere and the claustrophobia of a small cast of characters? Do you enjoy alternating timelines steeped in betrayal? Would you like to transport yourself to sunny Italy during the bleak month of January? If any of these appeal, this is the book for you! I couldn't put it down and even allowed myself to peek ahead which I haven't allowed myself to do since I was in school!

As a fan of this author's work, this book is my favorite. The story unfolds over two timelines and centers around a villa in Italy. The earlier timeline leads us to the fateful gathering of a male rock star, a musician rising in popularity, his girlfriend/mistress, her stepsister and another man invited by the rock star in 1974. Someone dies. No one understands what happened or why and the survivors don't seem to remember the night it happens. The result of this time is a best selling horror novel and a best selling album. The other timeline takes place in the present and there are two friends who take a girl's trip to get some writing done.

I really enjoyed how the details from the two timelines, the bestselling book and album (and other sources) all come together to help us begin to piece together what happened. The first line from the book is "Houses remember" -- perfection!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and #NetGalley for the chance to read this book early!

I absolutely loved The Villa by Rachel Hawkins! Complex and flawed, well-developed characters with intriguing plot lines and great sequencing, I read this fast-paced book in one day! The story is told through two storylines/ timeframes and with news stories and clipping mixed in which was genius, The Villa by Rachel Hawkins gets all the stars!

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is a psychological thriller that threads two timelines together to create a spooky mind-bender that kept me glued to the page. Childhood friends, Emily and Chess, decide to take a trip to a villa in Italy. In this villa, a tragic death occurred in 1974, resulting in one of the most excellent horror novels ever written and a platinum album. Both friends are writers, and Emily finds the perfect inspiration for a new story by uncovering the 1974 events that led to Pierce's murder. But once the secrets of the past start coming out, so do secrets from the present, and it all may lead to yet another murder before the story is done.

Actual Reading Experience:
One of the inspirations for this story was Mary and Percy Shelley's stay at a Lake Geneva castle with Lord Byron. It was where Mary Shelley came up with Frankenstein. This inspiration and influence can be felt so clearly throughout the story. I loved that tense darkness that cast its net and held the whole story together. On the surface, the story within an unrelated story seems almost impossible to keep clear. Still, that feeling that binds both stories together also facilitates the clarity I marveled at.

The aspect I loved the most (and that was the reason for five clear stars) is how well this story is crafted. I don't think there are even words that can adequately describe what a marvel the technical aspects of the story are. I love how all the plot threads came together and created an utterly superb ending in every way.

The theme of friendship is a bit twisted, as you might expect in a psychological thriller. Still, it, too, comes to a satisfying, albeit unexpected, conclusion. Some twists I could see coming, but others – well, you could have knocked me over with a feather once I read them.

Also, both friends are writers, and I do love a book about books!

Characters:
Emily is the main character and 1st person narrator of this story. Her marriage has recently dissolved, the most recent book in her series is past due, and she is looking forward to reconnecting with her friend Chess. She is an easy narrator to follow, being calm and sensible, and she never keeps the reader trapped in her thoughts.

Chess, on the other hand, feels like Emily's polar opposite. She never tells any part of the story, and I am glad about that. She tends to be controlling and lacks self-confidence while projecting overconfidence in any given situation. She is not a very likable character, but she and Emily have a bond that spans most of their lives.

Narration & Pacing:
The narration is first person and focuses solely on Emily's POV. This worked very well as she is excellent at creating that darkness and suspense/tension that is very important to the story. It also kept the pace delightfully fast for me, and I couldn't take my eyes off the page and finished the book in one sitting.

Setting:
The setting is perfect. Absolutely. Positively. Perfect. It holds secrets past and present, is relatively secluded, and is the right mix of luxury and danger. I can't imagine a better setting.

Read if you like:
Dark and twisted thrillers
Twisted friendships
Books featuring writers as main characters

Emily is in a rut. She’s going through a divorce, has writers block, and honestly her life is nowhere near where she wants it to be. On the other hand, her best friend Chess is a Best Selling self-help author. When Chess suggests the two head to Italy for 6 weeks to reconnect and write – Emily jumps on the chance to get their friendship back to it’s glory days. The Villa the two stay at is picturesque, and quintessentially Italian. Intrigued by their lodgings, Emily decides to dive deeper into the Villa’s history. Turns out Villa Rosato is known as the murder house, after Pierce Sheldon was murdered during the 1970’s. As Emily explores the mystery of the murder further, she’s determined to uncover any secrets the survivors of the murder may have had. As she grapples with the Murder House’s secrets, Emily and Chess’s own secrets are starting to unravel.

I keep going back and forth on this story. Told in two distinct timelines (both present day with Emily and in the past through Mari’s POV) we get two very different stories and honestly, I liked Mari’s story better. But in addition to the two timelines, we also get snippets of interviews, magazine quotes, book excerpts etc. Maybe it was just the way my ARC copy was formatted but I found it hard to distinguish when we jumped over into these snippets and even listening to them confused me a bit. It gave me Daisy Jones and the Six vibes, but I didn’t think it added to the story in a meaningful way. I also didn’t feel that the two stories intertwined enough. Realistically, the only thing in common was the house, and these could have probably been separate stories.

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Personally, I actually liked Mari’s story depicting the events of the 1970s better than I liked the present day story of Emily. But the ending of Mari’s story had strong Verity vibes and well…I didn’t like it as much.

While I enjoyed the setting ( I mean I’m craving an Italian Villa vaca) and wanted to love this story, it fell a bit flat for me. There was an attempt at the story falling more in into the horror/gothic genre, but never fully committed to it. The twist/ending also felt hurried and maybe a little random to me, and left a few plot holes.

Maybe this one was too much of a slow burn thriller for me, but the more I remember about the story, the less I remember enjoying it. I also find myself disliking Chess and Emily. Chess, for being a self-help guru she’s actually the worst friend, and she made me uncomfortable. Emily just seems pathetic with no growth.

If you enjoyed Reckless Girls than you will enjoy this. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.


The Villa is out now! Huge thank you to St. Martin’s for my advanced copy and McMillian Audio for my audiobook, in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

Emily is working on her novel, but is having no luck. When she meets up with her childhood best friend, Chess, for lunch, she is jealous of Chess’ fame. However, when Chess invites Emily to spend the summer at a villa in Italy, Emily wants the chance to reconnect with Chess and hopefully spark her some new ideas for her book. The Villa they are staying in may be beautiful now, but it is the place of a murder that took place in 1974, when a group full of artists spent the summer at the villa trying to inspire themselves. Emily & Chess spend the summer digging into old secrets, both of the villa and of their own lives.
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I enjoyed this thriller, but I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters — all of them were unlikable, in both the past and the present. I also felt like it took a long time to build up to all the tension. There were so many twists and turns throughout this book that kept me on my toes. I also loved all the descriptions of the Italian Countryside! It brought me back to my time in Italy! I definitely can’t wait to see what Rachel Hawkins writes next!
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Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Wow! This book might have been the fastest audiobook I have ever listened to. I did not want to stop for even a second. The best review that I can give is that my stomach was in knots throughout the entire story. The dread I was feeling with what happened in the past with what might be happening during the present had me glued to my seat!

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is an engrossing thriller with two storylines at the same Italian villa, taking place decades apart but with striking similarities. The alternating perspectives were very well done, and it kept me guessing about what was real and what was the perspective of an unreliable narrator. throughout the whole book.

When a publisher’s blurb reads “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.…” it’s an immediate “YES!” from me. And “The Villa” by Rachel Hawkins did not disappoint.

Told in dual timelines and dual perspectives, about events in a beautiful Italian villa. When glimpses of the past begin to echo in the present, it makes you wonder if “houses remember”.

I was taken by this suspense drama right away and couldn’t put it down. Though the chapters are a bit too long, it was a quick and satisfying read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Reckless Girls and when I saw this pop up on NetGalley I had to try and get it early! This story is told in 2 different time lines. The past time line with Mari confused me at first, and then once Emily from the present became more interested in the crime from Mari’s time, it started coming together for me. I love that this book is set in Italy and the wild rockstar vibe from the past is incorporated. I love reading books set in the past! I also loved how writing was incorporated into the entirety, whether it was songs or books, confessions or truths. I’ve not read The Wife Upstairs yet, and a lot of reviews said it was more like that book than Reckless Girls, so I am going to have to check that one out as well! Overall a solid thriller, but I did enjoy Reckless Girls a bit better!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ebook ARC of this book! Happy Pub Day to Rachel Hawkins!

I enjoyed this psychological thriller, the third book of Hawkins' I've read. The dual timelines and POVs created for interesting parallels and made the overall plot more intriguing. I really enjoyed the two-part twist ending. Just when I assumed I knew what happened, I was shocked to read everything wasn't as it seemed. The inclusion of articles, stories within stories and the authors writing a book about a book/event was a nice touch to round out the intertwined storylines.

The house remembers.

Two summers in the same idyllic Italian villa. The summer in 1974 ended in a murder but the two women staying there found game. Lara wrote a hit album and Mari a groundbreaking horror novel.

Present day has two best friends spending the summer, each hoping to make progress on their next book. Chess is famous for her self help enterprise while Em does okay with her cozy mysteries. But will their summer end in inspiration or tragedy?

In addition to the two summers unfolding, we also get excerpts from various articles as well as the aforementioned album and novel. It makes it really interesting to see the pieces come together in the different formats.

As the summer of 74 inches towards known tragedy, you start to wonder if the present day will mirror it. I really got sucked in as the tension slowly built more and more which was wonderful. The present day story was fine, but I especially loved Mari's POV in the past as she writes her novel. Things didn't wrap up quite like I predicted, but I felt like it was a mostly satisfying ending.

Read if you like slow burns, complicated female friendships, and alternating timelines.

Thank you netgalley for the advance copy to review.