Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Hawkins for the ARC!

This book grabs hold of you from the first words "Houses remember", and doesn't let go as you are led through two storylines (1970s and present day) in the Villa.

In the 1970s (sex, drugs, and rock and roll!) stepsisters Mari and Lara travel to in Italy with Mari's musician boyfriend Pierce to stay in the Villa with a famous rock star Noel and his mysterious friend Johnnie. Over the summer Mari becomes more and more intrigued with the mysterious history of the VIlla and begins writing a book ,while her sister Lara uncovers her musical talents. As time goes on tensions rise between the group, betrayals are uncovered, and one of the 5 are murdered.

Present day authors and lifelong BFFs Emily and Chess have drifted apart over the years, but reunite to finish their latest books (and work on their friendship) during a summer vacation at the Italian Villa. Emily is a cozy mystery author healing from a mysterious illness and recovering from a divorce- all while suffering from writer's block. Chess is a famous self help guru who's public facade doesn't quite match up to who she is in real life. As Emily becomes absorbed with the history of the Villa and Mari's story, Chess begins to revisit old dreams. As the summer unfolds so does the fate of their friendship.

I loved the intertwined storylines that have it all- mystery, murder, music, and betrayal.

I definitely recommend this book- it was a satisfying, absorbing, easy read filled with twists and turns!

I have this love hate relationship with Rachel Hawkins books. They are so easy to read and quite captivating but then seem to fall a hair flat in one way or another. I did enjoy the ending of this book much more than her last novel I read; "Reckless Girls" (still upset about it).

The Villa switches back and forth from present day; Emily and Chess, two writers that go on a writing retreat to Italy and stay in The Villa, to 1974; a group of artists who are staying at the same Villa. The plot is very intriguing, with a lot of sex, drugs, and struggling artists trying to find their way, entangled with a murder mystery that the two current woman; Emily and Chess are slowly trying to uncover.

Where it fell flat for me....this is like a book within a book within a book and at times I was lost trying to figure out certain characters from the 1974 era and not only that there were a few things from the present day that seemed a little unrealistic to me. But overall it was a read that I really couldn't put down. A little bonus is that it also taps into pop culture with inspiration from the Manson murders and Fleetwood Mac. If you are into pop culture, the 70's and a little mystery you will really enjoy The Villa.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stmartinspress for the ARC.

best sums up how I feel about THE VILLA. Unfortunately, after reading three mediocre (imo) books by this author, I think I will be skipping her future work ☹️

It could’ve been the Netgalley Kindle format but I found this one to be disjointed and not at all enthralling. It was a quick, short read so it had that going for it at least, but there was nothing shocking or memorable enough for me.

Oh well, not all authors are for everyone and that’s ok 🤷🏼‍♀️☺️

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Emily is struggling to finish her latest book after a prolonged illness and a recent breakup with her husband. Her childhood best friend, Chess, is also an author: well-known for her life brand and self-help books. When Chess offers Emily the chance for the two of them to spend time at an Italian villa, Emily agrees, even if the pair are not as close as they once were. The Villa Aestas was once known as the Villa Rosato and, in the early 1970s, rented by rock star Noel Gordon. Noel invited another musician, Pierce Sheldon, and his girlfriend, Mari, to join him at the Villa--but the summer ended in disaster-with Pierce's murder. It also led to Mari writing a famous horror novel and her stepsister, Lara, composing a famous album.

This was an intriguing one for sure. It's certainly a page-turner, and I flew through it pretty quickly. There are stories within stories within stories with THE VILLA--Emily and Chess in the present day; Mari, Noel, Pierce, and Lara in the 1970s; and then the book Mari is writing while she stays at the Villa as well. There are some journals Mari left behind and Lara's songs. Eventually Emily and Chess start to write about the 70s, too, and whew... Trusting all the stories and narrators here is nearly impossible, but it's what keeps the book moving and interesting.

The twisty Italian setting is fun, with the gothic Villa becoming nearly its own character. I was fascinated by Mari and her life and intrigued somewhat by Emily and Chess (but truly found the 1970s characters to be the stars). No one in the tale exactly comes across as lovable, but they certainly make for a dark and suspenseful read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Hawkins for an ARC of this book!

The Villa follows the story of two women and best friends in the present day, Emily and Chess. They’ve been friends for over two decades, and with time comes resentment. Their relationship is complicated, as they still care deeply about one another but at the same time can’t seem to stand one another.

It also follows the story of two other women in the 1970s, mainly 1974. Stepsisters Mari and Lara have a similarly complicated relationship. Both sets of women are seemingly in competition both for men and success in life.

We get the points-of-view of Emily and Mari and therefore alternating timelines.

The synopsis promises a gothic suspense with a creepy, cursed villa in the Italian countryside, complete with murder and “dangerous betrayals.”

I’m not so sure that’s what I got here.

I’ve read each of Rachel Hawkins’ previously published thriller novels, The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls, both of which I enjoyed. Based on the synopsis alone, I believed I would be getting something different from Hawkins - a gothic style horror, similar to The Haunting of Hill House, with a little extra drama. While I do find this to be different from her previous two novels, it also was not what I expected.

For the majority of the book, it felt like what I’ve grown used to for her work. It was a fast read, it was holding my attention (especially at the halfway point of the book - I was hooked) and I had a running list of theories of where the story could be going based on random trails of breadcrumbs Hawkins was dropping for her readers. I couldn’t quite tell just which way it was going to go, and that’s just the way I like it. Being led in a few different directions typically sets the reader up for some big twists and shocks and those were what I kept waiting for. Unfortunately, they never came.

By the end, this didn’t feel like a true thriller novel to me. This also didn’t feel like a true gothic suspense novel to me, either. The Villa itself, that was made out to be sinister, was not sinister at all. The betrayals we were promised felt fairly minor and the murders somehow felt anti-climactic (one even feeling unjustified?).

***SPOILER AHEAD:***
Matt’s murder was brushed over TOO much. He shows up at The Villa, and suddenly there’s just an article about how he drowned in the pond. While I agree we didn’t need all the details and play-by-play, this just felt rushed. Also, while murder is murder, and in the real world there’s typically no excuse for it, this is not the real world - it’s a thriller and even then I felt the murder was going overboard, and not in a good way.

I also don’t usually enjoy books that use articles and other forms of outside media as a means to reveal details to the reader and this was no exception. I would prefer to learn of some details from the narrator’s perspectives in their own voices. Sometimes I understand that may not be possible and could create too many points-of-view in a book and can be necessary, but I do also think sometimes it’s overdone.

On that same note, I did enjoy the lyrics from Aestas and wish it was a real album because it sounds totally up my alley.

Overall, The Villa wasn’t what I expected but didn’t manage to make me really like it anyways. More was promised to me than what was delivered, and I’m left a little disappointed and unsatisfied. I still plan to read whatever she releases next and I am still hoping this will be available with Book of the Month like Hawkins’ previous novels so that I can get a hardcopy to match her other two I already own.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I couldn’t put this book down! I think this is my favorite of Hawkins. I fell in love with The Wife Upstairs, and unfortunately The Reckless Girls just left me in a neutral zone. The Villa was so well done and refreshing. I loved learning about the past occupants and their secrets hidden inside the walls of Villa Aestas fo the present characters, Emily and Chess—and their own boatload of drama and secrets. Loved the alternating between past and present, the plot, the setting, the writing. I LOVED IT ALL!!
Couldn’t stop listening to this book! A MUST READ THRILLER FOR 2023!!

Rachel Hawkins has done it again, she has a way of packing so much punch into books that are short (at least for me), sweet, and to the point. I love her writing style, her plot, her crazy twists, and just overall her books are really fun for me to read.

Emily and Chess were inseparable from childhood but by the time they both reached their thirties, other demands drew them apart. Chess suggests they take a summer holiday to Italy, just the two girls for weeks of relaxation and so that they can work on their respective books. Their villa is extremely high-end but comes with a story, in 1974 it was the house of a gruesome murder when two rock stars along with their friends and girlfriend stayed there. Emily finds herself drawn to the story and the book written by one of the girls that had stayed there in 1974, but she also feels a chasm opening up between her and Chess as she begins her new book. When secrets start to come to light, Emily will find out the truth about her best friend and what really happened that night in the 70s.

I love how this book was told from the present tense of Emily's perspective but also switched back to the past in 1974 when Mari and her friends stayed there. Normally I'm not the biggest fan of dual timelines but for some reason I ate this one up. I couldn't get enough of either story and was honestly sad when this book ended. But man, that ending was phenomenal and really tied the book all together.

I can't wait to see what Rachel Hawkins comes up with next!

*Many thanks to St. Martins Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!*

I absolutely sped through this book. Each chapter kept me wanting more. I loved the dual timelines between Mari in 1974 and Emily in the present. Both women have been through tough times and are questioning who in their lives they can trust.

Emily has just gone through a tough time. She started getting sick, her husband left her, and now her writing has stalled out. On top of that, her husband is trying to take money from her book proceeds and is drawing out the divorce process. Chess, Emily's childhood best friend, knows what a hard time she is going through and invites Emily to stay at a villa in Italy. The offer seems to good to be true, but who could turn down a month long trip to Italy? Then, Emily finds out that the villa is the location of a grisly murder from 1974.

When are introduced to Mari, she is clearly questioning her life choices (leaving home at 16 with a married man, bringing along her step sister, continuing to support said man) but leaning on the fact that she absolutely loves him. Her step sister comes home one day to let her know that a famous rock star has invited them to Italy to stay at a villa for the summer. Mari is hesitant, but thinks this is the perfect chance for her boyfriend to really buckle down and make it to the big time.

As the story unfolds, Rachel Hawkins has not only the main characters, but the readers doubting who they can trust. I found myself relating to the main characters but also thinking "Seriously?! Why would you do that?" or "Why would you put up with that?" There were times when the main characters were absolutely infuriating, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for them and their situations. Hawkins does a great job developing her characters. I was pissed off at both Noel and Pierce, but also could see how people would fall for their charms. I initially felt bad for Johnnie (just like Mari), but grew to dislike him when he couldn't take no for an answer. Lara and Chess were both so similar. I wanted to love them with their positive, cheery attitudes, but could never fully trust them because of their prior actions and lies.

I also really loved the setting and the little clues linking past to present. It was wonderful to see Emily's interest in writing grow again as she sussed out the commonalities between Mari's book and the villa.

This was my first Rachel Hawkins book, but definitely won't be my last! I have "The Wife Upstairs" on my kindle and will make it a point to read that one soon!

THE VILLA by Rachel Hawkins
@LadyHawkins
Read by: Julia Whelan @JustJuliaWhelan
Kimberly Wetherell @VoxKimberly
Shiromi Arserio @Shiromi.Arserio
Pub date: January 3, 2023

The Gist

Present time, when lifelong friends, Emily and Chess, grow apart, they head to Orvieto in Italy to a quaint villa with more history than the once thick as thieves’ friends. Emily is going through a divorce and has lost her writing mojo while beautiful Chess has reinvented herself into a successful self-help guru. In the mid-1970’s, Mari and her step-sister run away with Mari’s musician boyfriend. A tragic murder occurs in an Italian villa under a veil of secrecy but leads to one of the greatest horror novels ever written. Old and new issues arise in this clever twisty tale that is told in different timelines and has a deliciously terrifying story within a story.

My Thoughts

While the main story focuses on Emily and Chess in the present, the second story revolving around Mari – the author of the story within a story, Lilith Rising, and her step-sister, Lara in the mid 1970’s, was just as fascinating. The way the two stories connected from present to past through the villa was captivating and chilling, each being manipulated by the men in their lives and the inspiration they drew from the villa – and it’s past residents - as a result.

I’m glad I was able to both listen and read simultaneously because this was a story that was captivating enough that I continued on during my day with the audio. The narrators are spectacular and as with all well-done audiobooks, it played out like a movie in my head.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and have been a long time fan of Rachel Hawkins all the way back to her YA days and still think fondly of Hex Hall!

My thanks to both @Macmillan.Audio @StMartinsPress for these gifted copies!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review
I really enjoyed this book; I loved the flashbacks and the story unfolding at the same pace as our current events. The flashback era was the most interesting, I wish more would have happened in the present, I felt like most of it was just very slow and only there for the purpose of leading up to the ending, they could have done so much more. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I wish that we could have seen more of their life post “The Villa” or more of Mari and Lara’s life after the incident. Overall, a creepy, cozy read.

I really enjoyed this book! Not going to lie I was super nervous after seeing some mixed reviews, so I wasn't too thrilled about slugging through another "meh" book. But I am so glad I gave it a chance, because I actually liked this one! I'd definitely recommend others give it a chance, especially if you are in the mood for a quick thriller.

With The Villa, you get parallel timelines, 1970s & present time, which occurs at this same villa in Italy. I like dual POVs, especially with thrillers, and I thought the author did a great job with this one. I like Hawkins' writing style and this book had that unputdownable, binge factor I want in a thriller. I flew through the pages and finished this book fairly quickly, especially since it is only 288 pages.

The blurb says this book was inspired by Fleetwood Mac and I did get a "Daisy Jones & The Six" vibe somewhat! But not completely similar at all. Just with the podcasts and newspaper articles sprinkled throughout the book and with the main characters from the 1970s, since most were musicians.

At first the transitions between present time, the 1970s, and the articles/song lyrics were a bit confusing. I've heard Julia Whelan does the audio for this book, so you know that'll be amazing. But I could see where these transitions could be slightly confusing as audio at least initially, so just be aware of that. Once I got used to the writing style of the book, it was not an issue for me.

I really enjoyed the present time over the past, which normally isn't the case for me. However, I liked how they were both integrated together. Overall, I will definitely be recommending this book and I'm excited to see what others have to say about it!

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

I’ve been read a Book description before that sounded like it was written for me. This is one of my most anticipated books for 2023 and it did not disappoint. A gothic tale, with a little Fleetwood Mac that takes place in an Italian villa plus a podcast element, say less! The atmosphere was top notch and I loved the messy female friendship. This book lived up to the hype.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected I would when I realized it had two timelines and a handful of people of interest around which the story would revolve. Even with those weighting points that could have made the book tiring and confusing, the narrative was smooth and easy to grasp. I read it in two days!
Emily is a cozy mystery writer that is going through divorce and a late deadline on book 10 of her series. Her friend Chess, a famous self-help writer, invites her to a house full of bad reputation, but that means spending summer in Italy, so why not? The dynamic between the two was weird, competitive and toxic, not a friendship that I would want in my life.
We start getting the other timeline in the beginning, with a Mary Shelley inspired story in which Mari, an aspiring writer, is at the same house/Villa with her step-sister, boyfriend, and other two musicians in search of inspiration for new work. This entire timeline had a lot of drama, with couple-swap, drugs, violence and pain coming from all sides. It was curious seeing a perspective of how people can translate the horror of their lives into art, even if they don’t know how to live with it in the most appropriate way.
For me, the story merged in a cool way, but as with all books that have two stories it felt somewhat forced. I loved the parallels of being a muse and being the author that Chess made between Mari and Lara in the 1970 timeline, as a way of being a protagonist in a story in which you’re just expected to be the a background appearance.
Overall, the book was good, but the characters annoyed me a lot and it did drag a bit around the middle of the story. The ending saved the book for me, I was not expecting the reveal and it was very interesting how the author made it stick to the overall narrative.
This was my second book by Rachel Hawkins and I’ll definitely pick up others by her. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

The book goes back and forth in time involving 2 different groups of people. The first and recent group of people are Emily, Chess (formerly known as Jessica) and Emily's ex Matt. Second group is Pierce, Mari, Lara and Noel. Most of the story takes place in a Villa in Italy. I haven't read many books set in Italy. Other than the murder, staying in a villa sounds wonderful!  LOL

The writing and plot pulled me in and I loved reading every page. I couldn't wait to find out more about Emily and Mari. I liked both of those girls. As far as the other characters go Chess was sneaky and manipulative. She knew what she was doing, IMO. But, Emily played right into her hand. I think she did it subconsiounsly though. I liked Mari and Lara as well. Although, some of their choices wouldn't be choices I'd make I do recognize it was 50 years ago and times were different.

I can't say too much without giving away spoilers. I'd love to chat about the book if you've read it.

Bonus Points: the book was inspired by Fleetwood Mac and the Manson Murders. I totally got those vibes and enjoyed it a lot!

This one felt so lackluster. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and with it being set in two different timelines there was plenty to pick from. None of them were likable and I felt nothing towards any of them. The setting had little to it, being in a murder house I expected more. There was little to no build up so for me there was no climax to the story. At most times, I really wanted to stop reading it. As the publisher was kind enough to give me a copy, I wanted to do my due diligence to read it, but I can’t say that I could recommend it to anyone. With this being my first, I’ll try another Rachel Hawkins novel in the future, but probably not for a while.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is an absolutely shocking mystery novel that took me on a ride for which I had no idea where it was going, which I think is one of the highest praise for a suspense story. Rachel Hawkins continues to deliver fascinating stories with impeccable writing while still pulling on one’s emotions along the way.

Childhood best friends turned thirty-somethings, Emily & Chess, escape to Villa Aestas in Orvieto for a luxurious summer abroad that turns sinister once they dive into their vacation villa’s haunted history. The Villa was once the location to an infamous murder that happened in the 1970’s when a rockstar & friends stayed there. Told in alternating timelines, the reader gets immersed in both the past & the present, but who could be prepared for the villa to strike again?! Read The Villa to find out more about the spectacular $ suspenseful story!

The Villa is truly unlike anything I’ve ever read before & think it’s a really refreshing book to land in the mystery genre. The buildup of the story is a bit slow, but I think the payoff is worth the read. I was fascinated by both the present of the old friends reuniting as well as the tragic past. I found it interesting how the house’s past embedded itself for these two friends to uncover. I am keeping this review short & vague in order to not give much away!

As a disabled person with multiple chronic illnesses, I did feel a bit weird about the main character’s sickness, but I can’t fully discuss it without spoilers. I would just like to say that while there is a strong mind & body connection, not everyone’s sickness is related to their mind & stress, but it can make an illness worse obviously. If someone’s says they are in chronic pain, I just would ask that you believe them. After years of being gaslit, I feel like I just had to add this side note in support of myself & the disabled community.

Back to the story, I am a big fan of Rachel Hawkin’s writing & love the way she writes surprising mysteries & thrillers. Rachel Hawkins is an author I plan to keep on my always add to myTBR list!

Massive thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: This book mentions &/or contains murder, cheating, death of child, miscarriage, suicide & violence.

Daisy Jones and the Six meets Italian countryside with a side of murder. After loving Hawkins’ The Wife Upstairs, I was super excited to get this ARC from NetGalley (thank you!!) Overall I enjoyed this slow burn, digestible thriller, but giving this 3 stars as I feel the writer POV/story within a story has been overdone.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Published: January 3, 2023
St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 283
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Rachel Hawkins was a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer. She lives with her family in Alabama and is currently at work on the third book in the Hex Hall series. To the best of her knowledge, Rachel is not a witch, though some of her former students may disagree.

“That way I always know where to find you.”

Emily is recovering from a lot. Her husband had left her, her health was declining for no medical reason, her career had gone stagnant, and she felt lost. Then her childhood best friend and self-help queen reached out. Chess had a way of adding sparkle to things. When Chess decides to spend the summer in Italy, she begs Emily to join her. What could go wrong?

The whiplash I experienced reading the last half of this book is unreal. The twists and turns are bananas!

I found the characters well done; Emily and Chess are defined in their own right. The brilliant thing about this book is that it is a book within a book, within a book- we are talking major book-ception.

I loved how this story was told. We learn about Mari and Lara and Emily and Chess. We also see Victoria in Lilith Rising. This plot could have been confusing and chaotic- but it was not.

The writing was incredible, the storyline was beautifully presented, and the emotions were perfect. I devoured this book! It was impossible to put down, especially when you hit the 60% mark- buckle up… it’s about to get bumpy.

This book is setting the bar insanely high for thrillers in 2023. The complexity of the plot, mixed with the beautiful storytelling and the twists that keep coming until the very end, will leave your jaw on the floor and you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest review.

This was a great, fast-paced read told from 2 points of view, 50 years apart. Both stories intertwined beautifully in a picturesque Italian villa that as the name sake of this book was a character itself in the book.

This thriller is a perfect to cozy up to on a cold night in the New Year.

Rachel Hawkins has done it again. This is another example of storytelling at its finest.

The best part for me was the relationship building between characters. It was perfection. I felt every nuance and moment of angst between the characters. It were as though I was there, in the moment, for every interaction. There's nothing better than feeling fully immersed in a book. I highly recommend.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous book!