Publisher's blurb: "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."

Told with alternating timelines, I loved jumping between the rock & roll lifestyle of the 70s to present day. Mix in the mysterious past of the villa + Emily's research to write a new book + what's the real story between Chess and Emily and I was all in!

Side note, anyone else think that Rachel Hollis was the inspiration for Chess' character?!?!

This is probably my favorite of Hawkins’ last few books. It was a slow, simmering burn, but every chapter had me very interested to see what would happen next. I felt like the pacing was very steady. It wasn’t too quick, but not so slow that I was ever bored. Character wise, I absolutely related more to Emily and Mari, but I found Chess and Lara very intriguing, even during the times I wanted to throttle them. All the men absolutely sucked, but I liked seeing the women realize that and find their way out of being muses or playthings. I LOVED the dual timelines of Mari and Lara in the 70’s against Emily and Chess in the present day. I thought the intertwining of those timelines was done so well. Really the only complaint I have is the ending. It wasn’t a bad ending, but I was hoping it would go another way for Emily and Chess and in more detail. I can absolutely see how some people might not like this one, but it was right up my alley. This would make a GREAT limited series.
TW: drug use, death, mention of child death, infidelity, violence

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

“As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.”

I enjoyed a lot about this book. I LOVE the cover. I enjoyed the deep (ly flawed) characterization of both Emily and Chess, and their friendship. I enjoyed the location. I enjoyed the dueling timelines, both in that there were two of them, but also, the parallels between the two sets of characters.

I guess I just wanted MORE from this story. I wanted to SOAK in the surroundings, instead of the brief glimpses. I wanted the Villa to be its own character in the novel. Living. Breathing. Maybe pushing you down the stairs.

As for the end, it was fine. It wasn’t a huge leap, considering the trail of breadcrumbs, but I was still interested. I’d be even more interested in checking back in with Emily and Chess in a few decades, where, over dinner, they have a similar scene to Mari and Lara.

6.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for this twisty ARC.

Set in dual perspective and dual timeline (one in the 70’s and one present day), both surrounding their own trials and tribulations.

This is essentially a story within a story, similar character plots, but in different happenstances. We read along as the story unfurls slowly, each page giving more detail, more insight. Some storyline is predictable, but that seems intentional. Some of the storyline twists, but not in a jarring way that leaves you shocked to your core…it’s more the kind that makes you sit back and go, “who woulda thunk? That’s actually fitting and kinda brilliant”. I enjoyed it and didn’t find this slow at all.

I gave this four stars because it was decently good, but it didn’t leave me breathless. It was a journey with scenery kind of a read, one that I really enjoyed.

If you want a smooth read while highlighting the struggles of different relationships, sprinkled with intrigue, this’ll do it. It’s not what I’d call a slow burn, but it’s not a fast paced suspense novel either, it neatly lies just in between.

4.5 stars.

Couldn’t put this one down — seriously, I was reading every chance I got over the last two days! This is one of those page-turners that you just have to know the ending to, as soon as possible. I really, really enjoyed the back and forth between present day (Emily and Chess’ story) and 1974 (Mari and Lara’s story) — it didn’t feel convoluted whatsoever and the story seamlessly flowed between the two time periods, as the two different plots sort of lined up perfectly. I loved the bold ending for the present day storyline, though I wasn’t as into the short last chapter with the twist ending in Mari’s storyline. It was good and threw me for a loop, but it would have been just as good of an ending had Hawkins not included those last few pages (though I get why she did, as it ties in perfectly with the whole gothic theme of the “house that remembers”). But still a really good gothic literary fiction read, nonetheless! Look forward to reading her other two most recent books now!

I won a copy of this ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway & was also provided an e-ARC by St. Martin’s Press on NetGalley. Thank you to the publisher for providing both copies in exchange for an honest review.

This was a definite slow-burner of a book for me.

Emily (cozy mystery writer, in the middle of a messy divorce) and her long-term best friend Chess (famous self-help book writer) take a 6 week-long trip to Villa Aestas (once known as Villa Rosato) in Orvieto, Italy. The idea of the trip is to help Emily get over her writer's block and her divorce and get back into the swing of writing the latest book in her series.

Villa Rosato was the site of a murder back in 1974, when 5 young musicians and writers spent the summer there. Mari wrote a famous horror novel "Lilith rising" and her step-sister Lara wrote a musical album "Aestas" while visiting the villa along with Mari's musician boyfriend, Pierce, as guests of rock star Noel Gordon, and his friend and drug dealer Johnnie.

The plot is told as snapshots from the two timelines, as Emily finds an old copy of "Lilith rising' and becomes inspired to write a novel based on the 1974's story. Her deep-seated rivalry with Chess is uncovered, and various secrets come to life.

I found it hard to follow the story from the 1970's - the characters seemed flat and I struggled to stay engaged in these parts of the book. The modern-day timeline was much more interesting and eventually took what I felt would be the inevitable turn.

This was not the best of Hawkins novels for me. A three star read.

This book is definitely the best thing I've read by Rachel Hawkins! Truly, her books just keep getting better and better!
Emily and Chess have been best friends since they were children. Both writers, Chess has gone the self-help route and Emily the cozy mystery route, they have since grown apart. Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, to stay at the infamous Villa Aestas. Emily jumps at the chance to get away and reconnect with her writing and her bestie.
In 1974, Villa Aestas was known as Villa Rosato and housed a rock star and his guests, another struggling musician, his writer girlfriend, her step-sister and his drug dealer. That summer ended in a horrific murder, but for Mari and Lara, huge success in a horror novel and a platinum-selling album.
Instead of focusing on her cozies, Emily starts digging into the Villa's jaded past and begins to believe there may be more to the story than was told in 1974.
You will absolutely devour this novel!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

Houses remember … 🏚️ 👀!!! “The Villa” by Rachel Hawkins is atmospheric, gives off major gothic vibes & is a dark and twisty dual timeline that will take you by surprise!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Childhood friends Emily and Chess who have drifted apart over the years, will be spending the summer together in Italy at a villa where they can both work on their newest book releases. The Villa will act as a writing retreat and a chance for the friends to catch up with each other and rekindle their relationship. It will be a healthy change of scenery for them … or so they think 👀

Villa Aestas (formerly known as Villa Rosato) has a D A R K history - in the 1970s a famous rock star brought his friends to the villa to hang out and make music. This getaway ended in MURDER. The surviving women (sisters Mari and Lara) went on to become a famous horror author and a record breaking solo artist. They are bound together forever by what happened the night of the murder. Are the secrets of the Villa hiding in Mari’s book pages or Lara’s song lyrics?

This story is told in dual timelines and jumps back and forth from the past to the present. The Villa is full of secrets from the night a musician was murdered 50 years prior. Emily and Chess have a rocky friendship to begin with and must learn to trust one another. But as the past becomes tangled up into the present, the idea of a retreat becomes much more SINISTER ⛈️

Thank you kindly to St Martin’s Press, Net Galley and Rachel Hawkins for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! You can get yourself a copy of this book on January 3, 2023!!!

Established cozy mystery author, Emily (Em) Sheridan has hit the proverbial writing wall. In the throes of a nasty divorce, Em has lost all focus on her latest manuscript and is again facing a missed deadline.

Unlike Em’s best friend and self help author, Chess Chandler, Em is struggling for a spot in the same limelight as Chess. If only Em could regain her confidence and concentration. And if only Em’s cozy characters were unlike her soon to be ex-husband.

As if on cue, her best friend Chess makes contact with Em on the premise of reconnecting. A welcome surprise for Em and a much needed distraction. Even more so, it’s an invitation for Em to join Chess for a summer stay at a villa in Italy — all expenses paid with the exception of Em’s airfare. It’s just the right remedy for Em. But is it really? The villa now known as Villa Aestas had a sinister past and was home to a gruesome murder. The Murder House they called it…

The Villa is the second novel that I’ve read from author Hawkins and I thought it was better than her previous work, Reckless Girls.

There are just a handful of characters. Each character had distinguishing features and personalities. I liked the main characters of Mari and Em because of their steadfastness. Though at times I felt that their determination was a little misguided. I had a love-hate relationship with Em’s best friend, Chess. Chess came across as a woman with alterior motives, but yet she also had some sage advice. The men in this novel were just plain cads and thought of themselves as god’s gift to women. Puleese!

The story unfolds between two timelines — past (hippie era) and present. For the most part, the transitions were clear due to the chapter headings. Occasionally, however, there were a few spots that I had to read into the chapter to determine the time period.

The plot is complex due to the different timelines. But everything converges neatly toward the end for a surprising finale. Four awesome stars.

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Emily is having a bit of a rough patch. Her doctors can't figure out what is wrong with her, her current book in the Petal Bloom cozy mystery series is way overdue, and her husband has left her and is now demanding a portion of her book money in the divorce settlement. Then her best friend Chess (formerly Jessica) swoops in and invites her to Italy to stay in the famous Villa Aestas, where a famous murder happened in the 70s. She agrees and soon finds herself inspired in a way she's never felt before, but can't shake off suspicions about the people closest to her in her life....

This book was SO MUCH FUN! It did start out feeling a lot like the Graves Hollows books (because our main character, Emily, is a cozy mystery author), but it quickly shakes off the cozy mystery sweater and sinks down deep into the mystery/thriller wrap. It grabs you and sucks you in because who wouldn't want an all expenses paid trip to ITALY paid for by your wildly successful best friend? Especially since you're just on the other side of a health crises and in the middle of a nasty divorce? Who cares if your best friend is acting just a little bit (ha!) shady like...all the time?

If you liked Verity by Colleen Hoover, especially that twist at the end of Manuscript vs Letter, you are absolutely going to ADORE The Villa.

This was a middle of the road read for me.
I liked the setting of a picturesque Italian villa. I also enjoyed the alternating timelines. However, the overall plot was quite slow and I found myself skimming much the chapters. Finally, the ending was predictable and did not wow me.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for opportunity to read and review this arc.

Ok I freaking loved this book SO much!!! Even though I have books on my shelf by this author, this was my first to read by her and now I’m hooked!!!
I was obsessed with the story within a story. We have Emily’s story being told as well as Mari’s - who stayed at the Villa many years prior. I loved the character development - the rollercoaster friendship between Emily and Chess was done so well and I loved how it almost mirrored the relationship between Mari and Laura. Ok and the ENDING!!! Ahhhh I couldn’t stop thinking about it for so long! So so so good.

3 star

The Villa is a very slow-burn thriller. It's much more tell/discover rather than action-packed drama. I don't mind this type of style, and found Rachel's writing to be very engaging, but the overall story just fell a little flat. The setting in Orvieto was exciting, but the dual-timeline was a little choppy and it took me a minute to get into it and understand who I was hearing from and when (this could've also been the arc formatting and would likely be solved in a hard copy). There were a few different ways we digested the story - Emily's present day POV, Mari's 3rd person perspective in 1974, and the excerpts from Lilith Rising as Mari wrote it. There were also a few emails and press snippets throughout, but I didn't mind all the different types of writing.

My main problems with the book were that every single character was so incredibly unlikeable. I didn't really feel that anyone redeemed themselves or even started off good (except maybe Emily was a little likeable in the beginning) which made it so I didn't really care what the hell happened to any of them. Chess was horrible and one of my least favorite characters I've read about. Because the story was somewhat ambiguous in the build-up, I expected some big grand reveal or intense twist but then felt underwhelmed when we eventually got to that. Overall the book was okay and I liked reading it, but I don't think it'll stick with me much beyond the immediate future.

Childhood best friends Emily and Chess take a much-needed trip to reconnect in a Villa in Italy. What they hadn’t expected was the murder that occurred in the same villa decades before.

Flashback to the 1970’s when a rockstar, his girlfriend and their friends take ‘sex, drugs and rock n’ roll’ to a sinister level leaving one of them murdered.

Unfortunately, this was a very slow burn and I was left underwhelmed. This reads more like a mystery than a thriller, which would have been fine if the pacing and plot were more entertaining.

What I Liked:
-Atmospheric setting in Italy
-Story within a story
-Dual timelines and perspectives
-True crime Podcast element + articles
-Audiobook cast of narrators (including the Queen, Julia Whelan)

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Those fascinated by classic, gothic literature and the women who wrote it will love this twisted tale inspired by Mary Shelley, Fleetwood Mac, and gothic literature and art whose messages carry more than meets the eye.

The setting is a lovely and idyllic foil for the secrets abounding in this lighter-but-still-intriguing suspense story from a wonderful writer!

“She’s inevitable.”

Rachel Hawkins did it again 👏 I’ve been a huge fan since The Wife Upstairs and I think, thriller wise, The Villa became my new fave. It, just like Hawkins, if pure BRILLIANCE.

It really won’t be a surprise why I loved this so much - with it’s focus on Mari, a woman who took the horror world by storm with Lilith Rising, à la Mary Shelley, all the tie ins to Shelley’s own story, and the focus on women and the art they create.

The book was incredibly atmospheric and made me wish I was in Italy, enjoying limoncello and soaking in the inspiration Villa Aestas. I loved both timelines so much and watching how one influenced the other - from Mari going through her normal motions of what would become an infamous summer, to Emily becoming obsessed with Lilith Rising and uncovering what really happened that summer. There’s also another layer of similarity as each woman navigates a complicated relationship with the closest woman in their life.


I loved how everything tied up. It was equal parts satisfying and nefarious. The moment I finished, I wished I could read it again. For me, this book is the epitome of “no thoughts, just vibes”. If you love feminist thrillers, horror, complicated characters and relationships, you NEED this in your life.

If you need me, I’ll be figuring out how I can fit in a read of Frankenstein in soon 🤞

First off, thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this before it hits shelves early next year (01/03/2023). I'll admit that The Wife Upstairs has been on my TBR for ages and I have yet to read it. When this one popped up though, I immediately requested the ARC. Look at the gorgeous cover!

My rating: 3.5/5 ⭐

Two women, both authors, have been best friends forever but aren't quite as close as they once were. One is a complete success and the other is having a rough time (divorce, health problems, etc.). In an attempt to rekindle their relationship and work on their respective projects, they take a summer trip to Italy. Where do they stay? Only a villa where, in the 1970s, a murder involving a group of famous artist-types took place.

This book explores the relationship of Emily and Chess in the present and dives into the mystery of the past. Renowned author Mari and her stepsister, famous singer-songwriter Lara, leave behind clues in their published works as to what went on in that fateful summer of 1974. In researching the history of the Villa, connections are made and secrets are uncovered.

The story was comprised of two different timelines, interspersed with some fictional news articles, literature, song lyrics, podcasts, etc. The configuration was a little "choppy" and all-over-the-place, making it hard to follow and instead of getting "lost in the story" I found myself just...getting a bit lost.

Emily has been through the ringer. She has been chronically ill, her husband cheated on her and wants a divorce and is trying to claim her book royalties. When she reconnects with her old friend Chess and she suggests a girls trip to Italy for six weeks at a Villa, she jumps at the chance.
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The Villa is most famous for the murder that occurred there in 1974. Told in dual timelines all of the pieces start falling into place and she seriously nailed this ending.
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Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Get this on your radar for January 3rd!

3.5 stars. I received an ARC of this from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The cover is gorgeous & I loved the idea of 2 childhood besties spending a summer in an Italian villa. I was expecting more thriller from this, and I felt like the timeline from the 70s was particularly confusing. Overall, the character dynamics were interesting enough to keep me entertained. It just wasn’t the book I expected.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

The Villa is a suspense/mystery set in a killer (ha) location. It's not a high stakes heart pounding thriller. I sometimes fill with these genres you need to know what you're getting into because expecting a page-turning murder-fest will leave you disappointed. However, the Italian villa setting is great. There are a couple of side mysteries that keep you guessing and the book is definitely not what it seems. You get multiple time periods and points of view. An exploration of friendship, feminism and family.