The parallel stories in this novel weave perfectly together circling sisterhood, romance, betrayal and death in two different timelines. The first story is Mari, her half-sister Lara and Mari’s married lover Pierce. They are all artists and the sisters have a complicated, but unbreakable bond, but Lara seems to want whatever Mari has including Pierce. Lara connects with a rockstar, Noel, who invites the trio to join him in Italy for the summer at, wait for it, a rented villa. Fast forward, Emily and Chess are childhood friends, as close as sisters. Emily’s husband has betrayed her and is fighting via their divorce inclulding his attempt to squeeze as much of the proceeds of her successful writing career from her. Chess suggest they stay in an Italian villa which was the site of a famous murder; the murder of Pierce back in 1974. The book is spicy, dark with potential ghosts of inhabitants past and twisty. I thoroughly enjoyed it and could not put it down.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was lucky to get it as a Read Now. This book flips between past and present at an Italian villa. The past set in 1974, when rock star and an up and coming talent and their girlfriends stay at the villa to work on their music. The present involves two best friends getting away to work on their books. There's more to that than what lets on initially, of course. Jessica and Emily are best friends since elementary school. Emily is going through a nasty divorce and Chess, as she branded herself is a self help book success story. The friendship seems a bit contentious though even at the start. Sometimes you outgrow your childhood friends, but Emily doesn't have anyone else.

I wasn't initially into the 1974 sections. It was sort of obvious where it was going to end. I was more interested in Emily and what she might discover about how sick she got during the end of her marriage to Matt. The explanation of it being psychosomatic wasn't believable to me.

When Emily discovers her best friend is betraying her, the way she handles it is very surprising to me. I'm not sure I would have handled it the same way. I feel like there were unanswered questions, but as a reader, with the "alternate answers" Mari gave Emily, I guess I could have fun coming up with alternate endings myself. For a book set in Italy, I didn't get a good enough grasp of the beautiful setting. Which is a shame. You would think the scandal of rock and roll, sex and drugs would have been more exciting. The one exciting scene was a fade to black. Anyway I'm giving this a 3 /5 ☆ although it was really 3 1/2 / 5 rounded down.

OH MY GOD. This is my new favourite Rachel Hawkins book. If you liked Daisy Jones and the Six and murder mysteries, you HAVE to pick this book up. The Fleetwood Mac vibes in this book were PERFECTION.

There are two timelines, one in the present where a cozy mystery author, Emily, is staying at a villa where a famous murder occurred and one in the past following Mari who was witnessed the murder. Emily finds Mari's diary while staying at the villa and decides to write a book and solve the mystery.

I flew through this book and enjoyed every second of it. I can't wait to read what Rachel Hawkins publishes next.

Three and a half stars for this new novel by Rachel Hawkins. I really enjoyed Reckless Girls last year for the atmosphere it created. The Villa did not disappoint on the atmospheric creativity with its dual points of view from Emily and Mari. The characters, while slightly unlikable, are fascinating to read about. And that ending?! I just love how it left me wondering about what would happen to Emily and her bff Chess.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

"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."

UM, okay! Sign me up. From the moment I saw the premise of The Villa, I was totally sold. This book was definitely for me. And it did not disappoint! This thriller from Rachel Hawkins instantly captured me with its engaging voice, atmospheric settings, and intriguing characters.

The bouncing between the dual timelines kept me engaged throughout the entire read. In this book, one timeline is set in the present day, following writers Emily and her best friend Chess on a getaway to an Italian villa. The other is set in 1974, following Mari and a group of writers/musicians at the same villa. Both stories had plenty of slow-creeping mystery and interpersonal drama to keep me turning the (electronic) pages!

Throughout the read, I kept thinking I had this figured out. At times, the plot felt obvious, only to mislead me again and again until the final pages.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a slow-build mystery, light on the thrills. I'll be picking up Rachel Hawkins' next mystery/thriller that comes out. So excited to see where she goes next!

I certainly love a good dual timeline story - and this one does not disappoint. Both stories are intriguing and the characters are interesting. Chess and ‘Em have a fun repartee that draws the reader into their long term relationship so that you really feel that you understand them. Mari and Lara seem a little thrown together and it is hard to buy into their commitment to each other- especially in the end. Mari and Lara’s story has what I consider dual endings - and without any spoilers - I really liked the first ending better. While it seemed out of character it is the ending that I anticipated. But the little twist at the end was interesting also. I do wish that Em and Chess’s revenge story had been fleshed out a little more, I wanted to see the nemesis get what was coming to them. This is a good book and I read it in one day just to get to the end to see what happened. I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley and I appreciate the opportunity to read this book - this did not influence my opinion.

Chess and Emily were once BFFs, and although they've both settled into careers as writers, their adult lives have veered off on different trajectories. Chess is a self-help guru specializing in teaching women how to follow their "powered path," and Emily writes cozy mysteries, which were successful before her career stalled out due to a mysterious illness and her husband's devastating abandonment. When Chess suggests a girls' trip to a luxurious villa in Orvieto, Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to go, seeing the vacation as an opportunity to relax, focus on her next book, and reconnect with Chess.

But the villa has a dark history. Back in the 1970s, stepsisters Mari and Lara visited the villa for a summer of hedonistic delights with their rock star boyfriends...one of whom ended up dead. Out of that summer also came Mari's novel Lilith Rising, widely regarded as one of the best horror novels of all time, and Lara's album Aestas, which went platinum. As Emily becomes increasingly drawn into investigating the events of that long-ago summer, her relationship with Chess begins to strain, and Emily realizes that more than just the villa is holding its secrets close.

Compulsively readable and atmospheric, The Villa utilizes so many of my favorite tropes effectively: a dual timeline structure with multiple narrators, a story-within-a-story, fictionalized pop culture, and mixed-media storytelling. I read this in a day and was completely engrossed from start to finish. After having a lukewarm response to The Wife Upstairs, I gave Reckless Girls a skip, but I'm so glad I decided to give Rachel Hawkins another chance. I thought The Villa was fantastic.

Hawkins weaves together the threads of her various timelines seamlessly, with the past and the present stories mirroring each other in clever ways. Her characters are interesting, if not altogether likable, and through them she explores the complex relationship dynamics between lovers, sisters, and friends in darkly fascinating ways. There's lots of deceit, lots of conflict, lots of suspicion. This is by and large a domestic thriller, but there is definitely a psychological element as well. Everyone has secrets, and not everyone has the best of intentions.

Although parts of The Villa are a slow burn, it's riveting all the way through. I found the conclusion to be immensely satisfying, and I loved the overarching theme of female empowerment and Hawkins' literary inspirations. I really had a lot of fun with this one. Recommended!

A summer in a villa in Italy? What could possibly go wrong? Emily and Jessica (Chess) have been best friends for most of their lives and when the opportunity comes to stay at this villa they plan to renew their friendship and use the time to get back on their creative paths. The villa, however, has a dark past that they get caught up in. The twists, turns and red herrings will keep the reader turning pages and guessing to the very end.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is an enjoyable slow burn with both mystery and intrigue. It is told in dual timeliness. The present timeline follows long time best friends Emily and Chess who take a trip to a Villa in Italy to help rekindle their friendship that adult life has put a strain on. The second timeline follows Mari, who's tile at the Villa led her to writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time.

Emily, a writer who is trying to get the thrill of writing back gets engrossed in Mari's story and time at the Villa. As she digs into the past, her present begins to take a turn for the worse. Will the past trauma of the Villa repeat itself?

This story is truly the epitome of a slow burn. I found myself really drawn to the past story of Mari just as mich as present Emily was. If you are looking for a fast paced novel then skip this. But if you want a well written novel that seamlessly weaves dual timeliness then pick this up.

Travel back and forth in time to learn about the murder mystery that occurred in a lovely little Italian Villa. This story had layer upon layer built upon it to try to solve what happened in 1974 while a group of teenagers spent the summer in the villa which ended in a bloody fight. Flash forward to the present when besties decide they should go to the same Italian villa and get some writing accomplished. The story behind the villa entices our MC, Emily to dig a little deeper into "what really happened" all the while dealing with her current life mess of her ex-husband and failing job. This story required a little of attention to keep track of characters and storylines but quickly escalated at the end with a shocking resolution. I would recommend for fans of mystery and travel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

🔊Song Pairing: I’ll Still Have Me - Cyn

💭What I thought would happen:

Weeellll I loved The Wife Upstairs and was utterly disappointed by Reckless Girls so I went in wearily but hopeful…

📖What actually happens:

Emily is a successful cozy mystery novelist going through a nasty divorce while her best friend is Uber famous self-help author Chess (think Girl, Wash Your Face). Chess suggests Emily and her go on an Italian vacation.

The villa they are staying at is a murder house with a saucy rock and roll history. The book bops back and forth between the story of Mari and Lara in the 60s? Vacationing with rock stars, Lara wants Mari’s man as she takes everything and Mari just wants to write her damn book.

I could go on but if you’re curious just read it.

🗯Thoughts:

I liked the idea of the story…the execution though made me kind of extremely nauseated. There was so much that was unnecessary and then skimped on the revenge drama.

I love loved reading this as a buddy read with my favourite girlies and all basically concluding that it didn’t blow us away.

I will say that the main character is a sad level pathetic and her “bestie” is sooooo cringe and do not get me started on the step sister drama between Lara and Mari. The root of the arguments being due to dick and balls. Get that toxic female bashing away from me. 🙋🏼‍♀️

Friends Chess and Emily, both authors, decide to stay at Villa Aestos in Italy for the summer. Immediately Emily is drawn to the house’s history: there was a murder there in the 1970’s. As Emily’s creativity hurls her forward, Hawkins switches back and forth to the past, to the murder and the people involved.

The Villa is a book within a book. It is about female power, messy relationships, and the choices we make that keep us feeling stuck. It’s about the capacity of the creative process. Ultimately, it is about reclaiming the narrative of your own story.

The Villa is a slow-burn. It felt like it was more a story of friendship than a thriller. Still, excellent themes explored.

Thanks to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this work.

I was beyond excited because this is of the best covers ever. I absolutely love the teal color and the lemons.

Emily is going through a divorce from husband, when her childhood best friend reaches out to her with an opportunity to go to Italy for the summer. Emily and Chess haven’t been close recently, but this is a chance to bond again. The Villa they are staying in is known as Villa Aestas, but back in the 70s it was Villa Rosato and it was where a famous book and a famous album were written here. There was also a brutal murder. Emily is a cozy mystery writer who is inspired by the history of the Villa and begins to research what happened. Chess in a motivational influencer (like Rachel Hollis) who is also a self help writer.

The story flips back and forth from the present time with Emily and Chess to the 70s with Mari and Lara, who are on a trip with a famous rock star and some of his entourage. This part of the book has a sex, drugs, and rock and roll vibe. I loved both parts of the dual timeline, but I especially loved Chess. She was over the top and just a great character.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was a very easy book to read and I enjoyed the epistolary chapters as well. Thank you so much to @thebookclubcookbook and @stmartinspress for the advanced reader copy. The Villa is on sale January 3, 2023!

This is a really slow burn of a mystery/thriller told in dual timelines: the present (Emily and her friend Chess) and the 1970s (Mari and her rock star friends). The story focuses on an Italian villa which Emily and Chess rent for a time, a villa in which a gruesome murder occurred in the summer of 1974 while inhabited by Mari and her friends. After hearing the history of the villa, Emily becomes intrigued with Mari, who had gone on to write a bestselling novel, and Emily decides to see if within that novel are clues to the 1974 murder.

I definitely enjoyed the present timeline much better than the 1970s timeline, and I wish that this had not been so much of a really slow burn. However, the ending was a satisfying one, making for a generally enjoyable read.

There’s maybe one redeemable person in this book, who you don’t realize is redeemable until the final few pages. There’s lots of gaslighting, misogyny, backstabbing, cheating, and overall dysfunction. I enjoyed it 😂.
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Emily and Chess have been best friends since childhood, but they have grown apart as adults. Chess is a famous self help guru, and Emily writes cozy murders. Emily is going through a nasty divorce and agrees to go on a girls trip to an Italian villa with Chess. As she learns more about the famous murders that took place at the villa, tensions begin to rise between her and Chess. Will everyone make it out alive this time?
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This book was addicting and I could not stop listening. There are A LOT of toxic people in this one. I’m glad she at least left one mostly decent human because I have a hard time with books where everyone becomes the villain and there’s no one to clearly root for anymore.
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Thank you to St. Martin’s press for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The Villa - Rachel Hawkins
4/5⭐️

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for letting me read THE VILLA early. This book hits shelves January 3.

I ate this one up in less than 24 hours. I adored getting to know these characters and the time skipping chapters told from different perspectives. I've read THE WIFE UPSTAIRS and RECKLESS GIRLS and enjoyed my time with them but I think this one is my favorite I've read by RACHEL HAWKINS. The setting, the premise and the flow of the writing had me hooked start to finish. I highly recommend this book!! I think it'll make a huge splash once it's published.

This one was a DNF for me. I will not be posting a review of it but thank you for sending I think people would like this one it just wasn't for me. Thank you again for the copy.

Two friends visit an Italian Villa to work on their novels and rekindle their friendship. The Villa has a history of its own and a dark past full of secrets. But the house isn’t the only thing with secrets. This book has past and present timelines with a few twists. The Villa is sure to please if you’re looking for a thriller to read in the new year. Thanks Macmillan for the ARC, pub date is 1.3.2023!

This page-turner introduces us to Emily & Chess, childhood best friends who have had life get in the way and are excited to reconnect during a summer spent together in Italy. They are staying at Villa Aestas, a gorgeous rental but also the scene of a gruesome murder in 1974. Hawkins hops between Emily & Chess's stay and the stay of the 70's rockers, their muses, and their friend. Full of unexpected twists, this one will keep you guessing until the end!

4 stars

I've gone on a bit of a ride with Rachel Hawkins' book. Her first thriller based on Jane Eyre, The Wife Upstairs, had a lot of potential and ended up just being a "like" from me. Her follow-up, Reckless Girls, again had a lot of potential and ended up being poorly paced and immensely forgettable (in my opinion). For me, The Villa would be my make-or-break book for Hawkins. Once again, we had an awesome premise and a beautiful cover; however, if it ended up being another mediocre read for me, I would most likely steer clear of Hawkins in the future.

I'm happy to report that I ended up really, really enjoying The Villa! Inspired by Mary Shelley and the Manson murders, we get the perspective of author Emma begin to unravel the truth behind a famous murder at the villa she is visiting with her best frenemy along with the perspective of Mari, one of the five people at the summer party where the murder took place. The book started out fairly slow for me, but I eventually found myself being won over by the fragile relationships between the characters in both timelines. Sure, this book isn't the most revolutionary thing I've ever read and I did guess some of the twists in the present-day timeline; however, this book really had me thinking and I especially enjoyed how twisted the conclusion was.

All in all, I think this is Hawkins' best thriller to date and I am still interested in seeing what she does next in this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!