chilling yet so engaging that I literally could not put it down. the plot of this book is an absurd romp through the imagination; it has everything from poignant discussions of trauma and negotiations of queerness to excessive plot twists and gothic tropes. the prose is easy to read, leaning closer to YA or NA writing styles than the usual literary fiction (I still hesitate on whether I liked this aspect or not - it occasionally read like a Wattpad original).

my one criticism would be that the character development often seems secondary to the plot. while the protagonist gets a development arc, I can’t say so for the other women at the retreat (thinking specifically of Penny, Kiera, Taylor) who often function more as plot devices and tropes than full-fledged characters.

3.5 stars

I wanted to like this so badly, but I ended up DNF'ing it. I just couldn't connect with the narrator and couldn't even hold out long enough to find out why she and her best friend weren't friends anymore. It felt trite and whiny to me. The promise of a good murder couldn't even keep me going. I think I would recommend this to someone who was looking for something told in a very simple prose.

Five women writers. One famous author. One tucked-away estate. And one month to write the book that will make your career.

Alex jumps at the chance to participate. She doesn't even care (well, sort of) that her former best friend will also be one of the five. She just knows this is her chance... if she survives.

There was so much hype surrounding this book, and let me tell you - it was a wild ride. While I enjoyed the overall story, parts of it were a little over the top. If you like a lot of action and don't mind your storyline a little far-fetched, you might be all about this one. I had a bit of a hard time with it. I also found myself skipping the pages that covered the novel within the book that Alex was writing... it just didn't pull me in. I would probably still read another book by this author in the future because it definitely had promise.

I absolutely loved this! I literally finished it in one day . Definitely a nice thriller who did it story line. Kind of made me feel like the movie clue. I’m looking forward to read more thrillers by this author

I really enjoyed this book because it kept me entertained but I will say that it felt a lot like Ruth Ware's book "One by One".

The Writing Retreat
By Julia Bartz
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Oooof. Y’all. This was absolutely not it for me. It’s giving me the ick.

For a thriller, this book was waaaaaay too sexual? And like sexual thrillers? Doesn’t make sense to me. 🤔 Could have definitely done without that aspect of the book. I just felt like every single action in the book was sexually motivated once the writing retreat started.

This book gave me whiplash. It was a true whirlwind and honestly crazy. Strange, immature characters. Very out there dialogue.

I’ve always loved books about books and books about writers so I had very high expectations for this one. And I just felt continually let down as I was reading this. I didn’t even want to finish it and that never happens. But I received an eARC of this one and I got it as my BOTM in February because I truly thought I was going to love it. So since I paid actual money for this book, I felt the need to finish it.

I’ve seen lots of rave reviews for this one, so maybe it’s just me! I just thought this one was outlandish and crazy and too far fetched. I encourage you to read other reviews and I hope this book is a better fit for others than it was for me! 😚

I was hoping for a different sort of psychological thriller, but I can't knock it for my misconstrued understanding. The Writing Retreat is in the vein of Lucy Foley or Riley Sager. I feel the audience for this sort of thriller is middle-aged women which is not at all a bad thing. In fact, I feel my mom will absolutely adore this story and it's twists and turns because it is well constructed and while a secluded mountain retreat is a "trope," I enjoyed how it was done (because tropes are not a bad thing, in my opinion).

I commend Julia Bartz for knowing her audience, knowing what she wants to write, and doing it well.

This book is amazing. The twists and turns were surprising and beautifully performed. Although it moved quickly, it didn't keep you guessing. You're kept guessing the entire time. The blend of mystery, suspense, horror, and paranormal elements is flawless. Strongly advised. I give it five stars! Sincere gratitude to @NetGalley and @AtriaBooks for giving me the chance to read and review this ARC. I had a great time with it.

I’m not sure why it took me so long to pick this novel up but I am so glad I finally did! I’m a big fan of Bartz’s sister’s writing, and I wasn’t sure this sister would measure up, but boy was I wrong. I loved every second of this book! The characters were super realistic in a deeply flawed yet still relatable way. And the story kept me on my toes the entire time. There wasn’t one lull in the storytelling. I cannot wait to see what the author comes up with next! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Absolutely RIVETING. Catches you from the beginning and doesn't let you go! If you're on the fence, let me tell you, this is one you won't want to miss!

I enjoyed this book so much! The premise of a writer’s retreat at a spooky house in the woods is amazing. Loved getting to know the characters, and I love a thriller where you never know quite who to trust.
•
I thought the first half was a bit slower, but then the second half was nonstop action. The twists were so good! I did think it was weirdly sexual, which seemed out of place in a thriller with this premise.
•
Overall it was a solid debut and I definitely look forward to the author’s next book!

A fantastic thriller!

This was a really good read and can't wait to read more from this author!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

What a thrilling book! I loved the concept of this book and I am so glad that it lived up to my expectations. The atmosphere was fantastic, the mansion where everything took place was so eerie it really added to the ominous mood. I really loved all of the plot twists and how everything ended up tying together. Overall, I would highly recommend this one!

There are some elements of The Writing Retreat that I quite enjoyed. The entire premise of the retreat—trying to combat the difficulty women and women of color have in getting published—is, sadly, still an evergreen topic. The story was effectively paranoid and creepy. The book has some interesting thoughts about women and sexuality. I liked the slow revelation of why Alex and Wren’s friendship fell apart, and how much it revealed about each of their characters.

That said, I had quite a few problems with the back half of The Writing Retreat. I was disappointed at how the storyline of Alex and Wren’s relationship was minimized in the back half of the book. And I thought the way things stood between at the end was inconsistent with how their story evolved through the novel. There was not enough of the occasional ‘novel within the novel’ being written by Alex, so that it felt more like a weak parallel of what was happening to her. The biggest problem, though, was Roza’s character. Even if one accepted her beliefs about translating stress and pain into writing, her treatment of the others was way too much. But when the full scope of her plan is revealed, it’s completely over-the-top, the earlier subtlety and paranoid creepiness replaced with something closer to farce and maniacal mustache twirling!

The Writing Retreat was a bit of a miss for me, which is too bad because I think it has a lot of pieces for a really good story. But it’s not bad for a debut novel, and there’s enough here that I’d be willing to read Ms. Bartz’s next book.

In "The Writing Retreat," a young author attends an exclusive writer's retreat hosted by feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. The attendees must complete a novel in a month, with the winner receiving a seven-figure publishing deal. As strange events occur and one writer disappears, protagonist Alex must uncover the truth before it's too late. This psychological suspense debut explores the dark side of female friendships and fame. It reminded me of DOWN A DARK HALL by Lois Duncan, one of my favorite childhood reads, so I went through it rapidly.

"Where did one's power lie in a world that stripped it from you, over and over again?"

Ooooh what a fun, dark read. Five girls go on a dream retreat - to meet and be lead by their favorite author. The author is a bit of a recluse so to get to spend a whole month with her, writing and being guided by her, is a dream come true and will absolutely MAKE their debut writing career.

But pretty quickly, it's clear the retreat is not quite what everyone thought it would be. There's an odd undercurrent of rage and danger and it's hard to tell if it's because of an unreliable narrator or the actual retreat and other women.

I loved the MC. Even though she was inconsistent and odd at times, I loved her POV as she detangled what she felt, what she saw, and who she was. I thought her anger was glorious and I loved when she felt dangerous. Her growth through the book was so good. The plot was quick, the story was compelling. I even loved the story within a story. I will definitely look for more from this author!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Five talented young women writers are overjoyed at the opportunity to spend a month at a private retreat. They're striving to get better so they can land a book deal. The retreat will be held in the Gothic château of Roza Vallo. They appear to be eager to learn from their hero Roza. Each student is required to read and complete one book in one month. Roz's preferred writer will earn a million-dollar book contract and become a household name. Roz develops a dominant, controlling, and irrational personality. She made up these odd contests to participate in. Aspiring writers, too, need to put pen to paper and receive constant feedback. It's challenging to withdraw due to Roz's weird and autocratic expectations. The story examines how far a successful author will go by incorporating elements of the fantastical and the dynamics of wicked teams. There are ghosts and strange noises in the huge house. Alix can't seem to get anything on paper. Wren, a longtime acquaintance, will be there. Alix avoids him after a painful relationship. A dismal literary future is reflected in Roz's selection of these young women as the nation's finest emerging writers. Typical female behavior is entitled and spoiled. The manuscript Alix is working on is showcased and stands a good chance of winning. I must be missing something because this is not the sort of stuff I would read. As one of the aspiring writers vanishes during a storm, the others realize they are stuck and helpless.

This was so addictive. The story was very dark and consuming, although sometimes a little far-fetched. Overall, a memorable story and a fast-paced thriller.

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. Pub Date: February 21, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. Honestly, I really wanted to love this one, but I found it to be absolutely bonkers, unbelievable and just down right weird. The concept of a writing retreat and authors was intriguing, but the interest factor ends right there. I think someone who enjoys unbelievable plot twists and unreliable characters who are all sorts of messed up, then this may be the read for you. I wish I could recommend this one, but alas it was not for me. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #thewritingretreat

Overall, I would describe my feelings about the book as “meh”. It was an enjoyable read and I did finish, but I felt that there was too many themes being explored, and the result was a muddied story that was at times silly and at other times unrealistic.
I think if some of the elements of the story had been removed, the flow would be better - there is exploration of LGBTQ themes, a cult like scenario, mystery/thriller, and a book within a book. It was too much, and led to poor pacing of the story and many things just “happening” that didn’t have logical sense.