On the wrong end of a brutal "friend breakup," stuck in a job she hates but can't afford to leave, and suffering from a crippling case of writer's block, Alex cannot believe her luck when she is invited to an exclusive writer's retreat hosted by the reclusive Roza Vallo. Roza has been Alex's north star in the publishing world; more than just her favorite writer, she's her icon, the very reason she entered the writing world.

What begins as a dream quickly turns competitive when Roza announces that the writers are expected to produce a brand-new novel over the next month. Anyone who can't keep up with the pacing will be asked to leave, and whoever produces the best novel will be given a million-dollar publishing deal. Alex can't believe the stakes but is determined to impress Roza and win this opportunity for herself.

Her motivations quickly change when women from the group begin disappearing one by one. Now instead of writing for her idol, Alex realizes that she's, quite literally, writing for her life and that churning out the pages of her new novel is the only thing buying her enough time to figure out an exit strategy.

"The Writing Retreat" is riveting, it borders on unhinged, and it is completely genius. I genuinely could not believe that this was a debut novel for Bartz. She is absolutely an author to watch, and I will look forward to following her ascendancy to the top tier of thriller writers along with Ruth Ware, Riley Sager, and Grady Hendrix. "The Writing Retreat" was one of the best novels that I have read in years. The tension, the pacing, the characters, and the suspense that Bartz injects into the pages will keep readers hanging on her every word. I will be preordering her next novel as soon as it is made available, and in the meantime, I will be suggesting "The Writing Retreat" to every bookclub member, library patron, and friend that asks the eternal question, "What should I read next?" Special thanks to NetGalley and to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of "The Writing Retreat" in exchange for an unbiased review!

I received an advance reader’s copy of this book.

Oh man I’m exhausted (in a good way). This book was a bizarre wild ride. There are so many twists that it’s nearly impossible to guess where this is going at any given minute.

30-year-old struggling writer Alex gets invited to a writers retreat hosted by her favorite author, Roza Vallo. She’s there alongside her ex best friend, Wren, and three other women, Poppy, Taylor, and Kiera. While at the retreat, they are each required to write an entire book and at the end a winner will be chosen to be published.

Turns out, Roza Vallo hates a happy ending and things go off the rails in a way I can’t explain without ruining the book.

This was an over the top book with strong Gothic vibes and a consistently fast pace. Wasn’t nuts about the story within a story but the main story was so good that I didn’t really care.

Honestly I love anything this author puts out! I had such a good time reading this. The twists were shocking and well planned. It’s perfectly paced and I would highly
Recommend it to anyone :)

I was excited to read this debut, and it did not disappoint in the least. If you enjoy dramatic, tension-filled thrillers, I think you'll have fun with this one.

I really enjoyed this! There was some editing here and there I think would’ve made it sharper, but it was super fun and the twists were delightful

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I had a hard time finishing it because I really did not care what happened. It felt so far fetched.

This was the most perfect read for me this Winter, satisfying those atmospheric vibes that left me wanting to curl up under all the blankets. It was so compelling that after starting my physical copy, I decided to request the netgalley version so that I could continue my reading on my kindle at night too.

THE WRITING RETREAT features aspiring writer Alex and her former best friend Wren, who attend a month-long writing retreat at the home of famed horror writer Roza Vallo.

Well paced, and sprinkled with twists, I highly recommend this bingeworthy debut!

*many thanks to Atria and netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Alex is an aspiring novelist with a job she doesn’t love, and facing a year of writer’s block. But an amazing opportunity falls into her lap, the chance to compete with other aspiring writers for an amazing book deal and a monthlong writing retreat with her favorite horror writer, Roza Vallo. However, when the contestants arrive at Vallo’s estate, they find out that they must complete a novel within that month. That seems difficult but not impossible. But then strange things start to happen and people start to disappear and die.

This was an interesting novel, though with some question execution. As the action accelerates and the tension builds, the credibility of the premise becomes shakier and shakier. I loved the idea of a feminist writing retreat, a book about women writing, creativity and community, but this did not reach its potential.

“The Writing Retreat” by Julia Bartz is a difficult book to review because it attempts to be part of multiple genres of fiction. Bartz’s novel is part mystery, part romance (kind of), part thriller, and even part true crime. You will likely see many comparisons to other novels but the novels this work is being compared to are all far superior. Some thoughts on the characters and the plot. The characters are all very disjointed and wildly hard to relate to. It felt somewhat insincere to include the main character’s questioning of her sexuality as part of this work (that could have been a novel in-and-of itself). The plot was similarly all over the place and tough to follow. It includes “haunted mansion” and “true crime” components that muddy the story and make it seem incoherent. On the positive side of things, I thought the initial idea for the novel is intriguing and the first hundred pages or so read very quickly. The elements of the publishing world that were interwoven into the novel were interesting as well. Overall, I think this novel could be edited into something that I would enjoy more but as it stands it is not one that I would wholeheartedly endorse or recommend.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I liked the concept of it, however, the writing style put me off. I didn't love Alex, I thought she was a bit whiney, so it made it hard to root for her at all. The atmospheric descriptions were well executed. I think the author's next work could be great with some refinement.

The writing in The Writing Retreat was really strong, especially for a debut. The story was good, until it went a little off the rails in a way that was just too much for me. The main character is picked as an alternate for a prestigious writing retreat/workshop with her favorite author. When she gets there, seems seem OK — but the retreat solely unravels. This one was a bit meta for me with respect to writers on writing. While the story was good, it got a bit ridiculous and it didn’t have to go that way.

This was such an unexpected surprise! Was NOT expecting the twists and surprises in this book - I could not put it down!

Thank uou for the ARC! Recommend this to all my fellow suspense/thriller lovers.

The Writing Retreat is dark, horrifying, and sexual, some of which I expected it to be, some of which I didn’t, but all of which are brilliant when set in a book of women characters who are deemed to be pushovers yearning for success and have to prove their strength in the face of literal life or death. I honestly wasn’t quite sure where the plot was going at first - I certainly was not the most excited about writers block and friend breakups, but I was immediately hooked once the mystifying terrors of Roza Vallo’s estate came into play.

The plot is outrageous and verges on unbelievable (and I would say it often veers over that edge), but I found myself moving easily past this roadblock once I accepted that it is fiction at the end of the day and that I didn’t need it to be realistic in order to enjoy it. I allowed myself to settle into the intense drama and intimate revelations and ultimately, breezed through this book.

I was incredibly impressed by the meta novel within this book, and though I wasn’t as hooked by that plot since it was merely supplementary, it did an excellent job at doing just that - supplementing the main plot and allowing Alex to connect with her book and Roza’s house in a deep interpersonal way.

This book is unforgettable in that is it is unlike anything i’ve read before, and in that it is grossly terrifying and stayed in my mind for days. Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I thoroughly enjoyed Andrea Bartz's novel, We Were Never Here. Given Julia is her sister, and this is her debut novel, I went into it with high expectations and fully expecting to absolutely love it. Well, it sadly didn't work out quite that way. It is a great concept. I can imagine it in my head, and how I would feel if I had the opportunity our main character does. But it quickly turns dark, and some of it is just so far over the top, that it is insane. It feels like Julia Bartz just wrote it for the shock value instead of creating a cohesive and well written story. I went to read reviews once I was done, just to see if I was the only one who didn't enjoy this book as much as I had anticipated. Other readers absolutely loved it, as I had expected to. So please don't let my opinion sway you. I recommend you try this one and form your own opinions, just because the reviews are so mixed. You may love it, and I hope you do!

I received an arc from Netgalley to review.
I devoured this book in one sitting, losing all track of time as I got sucked into the writing retreat from hell! I was as anxious for Alex to finish her novel as I was for her to survive the experience. The twists were great, actually surprising though in retrospect, clues were dropped. All in all I really enjoyed this thrill-ride of a read!

I couldn’t finish this one. I was hooked and then annoyed and ultimately repulsed. Not a fan of the way this one turned out unfortunately. I did think the actual writing style was excellent but demons, ghosts, lgbtq sex scenes, not for me.

Alex feels dead inside as she goes through the motions of her life. She thought she was going to grow up to be a published writer. Instead, she spends her days working at a soulless job and her nights regretting the one relationship that had broken her heart. She and Wren had been best friends. They worked together, drank together, lived together, picked up men together. Then Wren had suddenly moved out, moved on, without an explanation. She got a new job, a new place to live, and a new boyfriend.

And Alex had felt left behind.

They were both aspiring writers and had bonded over their mutual love for feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Roza was a genuinely unique writer, an exceptional talent with a personality to match. Alex and Wren had seen her in person once, watching as she eviscerated another writer on the panel, a white man who was barely out of college and up for a prestigious award. Roza sat at the table with him and made him look small and incompetent, and then she revealed the secret that would go on to ruin his publishing career. Roza was fierce, and Alex couldn’t help but admire her.

So when Roza announced that she would be hosting a writing retreat at her beloved (and reportedly haunted) estate, Alex wanted to go more than she had ever wanted anything, even when she finds out that Wren was accepted also. The retreat is for a month, and it’s not until they get to Roza’s remote estate that they find out the rest of the rules.

There are five writers there, Alex and Wren plus Piper, Keira, and Taylor. Each woman will be required to write an entire novel in the month that they are there. It has to be an original novel, and each day they will have to print out their pages for everyone else to read and critique. They will also get one-on-one sessions with Roza to go over their writing. At the end of the month, the writer with the best novel will get a seven-figure publishing deal.

At first, Alex is worried about coming up with a new book, as she’s had writer’s block since her friendship breakup with Wren. But as she learns more about the history of the estate, she finds an idea that she can start with. Suddenly, after months of being blocked, Alex can feel the words building on themselves, creating a story like nothing she’d ever written before. She is exhilarated.

But as they days go by, she starts to see that this journey is going to be a lot more difficult than she first thought. Wren tells stories about her to the other girls, and Alex starts to feel frozen out. Roza’s methods are difficult, at times ruthless. She demands nothing less than perfection, and she is willing to push these women as hard as it takes. But when one of the writers goes missing, apparently wandering outside in a snowstorm while drugged, Alex realizes that there is far more happening at Roza’s than just a group of writers working. But how far will Alex go to win that million-dollar prize and the life-changing publishing contract?

The Writing Retreat is a dark thriller about writers and women and the price of publishing success. The debut novel from Julia Bartz, it’s a little bit gothic, a little bit erotica, a little bit suspense, and a little bit satire, all wrapped up in a terrifying remote setting with no escape. It’s difficult and inspiring and terrifying and brilliant.

I am not a big fan of horror novels, but I got caught up in The Writing Retreat pretty easily. It was a slower read than usual for me, but there was a lot to encounter here. It’s high drama and intimate secrets, big stakes and personal stories, and a roller coaster of a ride that will take you from the highest heights to the lowest lows. At least it did for me. This is one intense book. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re up for the ride, you will not forget it.

Egalleys for The Writing Retreat were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This book took me for a WILD ride, and I will honestly say that I didn't mind it (more so than some other recent thrillers that sprang a supernatural element on me). I was immediately drawn to this story for its interesting setting and story; the latter drew parallels to both Nine Perfect Strangers and Mexican Gothic. I am also always impressed with book-within-a-book plots (isn't it hard enough to write one book, nevertheless two simultaneously).

I would recommend going as blind as possible into this story. While I thought the plot was going one way, it took a complete 180 in a way that I didn't at all mind (and even enjoyed). It was just enough unbelievable to be good, not too much to be frustrating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a crazy ride. Alex learns that she's been accepted into a prestigious writer's retreat hosted by her favorite author Rosa. Unfortunately, her ex-best friend has also been accepted. While there, one of the participants goes missing. Whats going on, and why is Alex getting a bad feeling about this? I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The mystery surrounding Rosa and the retreat sucked me in, and I couldn't get enough. It moved at a decent pace, but some parts were a little weird regarding dreams and drug induced hazes. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

wow! There is so much to love about this thriller. This is a great title to use for a book club as I can think of dozens of discussion questions from each section. This is a great one for readers that are into thrillers, paranormal stories, and even more literary fiction. I sometimes feel that locked room mysteries can have too many characters to follow, but this one felt like the perfect balance. Each participant was distinct as well as the residents of the manor. I will definitely be recommending this title. I'm glad someone pushed me to read it and so many retailers picked it up as well.