What a wild ride in a mesh of genres. Part horror and part thriller, it is a little bit of a slow burn to start as Alex is invited to a writing retreat with a famous, almost cult like, author. A little bit of a book in book as we are privy to the book Alex is trying to write at the retreat, so there are snippets throughout. This story and the lore it is based on has a gothic vibe, hence a little more of the genre mesh.

I am not sure this could all happen as written but to reiterate it was a wild ride and highly entertaining. Everyone has secrets. Many secrets and they all play a part in the outcome.

I will warn that this one takes a long time to set up and it does drift a little off course before righting itself, but the second half makes up for the slow start by fitting in a lot of action and twists. You cannot guess some of the crazy that happens. I’d advise to avoid the blurb, because it may tip its hand to certain parts of the plot.

Roza Vallo, renowned author and mysterious human, hosts a writing retreat for young female writers. When Alex gets a special invite to this retreat, even though she's passed the age limit, she jumps at the opportunity. When Alex finds out her ex-best friend, Wren, is also attending she doesn't let their past get between her and this once in a lifetime chance to work with her idol. When Alex arrives at Roza's supposedly haunted mansion in the middle of nowhere, she meets three other girls, plus Wren, who have been chosen. Roza tells the girls that at the end of the month long retreat, one of their books will be published by her but the road to publication will be a long and arduous one. Alex keeps her head down as best as she can and churns out page after page. But Roza's methods are a bit unorthodox and soon Alex is wondering if the horrors unfolding are real or if they're all part of Roza's games.


Unfortunately, this is a two star (on a good day) for me. The concept sounds really intriguing but the execution fell way flat for me. The characters are all pretty insufferable. Alex and Wren's relationship was so infuriating to me and did not feel genuine one bit. I appreciate a story in which the main character is sort of realizing she may not be 100% totally straight but the way in which it was done in this book was kind of off putting to me.


The story moves so slowly and then all of a sudden there's like 500 things that are happening all within the last 50 pages. I thought at one point there was going to be a paranormal/ supernatural element but that was quickly yanked away. The actual plot [SPOILERS] of Roza stealing people's books and then murdering them was just so....tiring. It didn't feel like anything new or exciting and once it's revealed I just didn't care anymore. It just wouldn't end. It kept going and going and I wanted to give up so many times just within the last 20-50 pages.


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Writing Retreat is such a tight, dark, twisting and wonderfully plotted story you’ll find it almost impossible to believe this was Julia Bartz first novel.

It’s the chance of a lifetime when Alex gets the chance to attend an exclusive writing retreat lead by her favorite author, Roza Vallo. She simply can’t pass up this opportunity even if her former best friend, Wren, is also going to be there. But it’s even better than she expected because upon arrival she learns that all members must complete their book during the retreat and the best manuscript will be awarded a massive publishing deal. Alex is determined to win and not even Roza’s odd behavior or Wren’s animosity will deter her. But when one of the writers disappears it becomes clear there’s more going on than meets the eye.

The characters, the setting, and the story are all great. You’ll be glued from the start and flipping pages late into the night. As I said, it’s hard to believe this is Bartz’s debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she does in the future. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC of The Writing Retreat.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-writing-retreat-julia-bartz/1141652573?ean=9781982199456&bvnotificationId=97af93bb-b205-11ed-992a-12468bf04497&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/241623463

What lengths would you go to in order to achieve your dreams?

Alex feels stuck. She’s miserable in her job, she’s fallen out with her former best friend, and she feels her dream of becoming a writer slipping away. She’s shocked to receive an invitation to join a retreat for aspiring authors hosted by her favorite author, the lauded feminist horror novelist Roza Vallo.

Upon arriving at the retreat, Alex discovers that one of her fellow aspiring authors is Wren, her former best friend, setting her immediately on edge. This is quickly followed by the revelation that Roza will be offering a seven-figure publishing deal to one of the retreat participants - but first they must successfully complete a novel over the course of the following month. This is a daunting task, and Alex’s writing block makes it even more impossible to achieve.

From there, the novel really takes off. I won’t go into detail for fear of spoiling things, but it’s rife with tension. You don’t know who to trust, the stakes continue to ratchet higher, and it becomes increasingly clear that Roza has many secrets that she’ll do anything to hide. Layered on top of this plot is the book-within-a-book, the story that Alex manages to craft even while striving to survive the retreat.

The book plays with queer relationships, power dynamics, and unreliable narrators. I was fully hooked and devoured it in only a few sittings, and the ending left me feeling shaken and uneasy. This might sound like a bad thing, but I promise it isn’t! It just speaks to how powerful the writing felt. That being said, my only quibble was with the book-within-a-book framing. I felt myself pulled out of the tension every time we switched to Alex’s manuscript, and I would have preferred to remain caught up in the tension of the primary plot.

The Writing Retreat is available today, February 21. I received an advanced copy courtesy of the publisher, Atria Books, in exchange for my honest review.

What a wild read, deliciously dark and edgy with effective atmospheric locked room themes. The sinister plot unfolds effectively and I was drawn in to the moody writing and book within a book plot quickly. I admit, I like a fun dark creepy story and the Writing Retreat is just that... a bit bonkers in the best possible way and has an edgy take on suspense tropes that was funny and well executed. Julia Bartz's debut is a bit thumbs up for me, excited for more from this author.

★Thank you to Atria Books for this ARC for a honest review★

Alex, who is going through a friendship breakup that is deeper than being fronted, has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on a writing retreat with her idol, Roza Vallo. Once Alex and the other up and coming authors get settled in Roza’s remote mansion, Alex is met by her formed best friend, Wren.

Roza sits the girls and informs them of having to complete a whole novel from scratch within the next month. Alas. this is where things start to take a turn.

This book personally fell flat for me. I did enjoy how Julia Bartz explores the themes of empowerment and self-discovery with the LGBTQ+ characters! HOWEVER, Alex had to go through a “wer dream” with a demon to realize her sexuality?? The characters who we deemed in their late 20s came off very young as teenagers, being cliquey and they was nothing to them.

In between some chapters, we see excerpts from Alex’s novel that is not any more interesting than the main premise.

Towards the end I just skimmed it because I was too far in to DNF ☹️.

❄️Book Review❄️
*
Summary: Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.

But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate.
*
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*
My thoughts: this one was an almost perfect thriller! It was perfectly atmospheric, it almost felt claustrophobic in some parts. I really enjoyed Alex’s character and it was just such a creepy and fun concept. There are some fantastic twists and turns in this one, but I feel like

Okay, so I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it…

I had extremely high hopes for this one! Look at that gorgeous cover! There’s just some things that fell flat for me. I’ll start with what I enjoyed: while it started slow, it was still easily bingeable. I also loved the gothic vibes and the unlikeable characters (I’m a sucker for unlikeable characters in thrillers).

With that being said, I felt a bit long and clunky. I also felt like I was reading several different books at once; it just didn’t flow very well and it seemed like there were scenes just thrown in with no purpose, not even shock value, imo.

I was teetering between 2.5 and 3 stars but ultimately decided on 3. While it may have been predictable, I did find the story interesting and I couldn’t put it down, which is a big thing for me when reading thrillers.

Overall, a decent debut!

2.5 rounded up. This was an odd one. On the one hand, I was engaged in the story and kept reading because I wanted to find out what was happening. I also liked Alex’s character arc. On the other hand, the ending was so frustrating I wanted to throw my kindle, and I was distracted by a lot of unnecessary details/scenes.

RE: the ending (spoilers ahead)

She just… lets them go????? I had to go back and reread because it felt like I’d missed something. All that build up—which requires a ton of suspension of belief btw, extremely over the top—just to fizzle out with this psychopathic murderer letting them go??? I couldn’t suspend my disbelief that much.

4 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"The Writing Retreat" by Julia Bartz @juliabartz

I really enjoyed this one. The story follows a group of writers who have gathered at a remote retreat to overcome their creative blocks and complete their books but little do they know something much more sinister is planned for them.

I found the characters to be well-developed and relatable. The setting was vividly described, and I could easily imagine myself in the idyllic countryside setting.

One aspect of the book that surprised me was the representation of LGBTQ+ characters and relationships that provided a few surprising twist and turns!

I found the overall story to be engaging and well-written. I would definitely recommend!

(Pub Date: 02/21/23)
This ARC (audiobook) was provided by the publisher via @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“The Writing Retreat” was an opportunity to read a new author, and even more exciting, a debut! Julia Bartz has written an atmospheric thriller with a gothic feel and supernatural undertones.

Alex has just turned 30 and her life has gone off the rails. Writer’s block has halted her dream of becoming an author, a huge falling out shattered her relationship with her best friend—Wren, and she isn’t happy at her job.

An old writer-friend has managed to get Alex a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Her favorite author—Rosa Vallo—is hosting a retreat for five lucky writers. One month at her secluded estate and the winner walks away with a book deal and a million dollars.

The rules change a little once everyone settles in. They are all expected to write a novel, plot/subject matter approved by Rosa, by the end of the retreat. A required 3000 words are to be turned in by the end of each day and approved by Rosa. Everyone must follow the rules or they will be sent home. Rosa is eccentric, strange, and a very harsh mentor.

Alex decides to write her book about the original inhabitants of Rosa’s estate. According to legend, the wife was a medium who channeled a demoness named Lamia.

After they become snowed in and one of the girls disappears, strange occurrences make Alex wonder how much of this story is just myth.

I am impressed with the author’s debut and I’m looking forward to reading her next book!

Sincere thanks to Atria Books for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Unpopular opinion- it just wasn’t for me. I’d give it ⭐️ ⭐️ (2 stars)

This sounded SO good, but it just fell short for me. It was slow, and there is too much going on. For an impossible crime thriller it just did not intrigue me. I also didn’t really care for the language used through out, it felt too adolescent. It had some unexpected turns. If you like strong characters and character development check it out!

I really went into this blind and honestly wasn’t sure if i was going to like it. I’m so glad I took a chance because WTF did i just read?! This was the most chaotic, delicious little ride.

A struggling writer + a once in a lifetime opportunity, what could possibly go wrong?

I thought I knew what kind of story this was going to be, but I was so wrong. A story within a story, a retreat within a retreat. I’ll definitely be side eyeing any too good to be true invitations from here on out 👀 Kudos- this was fun!

a fast, fun, slightly weird thriller for wannabe writers.
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brief synopsis: Alex & Wren, both aspiring fiction authors, were best friends for almost a decade till they had a major falling out & no longer talk. book’s exposition develops their characters quite well. both find themselves at a writing retreat, hence the title, of a famous author who pins five female writers against each other competing for one big-time book contract. the retreat turns creepy, culty, & fatal. I liked the ending. WRITING RETREAT also offers the ‘book within a book’ trope.
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while parts felt a bit creepier than I usually prefer even in a thriller, I really enjoyed this one. grapples with questions of why don’t we all support each other; who’s pinning us against each other; who do we write, what do we want. LGBTQ+ rep, too.

Friends, if you’re looking for dark post-academia meets closed-door mystery meets characters who will be on your mind at 6 am the day after you finish, check out The Writing Retreat - out 2/21 by Julia Bartz.

Our first-person narrator is Alex, an aspiring novelist who’s been suffering from writer’s block after a breakup with her best friend Wren. Alex hasn’t written a word in a year when she receives an invitation to a writing retreat hosted by her idol, reclusive cult favorite Roza Vallo. (Did I picture a lovechild of Stevie Nicks and Chuck Pahlaniuk here? Maaaaaaybe.) The stakes are high: Attendees must write an entire novel during the retreat, and the best novel gets an immediate publishing deal from Roza. The retreat is held at Roza’s legendary manor, home of a brutal murder in the late 1890s, and it’s not the only thing haunted: Former best friend Wren is one of the fellow attendees vying for her big break.

This book packs a punch. In less than 350 pages, Bartz weaves a story that leaves you racing to the finish line with ample surprises along the way. FOUR STARS

I’ve always been a fan of quasi-locked room murder mysteries… especially ones that explore the dark side of fame and friendships. In her debut thriller, Julia Bartz does just that in her debut thriller. Alex is a thirty year old writer who’s had writers block for the better part of a year, ever since her epic fallout with best friend Wren. When they both somehow end up at an exclusive month-long writing retreat at their favorite author’s remote estate - famous reclusive feminist horor novelist Roza Vallo - Alex is both excited and nervous. Her anxiety turns to panic when they’re given their task - to complete a new novel from scratch during their stay, and the winner gets published. As each puts their heads down to get to work, they fail to notice some odd occurrences. But when one of them goes missing during a snowstorm that strands them in Roza’s house, they must put aside the competition and their differences to find their missing friend and make it out alive.

I loved this! Good twist. Perfect if you’re a fan of “Misery” by Stephen King or “One By One” by Ruth Ware.

4 writers are supposed to spend a month away with a reclusive, controversial author... and a sudden change includes two former best friends. You start out cringing at the awkward consequences of their friendship and soon after get wrapped in a twisted, f'ed up world as the retreat gets going...

Thank you to Netgalley and to Atria for the ARC.

Alex is one of five female writers selected to attend a month-long retreat at the secluded home of renowned author Roza Vallo. Once they arrive, they discover there is no cell phone or internet service, and the author has a rigorous schedule set up for the women to ensure they complete a novel by the end of the month, with the best receiving a publishing deal. Faced with not just the challenge of meeting the daily writing quota, but learning more about the eerie history of the estate itself and experiencing disturbing nightmares, Alex begins to commune with an occupant of the estate’s dark past.

At a certain point, you will have to suspend belief, as a sinister plan is revealed, and the plot spirals into outrageous, but if you can do that, you are guaranteed a tense and trippy ride. This book has a great premise, an equally great setting with a hint of gothic horror, and fast pacing filled with drama and sexual undercurrents. I loved the writing style and can’t believe this is a debut!

Atria Books kindly provided me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This books was so much better than I expected! And I love mysteries like this. I was wary at first because I had just read The Villa by Rachel Hawkins, which is also about a writer’s retreat. This was so completely different though. There are real gothic vibes that make this so much more exciting than your run of the mill, women’s fiction thriller. There are tons of stories within stories so you get a lot of bang for your buck. This one will be hard to beat.