This was creepy and bad. I like thrillers or murder/Mysteries but this one was off the rails. It didn't make me feel good reading it, and I was glad it was over.

The Most Anticipated Mystery and Thriller Books of 2023

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

Imagine doing NaNoWriMo not for love of the challenge but for a seven-figure publishing deal… but you have to do it at a remote writing retreat… and your literary nemesis is competing right alongside you. Any artist would have writer’s block under those circumstances, but aspiring author Alex is determined to fulfill this seemingly impossible challenge put forward by feminist horror writer Roza Vallo.

Of course, those aren’t the only obstacles to finishing an entire novel; as a snowstorm descends upon the estate and one of the writers goes missing, things turn decidedly Shining-esque for Alex and her rival (and former friend) Wren. Authors—or anyone with a story they’re dying to tell—make excellent thriller protagonists, and I can’t wait for the added layers of female friendship and betrayal as two ambitious women grasp for fame.

This one is a 4.5 ⭐ rounded down. I truly enjoyed the plot, characters and especially the writing. This one didn't have the biggest twist, but otherwise this is a fantastic novel. Especially the character development. I would pick up more books about Alex for sure. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author!

I read this earlier this year when it came out, and it was an excellent novel. The twists were crazy and I still remember them. I highly recommend this.

This was a slow-burn and I didn't care enough about the characters to keep reading. Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

It was just ok for me. Didn't really keep my interest. I struggled following along or even staying interested. Truthfully, I didn't finish reading the book. I'm sure it was my mood rather than the author's ability to write.

This was a pretty good book overall, but if I'm being honest, it wasn't special. The biggest challenge for me as a reader was that it couldn't keep momentum. It would reach a high point in terms of building some suspense, but then it would just lose it. There would be long periods where it was just slow. I did like the exploration into the complexities of female friendships and the way they often have a sexual charge, but I think there are books that do it better.

The isolated, remote location really set the tone, and it added an extra layer of uneasiness. I liked that it was told from only one POV (Alex) which is a nice change of pace, as many thrillers now are told from multiple POVs. The story within a story aspect did not work for me, although it wasn't a major drawback. This was very tension filled and it did a good job of building up the suspense and tension. The pacing was good until the end which felt very rushed to me.

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz was so captivating, so addicting, that once I started I had to force myself to take breaks. It is THE spooky season book of the year for me!

The novel follows Alex, an aspiring author who's had a bad case of writer's block since she and her best friend Wren had a gorey falling out. When both Alex and Wren are chosen along with 3 other young females to participate in a writing retreat hosted by feminist icon Roza Vallo, Alex decides to try to shove down the past to make way for her future. But as the month progresses, snow traps the group in place and women begin dying. Despite it all, the circumstances seem to be leading Alex to creating a masterpiece of a novel, if only she can survive long enough to finish it.

The twist and turns this novel took had my heart racing. I was continually alternating between a deep terror and utter fixation. Each woman is unique, playing an active role in the novel's slow yet steep demise. Best of all, the novel was full of several captivating stories sprinkled throughout. I was never bored, and at the end all I could think about was that I wanted even more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Creepy, spooky, atmospheric: need I say more!? This story takes place in a winter retreat for writers and once the story gets going it really goes! This was a great thriller and I genuinely loved reading this one. Once I started it was hard to put it down.

Great read. Overall enjoyed it but if I am honest I did not love how the ending. Still worth the read--fun thriller for this Fall!

Thank you to Atria Books for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much potential but it was ultimately a hot mess. Did it want to be deep and metaphorical? Did it want to be a straightforward thriller? Did it want to be paranormal? Did it want to be a commentary on the publishing industry? I think it wanted to be entirely too many things and it feel short of all of them.

From the book description: "This unhinged, propulsive, claustrophobic closed-door thriller will pull you in and spit you out…" Unhinged is right! What starts off as a cozy writing retreat quickly escalates due to psychotic behavior by some in attendance. Oh my! Because Alex is writing a book while at the retreat, at times we are reading two different story lines and I wasn't a fan of that. The ending of this book was a lot. I'll just leave it at that. I'm giving the book 3 stars because I did appreciate Alex's emotional growth journey to find courage and strength and believe in herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was hooked from the very beginning with this mystery/thriller! By the midway point I was kind of curious when the mystery would start to unfold- but I wasn’t too worried because I was still captivated.

I had some mixed thoughts on this one.
- For a debut novel, I thought this was very solid and I will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author
- I liked the premise and the setting
- The ending felt over the top

'The Writing Retreat' by Julia Bartz is an average read that provides a decent escape into the world of writing and mystery. It has its moments but doesn't quite hit the mark in some areas.

The story is set in an intriguing backdrop—a remote writing retreat where aspiring authors gather to hone their craft. The premise promises a blend of creativity and suspense, which initially piqued my interest.

Julia Bartz's writing style is straightforward and easy to follow, making it a comfortable read. She effectively captures the atmosphere of the retreat and the dynamics among the participants.

However, the characters in the novel, while relatable, often lack depth and complexity. This makes it challenging to fully engage with their journeys and the unfolding mystery. More fleshed-out characters would have added layers to the story.

The pacing of 'The Writing Retreat' is a bit uneven, with periods of slow development followed by bursts of action. This inconsistency in pacing affects the overall flow of the narrative.

Additionally, the mystery element, which should be a central focus of the story, doesn't quite deliver the expected intrigue and suspense. The resolution of the mystery felt somewhat rushed and could have been more thoroughly developed.

In conclusion, 'The Writing Retreat' is an average read that combines writing and mystery but falls short in terms of character depth and pacing. It's a book that may appeal to those looking for a light and straightforward escape but may leave readers wanting more complexity and depth in both the characters and the plot.

This debut novel delivers a compelling narrative that keeps you eagerly turning pages, yearning for answers throughout. “The Writing Retreat” proves to be an expertly crafted thrill ride.

The story follows Alex, the protagonist, who secures a golden opportunity to spend a month writing alongside her literary idol. Upon her arrival, she discovers a hauntingly picturesque estate steeped in dark history. As the days pass, she realizes she must coexist with her estranged ex-best friend and becomes snowbound. However, the idyllic scenario quickly unravels, revealing hidden secrets about her idol, Alex’s battle with writer’s block, and the emergence of a captivating tale within the main narrative.

With its intricate plot and relentless momentum, “The Writing Retreat” proves to be an immensely enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off soooo good and I absolutely loved the premise. Five elite short story writers were gathered together for a month-long retreat with the famous and slightly reclusive Rosa Vello. Once at the retreat, they were completely isolated from the outside world and tasked with a fierce competition to draft a book that Rosa would get published with a $1M advance. I was totally enthralled and hooked!

While Al started grating on me shortly into the novel, I didn't let it deter me from enjoying this novel. I loved the creepy vibes, Rosa's totally wild sense of "humor," and the cutthroat aspect of the competition. Some of story ideas really piqued my interest, although admittedly, I was pretty bored by the plotline Al decided to pursue. Typically, I love a story within a story but "The Great Commission" didn't quite do it for me.

Around halfway in, this novel takes a drastic turn that I can't say was unexpected, but I can say was totally over the top. I probably would have enjoyed it more if it felt more realistic and hadn't been so out there. I think the X-rated LSD trip with Al in the basement really sent this book off the rails for me and I was a little disappointed things got so...out there!

All in all, this was entertaining but not one that will stick with me.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the copy.

Oh how I love a locked room mystery, especially one as fast paced as this one! This was a fantastic debut and I found it to be unputdownable! This book was captivating and the ending was very satisfying!

I really wanted to like this one but I honestly couldn’t even finish it. I just couldn’t find any character to connect with and the writing style felt gratuitous. I had seen really mixed reviews but loved the overall premise it just didn’t work for me.