5 stars - KEEP THIS ON YOUR THRILLER RADAR FOR 2023

What. A. Ride. I am not usually one to enjoy psychological thrillers, but this was entertainingly dark and suspenseful. I couldn't put this one down! I found the characters to be complex, well-developed, and likeable. If you're looking for a thriller that keeps you at the edge of your seat, wanting more, this is it! This book is twisty, action-packed, and stressful (in the best possible way!). I truly believe this new thriller will be a favorite among readers this year.

The Writing Retreat centers famous author, Roza Vallo, inviting an exclusive group of talented, up-and-coming writers to a month-long writing retreat at her remote homestead for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: a life-changing seven figure publishing deal. The catch? Write an entire novel within 28 days from scratch, competing to win against other retreat attendees. The retreat seems straightforward at first, but for Alex (protagonist), she begins to observe there is more beyond the contest than she bargained for.

*This book is a debut by Julia Bartz, Andrea Bartz's (We Were Never Here) sister. She is incredibly gifted; this thriller is stunning and will definitely stick with me for a long time. I can't wait to pick up what she publishes next.

Thank you Atria Books and Emily Bestler Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: February 21, 2023

3.5 stars, round up to 4 - I anticipated this to be a fairly standard locked door mystery and I was totally wrong! This was a very creative, unique story and I think very well executed. I was shocked when the major twist came so early but it played out very well and was well paced overall. It had many of the hallmarks of a cozy mystery but with an edgier twist. I liked the complexity of the characters and thought the character dynamics were very original. Would definitely read more from this author!

Books about writers are some of my favorite things. The Writing Retreat deals with our main character Alex who has given up on writing, gaining a huge opportunity to go to a writing retreat hosted by a famous author Roza Vallo. She's a little wary about going due to a friend Wren she previously had a breakup also attending but she goes anyways. When Alex arrives she finds out she has to write a new novel from scratch which is a struggle due to her writer's block but she's determined to do it. While at this retreat strange things start happening.
I really enjoyed the way this story progressed, at no point was I bored or confused. It had super good pacing. The atmosphere of Blackbriar, the rooms and the place's history is dark and mysterious. Roza also added to the mysterious atmosphere because she was super mysterious and hard to read at the start but I loved that! Alex’s character development throughout the story was by far the best out of all the characters. She started off in a hard spot unsure of herself but in the end she was super strong and I enjoyed that! The other characters were not bad either, I loved Poppy. The plot of this story was also strong throughout the entire story. I loved the plot twists that were sprinkled throughout and it always kept me on my toes. I’m super glad with how everything played out and how the story ended.
Thank you to Netgalley & Atria Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

THE WRITING RETREAT is scary good. It’s a compulsively readable psychological thriller with a creepy premise that left me thinking: what would I do if I were in the main character, Alex’s position?

When Alex scores a coveted invitation to a writing retreat hosted by her favorite author and idol, Roza Vallo, she can’t believe her luck. Even the fact that Alex’s former best friend and current nemesis, Wren, will also be there can’t put a damper on her excitement. But when Alex arrives at Roza’s sprawling and secluded estate, she realizes the experience isn’t going to be relaxing: she, Wren, and the three other participants are asked to write 3,000 words a day on a brand new novel. Whoever’s book is chosen by Roza at the end of the month will have it published with a life-changing advance.

Alex starts writing, determined to win the contest, despite the fact that she’s been cut off from the real world by distance and an epic snowstorm, and that strange things start happening around the mansion. Soon, Alex must decide if she should continue with the game - or if this is even a game at all. Is Roza really hosting a retreat, or could the contest be something more sinister?

Bartz does a good job creating a spooky setting and characters who leapt off the page for me. Have you seen the 1992 movie Death Becomes Her? If so, you will remember Lisle von Rhuman, who offers Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep’s characters the gift of eternal youth and beauty. I know that Roza Vallo is described by Julia Bartz as having long red hair, but I couldn’t help but picture Lisle as Roza. She was so vividly drawn for me.

I also enjoyed how the epic novel Alex is working on during the retreat is woven into the story. The reader wonders: are supernatural elements the explanation for what’s happening, or is it something else?

Bottom line: THE WRITING RETREAT kept me engrossed all the way through. It’s chilling and crazy and thought provoking. I really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the complimentary eARC and the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

This review will be posted on my Bookstagram, www.instagram.com/watchskyeread - and on Amazon - the week of THE WRITING RETREAT’s publication (Feb. 19). It was posted to Goodreads on Jan. 1, 2023.

Will be reviewing a physical copy of this one. Thank you again for the ARC and hopefully this opens up a space for someone else.

Yo. This book was a WILD ride. I was sucked in from the first few chapters and was stress drinking wine until the very end. Dark, edgy, twisty and unexpectedly bloody, this book gave me much darker Nine Perfect Stranger vibes. Roza is a much, much more deranged Masha. All of the characters are incredibly flawed and unhinged in their own right, which only adds to all of the different plot points. It’s definitely hard to nail down who you shouldn’t trust. This was difficult to put down, an excellent debut. Add it to your 2023 TBR list!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Absolutely the wildest psychological book that I have read in a long time!! I had no idea where it was going, but I enjoyed the thrill ride until the end!

This was a pleasant surprise! It is dark and engrossing. I didn’t find it particularly “twisty” but that didn’t feel like the point to me. I don’t know that this is necessarily a thriller but I thought the characters were fascinating. I would have liked a bit more background on Alex but that is a small note.

“The Writing Retreat” is the debut novel of author Julia Bartz. This twisty thriller follows five girls who’ve been selected to participate in a writing retreat with the esteemed Roza Vallo, author of prolific feminist horror novels. Once the retreat begins, Roza decides it’s time to announce the real purpose of the writing retreat: everyone will start a book from scratch and finish within the month they are at the retreat. The ‘winner’ will be able to received a publication deal for over a million dollars. Can you really trust strangers around you competing for prestige and a life changing sum of money?

I would personally give this novel 3.5/5 stars. This is definitely a very feminist book with some sapphic undertones. The female bond and how sexuality influences people is one of the stronger elements within this story. I felt the book did pick up a lot towards the second half, and there were some very interesting twists. I would say this story is definitely geared towards a particular audience, but I would be happy to recommend it. It almost reminds me of a cross between Ruth Ware’s “One By One” and Rachel Hawkins novel “The Villa”.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC of this novel.

The Writing Retreat is hands down my favorite suspense of 2022, I can’t think of a better book to end the year on!

Thank you so much @atriabooks @juliabartz for sending me this copy!! PLEASE WRITE MORE NOVELS!!

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological suspense
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: Dreams Vs. Nightmares
𝐏𝐮𝐛. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: FEB 21, 2023 (PRE-order this one!!)
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.87 stars

The Writing Retreat is a dark and edgy novel about 5 ‘aspiring authors’ who get the opportunity to attend a month long, fully immersive writing retreat hosted by one of their favorite authors. I don’t want to spoil it any further: I highly suggest you go in blind for maximum plot shock effect🤯🤓

Ps. It has short chapters. I freaking love it when books have short chapters😂👏🏻

For fans of: spooky haunted houses, psychological manipulation, and 1980s slasher films. And of course, thriller and suspense novels. This one takes the cake.🖤

Do not pick up this book unless you have the rest of the day/night to finish it. It will grip you from the beginning and will be relentless through the very end. A dark delight.

Five women writers are given the opportunity of a lifetime to attend a writer's retreat by a famous author at her secluded estate. The winner will get a million dollars and a publishing contract. The catch: they have to write a novel within a month and have daily word counts to meet or they get kicked out. That's a tense enough situation, but the main character's former best friend is there too, and then ominous things start happening. This is a suspenseful, scary ride, and an impressive debut by this author. I will definitely read more from her.

As a writer, this one hit home in a fun, twisty way. It's not genre-bending but it kept me turning pages and wanting to know what happens.

A thrilling debut from Julia Bartz revolves around Alex getting the opportunity of a life time - a month long writer's retreat held by her all time favorite author, Roza Vallo. Alex has been dealing with a year of writer's block after a falling out with her best friend Wren, who is also one of the five women participating in the retreat. As the retreat progresses, Alex has finally broken through her writer's block, however, things take a drastic turn when the retreat turns out to be something very different than what the participants anticipated.

A good debut effort, I would classify this book as a horror book (light horror) rather than myster/thriller, which is what I was expecting. Overall, the story was interesting but I struggled to connect to any of the characters. A lot of the conversations they had seemed very forced and at a bit excessive at times. The twist at the end was interesting but I was able to figure it out by the time I was halfway though.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julia Bartz, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Well. This was a rollercoaster of a writing retreat. The nefarious truth behind the retreat and the incredible drama that ensued left a bad taste in my mouth. I found I could relate to the characters about the very basics of writing and why a writer must write, and for that reason alone I enjoyed the book, but the story itself lost me right about the time the truth was revealed at the midpoint and all hell broke loose. Not to mention the LSD trip and weird sex dreams from the MC. Not necessary. I ultimately found the plot ridiculous and the ending absurd. I can’t recommend this one.

*I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 Stars

Mystery & Thriller books are not my thing, but I decided to try this when approached by a marketing email. It had some elements that attracted me like writers, an old Victorian mansion, and the uneasiness/remoteness of being snowed in.

The book centers on two young aspiring female writers (Alex and Wren) who had been the closest of friends, but had a cataclysmic falling out after a night of unexpected intimacy. Now they have both been invited to a "Writing Retreat" by a famous author in the dead of winter at her legendary mansion Blackbriar. It is a two-week writing contest for a prized book contract. There is no phone or internet service and they are snowed in- the roads impassable. The imposing mansion has a creepy legend and even the taxi driver that dropped the girls off keeps a wide berth to the dwelling.

The story held my interest- mostly because I was intrigued by the writing element and the setting of the old mansion. I love to read about grand environments and the help that serves its occupants. There were some terrifying moments involving a dark basement, sleepwalking, claustrophobia, and an LSD-triggered sexual encounter. However, I just don't personally enjoy blatant disrespect for human life and bloody moments. I suspect that most people who go for the genre of mystery & thrillers will like this book, but I am not its best audience.

Thank you to the publisher Atria Books / Emily Bestler Books for providing advance reader copies via NetGalley and Edelweiss.

Thriller gone wild! I don’t know if by definition a thriller can truly “go off the rails,” as that’s part of what you’re signing up for with the genre, but if any thriller is almost too much of a thriller, it’s this one. Seriously. It doesn’t just have plot twists, or an unreliable MC, an eccentric mysterious benefactor, or drinking, or sexual experimentation, or death, or ghosts. It’s got all of that PLUS demons, seances, and a book within a book!

This book was not at all what I expected. I was expecting a little drama, a lot of writing (and there is plenty of that!), and some mystery surrounding the reclusive writer. This book goes so far beyond that plot. I wish I could elaborate more but I don’t want to spoil anything. One thing I can say is that readers are sure to be glued to the page because they won’t believe what’s happening or coming next. Suspend any and all assumptions and buckle up for a crazy ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily Bestler Books/Atria Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

So this story started off so good. So, so good. The premise, albeit not original, had a lot of promise. Wannabe writers are secluded in a writing retreat with a famous author throwing down in a NaNoWriMo challenge - write 80,000 words.

All the characters at the retreat were women, as well as most of the staff. Our main character, Alex, was stuck at the retreat with her frenemy, Wren. So all these women under stress just have to get these books written. So much promise!

About halfway through the story it went off the rails and became unbelievable. I'm pretty open-minded and I don't typically judge characters when they are under duress because chances are they won't make good decisions. But Alex just ... I don't know ... while trapped and fighting for her life her head was not in the staying alive game, it was in wondering what her sexual orientation was. That's when I was like okay, I'm done.

I finished the book, but it was a trudge. I think the author tried to make the story a lot more complicated than it needed to be. I'm sure she was trying to give it an oompf to stand out from the other secluded, locked-room mysteries. If she had just stayed on the original course, it would have been an interesting story.

The last time a book felt so "off" and unbelievable for me was with Christina Lauren's latest "Something Wilder." Sometimes it's best to just stick to the formula.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an e-copy of THE WRITING RETREAT to review.

I rate THE WRITING RETREAT two out of five stars.

Alex is an editor and up and coming writer who was honored to have a spot in the writing retreat of her idol, Rosza. She is distressed that her friend/former friend will also be there, but decides to go nonetheless. Once she gets to the retreat, she realizes it is not what she expected!
This a fun and twisty read. I loved the idea of the book and the atmospheric setting.

If you like the twistiness of Korelitz & Slaughter, but are only capable of comprehending Foley, this is a great book to pickup.