Alex has had writers block for a year now but she gets the opportunity to go to Blackbriar Estate Writers Retreat owned by famous author Roz Vallo. Her ex friend Wren has also won a spot at this gothic eerie retreat. Tensions arise and disturbing secrets come out as they try to be the million dollar winner for the best book. This was a very good book and hard to put down.
Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC that will be published Feb. 20, 2023!

Summary

Alex, an aspiring author, has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Alex’s favorite author, Roza Vallo, is hosting a month-long writing retreat at her home, Blackbriar Estate, and Alex has been selected. The retreat is highly exclusive as only five aspiring writers were chosen for the opportunity. Despite the attempted anonymity of those selected, Alex comes to learn that her former best friend, Wren, was also presented with the opportunity. The two had a dramatic falling out that has left Alex ostracized from their mutual friend group and struggling with an unbreakable case of writer’s block. However, this is not an opportunity Alex can turn away from.

Roza Vallo is known for being mysterious and reclusive, and her home is no different. As the writers make their way to the retreat, they learn more about the estate’s dark history and come to realize how truly secluded they will be.

Once everyone is settled in, Roza announces that this is not only a retreat but also a contest. Each of them will be expected to complete a brand-new novel during their time at the estate with Roza acting as a mentor and editor throughout. At the conclusion of the retreat, the writer who created the best novel will receive a seven-figure publishing deal.

Suspicions rise as Roza begins incorporating some questionable practices as a means of motivation / inspiration for the ladies. Then, when one of the writers disappears into a snow storm, everything unravels.

Review

The Writing Retreat started slow but kept my attention as it picked up the pace steadily throughout and grew into an engaging thriller / mystery.

The ‘book within a book’ trope can be tricky but this is the perfect plot for it to be incorporated. It was well executed and I loved the feeling of getting two books in one.

I enjoyed Alex as the narrator. She was both likeable and unlikeable at times which made her relatable but also unreliable.

The last chapter felt a little rushed and included a lot of hard-to-believe moments. Overall though, a satisfying conclusion to a dark, twisty, enjoyable thriller.

(Thank you to Atria Books, Julia Bartz, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published February 20, 2023.)

The Writing Retreat, by Julia Bartz, was an incredibly dark, tense novel.
Alex is an author who is having trouble getting her work published. When she is invited to a writer’s retreat, she jumps at the opportunity. Shoulda just stayed home!!!

It has been a while since a book has kept me up later than my 9pm bedtime, but I could not put this one down. Yes, I even woke up in the middle of the night to read it. I LOVED it. Alex, an aspiring writer, has the opportunity to attend an inclusive writing retreat at her favorite author's home, but it's not what she imagines. That's pretty much all you need to know going into this book!

It definitely had me on the edge of my seat (ahem bed). the whole time. There is so much going on right from the start, but that last quarter is WILD. You mayyyy need to suspend some of your beliefs, but please do so because this book was entertaining as heck. I'm really enjoying the aspiring author storylines I've read lately. My only small complaint was I didn't love the book within the book (spoiler free, but if you know me and my tastes, you'll know why), but I am sure other people will!

Definitely pick up a copy of this book when it is released in February!

Thank you NetGalley and Atriabooks for my ARC. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alex is thrilled to be accepted, last minute, to a writing retreat with her favorite author! A month with three other young writers at Roza’s secluded estate in upstate New York, these writers must all complete a novel that will be endorsed by Rosa herself. Alex is horrified to learn that her ex best friend will be there as well. But things take a dangerous turn when one of the writers disappears. Now it’s a race to finish the novels and get out alive.

This book started off strong but slowly became unenjoyable. There was no depth to any of the characters and the plot fell short of being a thriller. There was no suspense or big “twist” reveal. There is a book within a book and it fell flat as well. The friendships in this book were toxic and terrible and there were parts I just skipped over. This book was politically charged and it seems the author had an agenda she was trying to get across that was separate from the book. I’m sorry to say this book wasn’t for me.

This book intrigued me from the start but became a bit of a trudge.

It was a little too long, a little too The Villa, a little too gory, and little too everything. I didn't end up loving it as much as I thought I would.

Thank you to Atria Books and Julia Bartz for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

A modern take on the gothic novel. A group of women gather at a writers retreat on the invitation of their host, a well known author. with a shadowed past. There they are to compete against one another by writing a winning novel. The main character thinks that this is the break she has been waiting for to get her out of writers block. But one of the candidate at the retreat is her ex best friend. Their friendship ended badly... in blood. So drama ensures of course. Soon they discover that this is more than just a competition, it's a mind game of the highest order. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC.

Holy cats this was bonkers, and I loved it. I wasn’t sure what brand of thriller to expect, I just knew it was going to be a nice isolated house in the woods, small helpless group, something bad happens situation. I love books about books, and this has some serious modern Misery vibes, but so twisted. It kept getting crazier and crazier and I couldn’t tear through it fast enough!

The writing retreat had me hooked from the first chapter. The locked room mystery with a modern twist was so entertaining to read. I ended up reading the whole book in two days. I loved how all the main characters had their own personalities. The main character Alex can be a little annoying at times but in the end, she redeems herself. Since this is an arc at times it felt like the chapter would just end, and it was a little hard to follow. But the story itself is so entertaining and keep me engaged the whole time. I really liked how we as the reader also go to read Alex's book as the story went on. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book. The plot summary sounded like something that would be right up my alley. Atmospheric, feminist, mystery/thriller... what's not to love? But the execution leaves a lot to be desired. I very nearly DNF'd this book because the pacing is very slow to begin. Essentially nothing happens for the first 40%, and then the action quickly commences. There were a lot of great, mysterious moments in the story, and some great reveals. But... it just quickly spiraled out of thriller in over the top and unbelievable (and not in a good way). A lot of the plot choices felt like gratuitious attempts at shock value. But at a certain point, the reader just becomes numb to it. I certainly became numb, and was ready for this book to wrap up before it did.

I had SUCH high hopes for this book...I really enjoyed Julia Bartz's sister, Andrea Bartz's, novel, "We Were Never Here" and I must have projected unrealistic expectations onto The Writing Retreat. Bronte sisters they are not haha; Julia has a much different writing style than her sister and the contents of this book were quite a surprise for me. I've never read something so politically charged and it felt like the author had a separate agenda aside from the book's plot. While this book certainly wasn't for me, I truly believe there are some key changes that could have been made to make it more enjoyable for a wider audience.

Rosa Vallo, an acclaimed gothic, feminist, horror author is all the rage. Anyone who's an aspiring author has read her works and studied up on her peculiar life. She lives on an isolated property in New York called Blackbriar Manor and the house itself has a colorful history. When Rosa decides to host a writing retreat for young, up-and-coming female authors, Alex is thrilled. This is exactly the type of opportunity she needs to break into the writing world. When she and her ex-bestie, Wren, both get in as last-minute additions, Alex is excited and anxious all at once. The retreat proves to be quite the challenge---the 5 writers must each meet a 3000-word count each day, as well as edit their peers' work. Additionally, Rosa forces them to participate in some twisted, unconventional games with questionable ethics. What initially felt like a fun adventure is quickly turning into something out of nightmares. Will Alex and the others be able to make it out of the retreat alive, much less publish their books?

There were many disturbing scenes in this book---don't ask, just believe me when I guarantee you they are deeply disconcerting. I believe The Writing Retreat will cater to a very niche group of readers---I'm not sure exactly who that group is, but they'll have to be okay with graphic, gory, and unsettling content. I also feel it's relevant to add that the book-within-a-book aspect of this story reminded me of The Villa by Rachel Hawkins. If you read both, I believe you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. What started off as a great idea turned into an absolute disaster of a book. Read at your own risk.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Julia Bartz for the ARC of The Writing Retreat!

At first I thought Bartz was the Bartz author that I fell in love with last year. Come to find out this is her sister and it is her debut book! Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy for the purpose of this review.

This book was so intriguing and I instantly wanted to know what was going to happen when a group of young writers head out to a secluded spot for a chance to get writing guidance from a famed author. Well, spooky stuff begins to happen and we also learn about the character's backstories as the tale unfolds. Bartz kept me intrigued and interested in all of the stories being told.

I would suggest this mystery/thriller to book lovers, writers and friends that want a well written story about the lengths people go to for fame.

Alex attends a writing retreat in the remote home of her favorite author along with other authors. One of the attendees happens to be her ex friend whom she hasn't spoken to since she moved out of their apartment and cut Alex out of her life.
Now each of them has to write a book and hope at the end of the retreat that their book is picked to be published. One night, things start to go wrong with a snowstorm and an author suddenly missing. Hold on tight for what comes next!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC of this book!

This debut novel is sure to be a hit. Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and Lisa Jewell, Bartz does an impeccable job of weaving a suspenseful, intricate story that keeps you guessing all the way through. The novel's backdrop, Blackbriar, is masterfully crafted and vivid in the reader's mind, the characters are rich, and the journey these writers go on is sure to intrigue. While a book within a book is a new trope for me, I found reading Alex's novel as it came to be incredibly interesting and the way in which it all ties in is so satisfying. If you like: the supernatural, stories within stories, feminist friendships, exploring sexuality, and unending tension, put this one on your TBR immediately.

I fell in love with the premise and setting of this book and knew I had to read it. The writing was great; Julia Bartz is a talented writer. However, it became clear lesbianism was a central to the story and the increasing sexual content made me feel too uncomfortable to continue. I stopped reading at 40%. I also did not care for the characters. I felt they did not drive the story forward, but rather went along with whatever weirdness came their way, esp. the main character. I don't feel it fair for me to rate this book or post a review when I didn't finish the story. I do appreciate the opportunity though and sincerely thank you.

OUTLIER OPINION!

This has many 5 star reviews but it wasn’t for me!

I love books about books, and I love books about the writing process-even more. That is what I was expecting, but that isn’t what I got!

Alex has always wanted to be a published author, so when she receives a once in a time opportunity to attend a month long writer’s retreat at the home of her Idol, best selling feminist horror writer, Roza Vallo, she can’t turn it down. Even, the fact that Wren, her former best friend, and current rival, will be there, won’t stop her from accepting.

As the attendees arrive, they are told that they will be required to write an entire novel from scratch during the month, with the winner receiving a life changing seven figure, publishing deal.

Let the games begin!

Would Roza eliminate the writers, one by one, as they go, until just one is left standing? Or will they not know the winner until the final pages are written?

Roza’s methods of motivating the writers to reach their 3,000 word count per day, include hurtful barbs, and LSD.
And, Alex finds herself wondering if the (open door) self pleasuring, and the sexual explorations she experiences with the other women are hallucinations or awakenings? NOT the cut throat writing competition I was expecting to read about.

This book started strong, with the focus on WRITING but as Roza’s ways of “encouraging” the women to write became increasingly OTT, I increasingly became less and less interested in this story. In fact, it’s one of my least favorite books this year. Sorry.

This debut novel from Julia Bartz, sister of best-selling author Andrea Bartz, is scheduled for publication on February 21, 2023, if it sounds like a book that might be for you!

A buddy read with DeAnn. Is she on Outlier Island with me, or did she write one of the 5 star reviews? Be sure to check out her thoughts on this one, as well.

Thank You to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the gifted copy I received through NetGalley in exchange for a CANDID review!

A twisting thriller to keep you guessing. How could you say no to a month long retreat with your favorite author and 4 other talented authors even if one of them is your ex best friend. Our Mc takes us through her harrowing experience throughout the month of the retreat. It is not at all what she expected and who can she count on to help her figure out what is real and who is behind the crazy things happening. Who will survive and who is to blame. Some twists I saw coming others were more surprising.

I HAD SO HIGH HOPESSSSSS BUT I HAD TO DNF THISSSS AND IT PAINS ME FRRRRR.
the first page and then the page after.... the story kept going downhill and I had to stop especially like where was this story going into????

I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader digital copy from NetGalley, and put it at the top of my list, only to be let down. I struggled between one and two stars. If you don't mind a far left political agenda being pushed in your face, you won't mind this book. I rolled my eyes so many times (mentioning to pronouns *insert eye roll again*) and ICK how this character couldn't allow herself to be queer because society views when she was younger. And the majority of characters were lesbians. I wish I had known, I wouldn't have bothered. The story had promise, it did keep me turning the pages and I liked how it ended (apart from the death of a character I liked), but I won't be reading another of her books. The main characters were very very similar to her sister's book, We Were Never Here, which I also didn't like. My review will be posted on Goodreads.

This book was incredible! My first by Julia Bartz, I didn't anticipate getting so sucked into the story, but I'm very glad I chose to pick this one up. Would recommend to anyone!