This was a mixed bag for me. I had trouble with the protagonist a bit: she was so defined by her past relationship with Wren that I had a hard time understanding how deeply she wanted to attend the retreat, or what her motivations were as a writer and as a character. Once the story begins to move toward the retreat, things do start to pick up considerably and for the middle act, I found this hard to put down. Bartz does a great job of crafting a creepy, gothic atmosphere and building a feeling of suspense. There were a few bits that I thought could use a stronger editorial hand. The introductions between the retreat participants, for example, went on far too long, given how shallow the characters ultimately were. (And honestly, that's okay in such a plot-driven novel.) But the mystery develops in an engaging way that kept me coming back. Unfortunately, the final act is a bit of a mess. It's all over the place with escapes and captures, and almost comical. At one point I was put in mind of a Scooby Doo chase, albeit one with much more serious consequences. The book also employs a "novel within a novel" technique that I don't think added much to the story. All in all, this was an enjoyable diversion that thriller fans will probably enjoy as long as they don't think about it too hard.

I loved this spooky, psychological thriller! The atmosphere and descriptions of the natural environment set the stage for some wild action. Roza was a great character, and I loved the side characters (I would read an entire book about Yana). The protagonist, Alex, was fine. By the end of the novel, I was pretty over her and especially her weird relationship with Wren. I've already recommended this book to some fellow psychological thriller readers!

I really enjoyed this book and would like to thank NetGalley and Atria books for granting me access to an ARC.

My biggest piece of advice for this book is to not read the synopsis. It alludes to what might happen and it is best to go into this book without any knowledge of what might happen. Alex is an aspiring writer who has been invited to the home of a famous horror author. Her former best friend is another author invited to this home as well. They are all expected to write a full page novel in the month they will be staying there. The rest of this book takes you on a wild ride in this psychological thriller. The book could be predictable in some parts but there were still many surprises I never saw coming and that is what makes a good thriller book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller and cant wait to pick up my own physical copy once its released in February 2023.

The invitation comes just in time for Alex. Writer’s block, a dead end job and a damaged friendship have left her unsure about her ambition to be a published author. In her widest dreams, she never thought she be invited to famous horror writer Roza Vallo’s writing retreat at her remote estate. But she and four other young women are chosen, including her former best friend Wren. Be careful what you wish for.

The Writing Retreat doesn’t fall into an easily described category. Mystery and suspense? Yes, but also ambition, greed, creativity, plagiarism, demonic possession and perhaps psychosis. And that’s all I can say about the plot. No spoilers here because I really want you to read this book! It’s hard to believe that this is author Julia Bartz’ first novel. Look forward to seeing it on the bestseller list! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Julia Bartz for this ARC.

From the very first page of this book you’d have no clue that this is Julia Bartz’s debut novel. She puts pen to paper (or finger pads to keyboard ) in a way that would have you thinking she’s been writing psychological thrillers for a lifetime.

I spent minute by minute of this book scrounging up detail after detail and taking in every scene simply because I could not get enough. I was so engrossed and so captivated by the storyline that I didn’t quite want it to be over. This book kept me up into the wee hours but definitely with a nightlight on.


If you are interested in my usual breakdown of what to expect here it goes::

✒️ 5 aspiring female authors racing to have their debut novel be the chosen one- published and backed by THEE Roza Vallo
✒️ A sprawling haunted gothic estate with plenty of it’s own unsolved mysteries
✒️ A creepy housekeeper and a cheery chef
✒️ Endless bottles of red wine, lavish feasts, and cheese boards 😏
✒️ twists and turns in every relationship and around every corner of this freaky ass mansion.

📍The Writing Retreat is set to publish on February 21, 2023.

💖 I am extremely grateful to @netgalley, @juliabartz, and @atriabooks for the chance to devour and rate this one!

This review will be posted to my Instagram and Goodreads the week of 10/17-10/24

I read the synopsis and I loved it. And when I read this I loved it even more. I love the authors style of writing and character building. I am so thankful to have gotten to read this book.

This story drew me in immediately! I immediately went to see if Bartz had any kind of back list. Part of me was disappointed that there wasn't, and the other part of me couldn't believe this was Bartz's first book! I read this book so quickly because I couldn't wait to find out how the story ended. I cared about the protagonist and the other characters. Bartz did a great job of giving the reader just enough background to keep them coming back for more. The setting was creepy and gothic while still remaining modern. This book would be great for any thriller fan or readers who love reading books where writers are the main characters.

Alex is a struggling, wannabe writer who is stuck in a rough patch. Her job is going nowhere, her love life is nonexistent, and she lost all of her friends after a big breakup with her best friend of 8 years, Wren. She needs something to change, fast. Alex scrapes herself together to attend the book party of a good friend, Ursula, even though she knows there is a chance Wren would be there with her (used to be their) entourage of friends. Just the mere sighting of Wren sends Alex into a tailspin and she ditches the party and makes one bad decision after another. The next morning, with the most horrific hangover, she gets some cryptic texts from Ursula that result in the change Alex was looking for. Alex has been chosen to attend exclusive writing retreat with famed author (her idol, really) Roza Vallo in upstate New York. An opportunity that millions of writers would kill for. To be mentored by one of the prolific writers of this generation! The catch? Wren was chosen as well. Alex almost backs out because she doesn't think she can handle the sheer tension of spending a month with her ex-bestie, however, she makes the decision to go and not waste the opportunity of a lifetime. This is going to change her life!

Boy, did she not realize HOW right it was that it would change her life. This story takes you for one WILD, WILD ride with so many twists and turns that sometimes you don't know which way is up. Many dark secrets are revealed and each time you think you've got it figured out, another bomb is dropped. Sometimes, the story does drag and the back and forth between the 'excerpts' Alex is writing and present can get a bit tedious. There were some unexpected twists that didn't feel fully resolved at the end. The mentor/mentee relationship between Roza and Alex ended up very problematic and Alex's feelings towards Roza left you feeling quite unsettled. At risk of not releasing any spoilers, The Writing Retreat will keep you enthralled and highly entertained.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Writing Retreat is a psychological suspense story about a group of 5 female writers chosen to attend a highly secretive writer's retreat hosted by a famous but controversial horror author. Drama, secrets, mind games, and betrayal among the participants and host quickly follow.

Things quickly begin spiraling out of control when it becomes apparent this is no ordinary writing retreat. There are some very specific, unusual guidelines for the participants and it's a competition to see who can hold onto the author's favor and win her help with publishing their work.

The retreat takes place at a remote estate that was the location of an infamous crime still clouded in mystery. This setting adds a nice gothic touch to the story as we follow the present timeline and are also shown glimpses of past events thanks to the story-within-a-story format.

This was such a fun, fast paced, and impossible to-set-down thriller. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what crazy thing was going to happen next. The story flowed so well I found myself thinking just one more chapter time after time, only to find myself blowing past the last page of a chapter and right on into the next. The ending was outrageous, but I felt it was a good fit for a story that was full of twists, turns, and shenanigans.

I picked this book up when I was in the mood for a fast paced thriller that would keep me on the edge of my seat and entertained with all kinds of jaw dropping and unpredictable drama and antics. This book perfectly hit the spot!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a copy for me to read and review.

Thank you for this ARC. I really enjoyed this one and finished it in one sitting. The setting was eerie. The character had build up and a surprising ending.

This was quite the ride!

There were quite a few twists and turns that let me wondering “how”. It was a very fast paced read and kept you on the edge of your seat!

I was lucky to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a debut novel by Bartz and the premise was definitely intriguing to me. The famous author Rosa Vallo is having a retreat at her secluded mansion, choosing four lucky writers to join her in a month long writing event. Alex and Wren, both aspiring writers and one time best friends, both find themselves luckily picked to attend the retreat. This novel started out with a lot of promise. The plot and characters kept me invested, even after the story line took an odd and unbelievable turn. It wasn’t until about 20% left in the book that I completely lost faith in the story. It became borderline ridiculous and I struggled to finish. That being said, I still enjoyed the writing style and character development. I gave this novel a three star rating.

What a wild ride The Writing Retreat proved to be! Alex and Wren have a complicated friendship that spans many years and experimentation between them. Their writing is a conduit for how they have found in one another what they lacked in themselves. A series of events implodes their relationship without resolution. Unbeknownst to the other they find themselves at a writing retreat turned horror story with a much revered and respected author. This one packs a punch! Quite literally!

This book was ok to me I think I started of pretty slow I wasn't interested in the book until at least half way through the book . I don't think it was horrible it just is not going to be a favorite of mine. Thank you to netgalley for the copy of the ebook .

I really enjoyed this. There are a few holes and some redundant parts, but for a debut, this is very solid. I’m excited to see more from Bartz in the future.

This reminds me a bit of Shari Lapena’s The Unwanted Guest; the atmospheric/winter setting is similar and adds to the drama of the plot. This will be a great read in early 2023 when it’s released.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a wild ride. Alex is a struggling writer - she's had writers' block ever since she and her former best friend Wren had a falling out a year ago. Imagine her surprise and trepidation when a friend manages to get her into a month-long writing retreat with her favorite author, Roza Vallo. The catch? Wren is going too. But Alex's problems with Wren are just the beginning. When one of the participants disappears during a snowstorm, the situation begins to devolve into chaos. Will any of them make it out alive?

This is a dark, atmospheric book with a hint of the supernatural. It kept me reading late into the night.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A group of women are invited to a special writing retreat hosted by a famous author. At the end of the retreat, one of the women will win a coveted book contract with a publisher. Obviously, getting into this retreat isn’t easy, but Alex lucks out and gets a spot at the retreat hosted by her favorite author, Roza Vallo.

As the days go by at the retreat, something bad happens, and it’s unclear what the truth really is. Can the women trust Roza? Are all of the women who they say they are? As they say, never meet your idols, because they just might disappoint you.

This book kept my attention. While it’s probably classified more as a thriller, there was a scene or two that was fairly creepy, very nearly giving me the chills, which I enjoyed. I liked that the main character wasn’t perfect.

✨ARC Review✨

“The writer’s mind is a channel. When we open, glorious truths can flow in.”

The Writing Retreat was certainly a refreshing psychological thriller! It details five girls attending a month long, once in a lifetime writing retreat hosted by a well respected and equally popular feminist horror author, in her supposedly haunted estate. However it becomes clear early on, that what they signed up for is not what is transpiring. This book goes on a whirlwind of deception, jealousy, and pitting these girls against one another. It begs the question of is all of this healthy competition or crazed mind games, and are any of these people who they claim to be?

Oh this book….I am having a hard time rating this one! Did I enjoy it? Yes! It was incredibly twisty and I loved that! Was it predictable? To some degree yes, as there were twists that didn’t surprise me, considering I anticipated them. However, the biggest issue I have is literally ONE part rubbed me the wrong way, and I can’t push that aside and allow it to not reflect my review rating. **At the 70% mark there is a comment made in reference regarding the race of one of the individuals. I feel strongly that it was made in poor taste even in the context as it was intended**

What’s On The Pages:
-psychological thriller
-suspense
-deception
-jealousy / mind games
-sapphic elements
-murder

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC! The Writing Retreat is out February 21st, 2023!

This book starts out amazing and somehow it gets better with every page. I couldn't get enough. I was addicted. Recently I applied to go to a retreat and I joked with the author hosting it that I have read books about retreats and I wasn't sure it was the best idea.
This book is the perfect example. Sure you will end up with a book and a clear up all writers block, but at what cost?
This is perfection.

As always thank you and NetGalley and Atria Books. . This book was a wild ride. It was dark, sexual, and twisting all the way through. It probably one of my favorite versions of doing a book within a book - it wasn’t too much to make the reader bored but just enough to keep you interested. The last few chapters are jam packed action. I maybe would have appreciated a little more finale at the end with how much we get at the beginning. Solid book!