This is one of the most ridiculous thriller novels I’ve ever read. It’s completely over-the-top, just off it’s rocker. The plot read a dozen mainstream thrillers, burped and then said, “Hold my beer.”

And you just have to respect that.

I am a huge proponent of things that are original, unique and sidestep clichés. This novel is all of those things while maintaining the general vibe of what you would expect from a typical thriller.

And it’s also just bananas.

It starts off like every other thriller you’ve read — setting up characters and relationships with a secret or two, and putting it all in a closed-door mystery setting. But by the halfway mark, everything gets flipped-turned-upside-down like the Fresh Prince, and it goes off in directions you just wouldn’t have expected because it’s so ridiculous.

But I had the best time with it.

It gives you drama, some sexual stuff that swings between normal and bizarre, and a plot that hit the gas on absurd and took off down the road without a glance in the rearview. But the ending was a bit rushed and I’m not sure that the excerpts from the novel within a novel really did anything to elevate the plot.

This is a super entertaining, but really oddball, and has definitely put Julia Bartz on my radar.

Thank you Netgalley for an earc of this book in exchange for my honest review

It was an okay book. Honestly it started out really strong and then it just got to be too much. Like it just got so weird that it was almost comical. Just wasnt my type of book. I enjoyed parts of it but not the book as a whole

It is too good to be true writing retreat competition, with a famous writer that basically guarantees fame and success in the industry even if you lose; turned exploitative and deadly.

Once again, I'm suck struggling to review because I just want to spoil everything talking about it!

To comment on a weird amount of the reviews, I saw saying something about this being too woke and left political.. are you afraid of sapphics and POC? Answer quick!

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc of this book. Apologies for the late review.


** SPOILERY REVIEW **
This is a psychological thriller of a mass producing popular author denies having ghost writers.

Wasn’t a fan of the beginning… the MC was whiny and unlikeable. Grew to be really invested in this story by the halfway mark and by the end I have to admit that I really enjoyed this!

What a different read! I was really not expecting all the twists in this book, I did not see these happening at all. The Writing Retreat grabbed my attention right from the beginning and I didn't want to put it down. I did find the ending, the escape a bit unrealistic. But otherwise a great read. Looking forward to more books by this author.

I enjoyed this book. The synopsis sounded like it would be right up my alley.

I really enjoyed reading this book. There was a slow start and I didn't know if I was going to continue but the writing is so good. So of course I had to know how it ended.

I did think it was a lot more horror then they lead on and that threw me a bit. But i enjoyed the experience. If you are a horror fan this one might be for you.

This one was not for me. At all. I got pretty far into it but just did not care enough to continue. Not sure I’ve ever DNF’d this far into a book but the characters were insufferable and I couldn’t handle any more.

This books is twisty and turny and unputdownable! Is it a tad ridiculous at times? Sure. But that didn't stop me from absolutely tearing through it! When I tell you I was WAY off base with my theory, I mean wayyyyyy off base.

This was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. I finished it in 2 days, and I was reading every spare moment I had because I needed to know what happened next.

The Writing Retreat is a unique story about toxic friendships, sapphic relationships, and imbalances of power. There’s a strong gothic dread that underpins the whole book, leading to a tense, atmospheric setting that has you guessing what’s real and what’s not.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys:
- horror/horror elements in their thrillers
- snowy, locked room reads
- psychological explorations of self and our connections with others

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and Netgalley for gifted physical copy & ARC of this one—I loved it!

Whoaaaa! This one started off really strong for me, and I loved the premise of the book; the opportunity to participate in a writing retreat hosted by your favourite author. The setting was great too, definitely gave off creepy vibes. But as the book started to move forward it was plot twist after plot twist...and it just became really unbelievable. Dare I say, over the top unbelievable!

Overall the story was decent but it just fell short for me.

I know others have loved it, and there are many five star reviews but this is just a 3 star for me.

I'm grateful to the publisher + NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Published on February 21st, 2023

There are a few things that I enjoyed about this book, but overall, it was just an okay read.

Things I enjoyed:
- remote location
- creepy vibes
- sapphic
- a book inside of a book

Things I did not enjoy:
- the pacing
- far-fetched explanations at the end

The book started strong but then slowed down in the middle. It picked back up in the last 75 pages or so, but even though there was a lot of action at the end, I didn't feel like I needed to keep reading. Maybe this is because the reveal happened too early. 🤷🏼‍♀️

My favourite parts of the book were the excerpts from Alex's book. I wish there were more. I was more interested in that story.

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me, but if you are looking for a closed-door mystery/thriller set in a remote setting, you should try this one. I've seen many positive reviews for it.

The Writing Retreat is a character-driven psychological thriller that takes some surprising turns!

Bartz’s way with words is quite phenomenal, and she definitely knows how to paint a picture. However, at times, it felt like she was a little too caught up in the details and needed to focus more on the bigger picture. The story starts off slow paced, as the narrative dives deep into the protagonist and her unfortunate backstory. Once she shows up at Blackbriar for the writing retreat–this is when the power of the setting really kicks in. The mansion is a haunting locale, and I was enthralled by its mysterious history as well as its eccentric and creepy owner–infamous author Roza Vallo.

I found that the novel, while taking truly wild turns in the plot, never quite made complete sense. I appreciated the quickening pace later on in the book, but I found that despite the book being character driven, many of the decisions made were unfounded or out of character. That said, a few of the twists were quite surprising, even if the main twist of the book was a little too easy to figure out because the author got a little too heavy-handed with the foreshadowing. Unfortunately, I also wasn't particularly interested in the main interpersonal conflict between the protagonist, Alex, and her former best friend, Wren.

All in all, this is a highly character-driven thriller that would appeal to those who like slower paced stories with twisted, complex characters.

When I read the synopsis of this book, I just had to request a copy from Netgalley.

Unfortunately, I do feel like the synopsis was a poor representation of what this book is about. Most of what the sysnopsis entails doesn't occur until 75% in. It is also marketed as an isolated thriller, which it is in a way. But, it definitely has more horror elements than I was expecting.

For many reasons, this just wasn't a book for me. This book is definitely weird and a journey, I know for so many people that it is right up their alley, but it's just not my cup of tea. The characters also came off young in their interactions and dialogue giving the book a somewhat YA feel. This is definitely a case of the book just not being for me.

**Read an ARC from Netgalley

Rating : 2 Stars

I loved this book! The Writing Retreat was such a whirlwind of emotion. The twists and turns were so exciting and I did not see that ending coming. Thank you so much for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

5 aspiring authors attend a one month writing retreat at well-known writer Roza Vallo's estate. Alex has been experiencing writers block for over a year now, since her ex-bestfriend Wren and she had a falling out. When she receives an invitation to the retreat, she is ecstatic... until she discovers Wren also got an invite. When they arrive, they must quickly get used to Rosa's unconventional methods and complete their projects in the hopes of being published.

I thought this was SO MUCH FUN. The characters were all so unlikeable, but I loved getting to know each of them and their unique personalities. You could really feel the tension among these women, and it made for a very atmospheric read with a great set-up. I thought the story was a tad slow-paced, but it definitely went full throttle by the end. The ending was definitely WILD, and didn't make all that much sense... but I dig it anyways. Definitely doesn't feel like a debut, but I look forward to more work from this author!

Bestselling author Roza Vallo hosts a writing retreat at her remote estate for aspiring writers under thirty-years-old. When Alex finds out that she’s been chosen for this exclusive retreat, she’s excited but there’s a problem. She’s had writer’s block for a year. On top of that, her ex-best friend, who she had a fight with a year before, has also been chosen to go to the retreat. The experience isn’t what they expected. Roza wants them to each write a complete novel, writing 3,000 words a day to complete it in a month. However, the women begin to feel trapped, and strange things start happening. It isn’t just their writing careers that are at stake, but their lives as well.

I loved the premise of this book. It would be a dream come true for me to go to a writing retreat with my favourite author! I can’t imagine having the privilege of doing that. The thriller aspects of this story were good, but there were some strange scenes.

The strange scenes involved hallucinations and dreams. It gave the story a bit of a fantasy side, which disrupted the intense thriller. There were also some references to homosexuality and race in publishing that didn’t really make the impact they should have. It felt like some attempted representation that was thrown into the story without a purpose or without fully making a statement.

The Writing Retreat was an intense and unusual thriller.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada and Tandem Collective for providing a copy of this book.

Book Review: The Writing Retreat.


terrimoore@sasktel.net
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📚 Book Review: "The Writing Retreat" by Julia Bartz 📚

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries and love stories set in idyllic settings, then "The Writing Retreat" is a must-read! Julia Bartz has crafted a charming and captivating novel that will transport you to the lush countryside of Vermont and immerse you in the world of a writers' retreat.

The story follows Emma, a budding novelist who attends a retreat to work on her manuscript and escape her busy life in New York City. But when one of her fellow writers is found dead, Emma becomes embroiled in a whodunit mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Along the way, she also finds herself falling for the handsome and enigmatic retreat owner, Jack.

Bartz's writing is beautifully descriptive, and she brings the Vermont setting to life with vivid imagery and sensory details. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is engaging and suspenseful. I particularly enjoyed the snippets of Emma's writing that were interspersed throughout the book, adding an extra layer of depth to her character and the story.

Overall, I highly recommend "The Writing Retreat" to anyone looking for a cozy mystery with a touch of romance and a picturesque backdrop. It's the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day, and I can't wait to read more from Julia Bartz in the future!

Alex gets invited to a distinguished writing retreat hosted by an enigmatic horror author, only to discover her ex best friend turned enemy is also in attendance.

There were so many cool things about this book that grabbed my attention and kept me flipping pages. Let’s start off with the fact it’s a thriller with an all-female cast. How have I never seen this before? And not only that, the women are interesting and supportive while also being competitive and messed up and fragile in complex (rather than tritely catty) ways. LOVED IT. The writing was also fantastic. Bartz somehow made fairly (dare I say?) normal, situations feel ripe with tension and foreboding. I did not want to put this book down. But then the book takes a turn in the last quarter or so. It goes from being full of ominous vibes and upmarket suspense to being very dramatic and genre-y. That’s not to say it’s bad, per se, it just felt so different from the book I’d been reading (and loving) until then. Definitely still worth the read though as there’s lots to celebrate in this debut novel.

I started reading The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz last month, but made it only 7% in when I realized I wasn't comprehending what I had just read. I debated starting over again, but ended up just setting it aside. When I picked it back up this month I launched right in, finding it to all make sense, and I quickly became addicted to the plot! This was absolutely a case of right book, wrong time initially - because I ended up loving it!

Roza, a well-established author, invites five struggling writers to her secluded estate that has a dark history. The retreat quickly turns to a write or die scenario as Alex, her estranged friend Wren, and the other three hopefuls navigate Roza's rules to get a publishing deal at the end of their month-long stay.

I've read a lot of thrillers this year, and this is one of the few that actually felt thrilling, had my heart pumping and had me afraid of the dark (more than I already am)! I found The Writing Retreat to be a combination of three books: The Grace Year, Dark Room Etiquette and The Villa... but this book blew those three out of the water!

I have so much I want to say about this ending – but I really can’t because it will give so much away! I loved it: it was brilliant, enlightening, and it showed that Alex’s personality had been affected by her time spent at the retreat! Did I say it was brilliant?

I've got two small, trivial critiques. I found Alex's narrative voice to be slightly young, although not immature. I was not annoyed or off put by her, I just had to remind myself of her actual age of thirty (also, maybe this is just me getting old!?). Looking back, I wish there would have been more of a concrete explanation to the whereabouts of Roza’s editor, Ian (although it was touched upon – I just wanted more information).

A riveting thriller that got my blood pumping - check. Strong female characters - check. The writing/publishing world, but make it the dark underbelly side - check. An ending that keeps going past the last page - check. This book checks my thriller boxes, and it's a debut! Can't wait to read more from Bartz - because I know it's only getting better from here!

Also, hats off to Bartz, for thanking her mental health support team in her acknowledgements. Yes, I absolutely read these notes after I finish reading a book - I'm not really done a book until I read them!

PS I love how the pages are flipped up on this cover!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy to read and review.

I enjoyed The Writing Retreat while I was reading it, though I didn't find it very unique compared to a couple of other books I've read this year.

As always, the book within a book sections drew me in, and I enjoyed watching the parallels between the characters story and the story we were seeing being written.

This was definitely a quick read, and the pace kept me turning pages so I got through the book in a few days.

I would definitely recommend this one to thriller readers, just don't expect anything too different from what you've seen before.