I've enjoyed Rachel's books in the past, but this one is definitely my favorite. Much thanks to @netgalley for the gifted audiobook. I really enjoyed how the narrators (especially the amazing Julia Whelan) brought the various characters (some British, some American!) and alternating timelines to life.

In present day, Emily and her frenemy Chess head to a villa in Italy for six weeks of vacation--and work. Both are authors working on their next books, but Emily is also recovering from a mysterious illness, while suffering through a contentious divorce. Although she's happy to get away, she's still suspicious about so much--Chess's real intentions for whisking Em away and the murder that happened in the notorious villa decades ago.

Mari, a young, hopeful writer, spends the summer of 1974 in the villa with her married boyfriend, Pierre; famous rockstar Noel Gordon; and her step-sister Lara. When present-day Em read Mari's very popular novel Lilith Rising and finds hidden pages of Mari's diary, she's propelled to write about the villa, Mari, and the murder. Like Hawkin's The Wife Upstairs, this one is inspired by a literary truth: the summer Mary Shelley spent with Percy Shelley and Lord Bryon writing Frankenstein.

I was on the edge-of-my-seat throughout this book and was genuinely surprised by some of the many twists and turns. The dual timelines keep the story moving at a quick pace, while asides from murder podcasts and biographical info about the 1970s characters add extra fun (especially when performed on audio). All in all this is a fast, fun thriller that has some interesting things to say about friendship, fame, and how female writers and artists.

🍋The Villa🍋

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the ALC for The Villa. Oh yeah, and happy pub day! 🎉 Also, yay for this being my first, official read of 2023!

This book follows two timelines, one present day and the second back in the 1970s. The latter of which is a classic sex, drugs and rock’n’roll vibe gone horribly wrong when one member of the group staying at “the villa” ends up dead. No one truly knows what happened because those still alive won’t talk…

Then, you have present day women, Emily and Chess, who have grown up best friends, but are really frenemies at this point. Chess books the same villa with the terrible past so she and Emily can have an Italian summer away, bestie style…what could go wrong???

I believe this was Hawkins first original story considering both her first thrillers were classic retellings. I can’t figure what classic this might be, so I either can’t find it on the internet or haven’t read that particular classic. 🤔

Both of her previous thrillers were solid 3⭐️ books for me. I liked this one more! The end was a bit predictable, but I still highly enjoyed it.

In regards to the audiobook format, the great Julia Whelan is the narrator for Emily’s character. 🤩 Need I say more? Definitely recommend the audio!

I enjoyed this slow burn suspense that alternates between present day and 1974. To be honest, I felt 1974 was a little slow and enjoyed the present day story much more. The story is brought together by the setting- an Italian Villa, and through the creative mindsets of artists. Everyone in the story is some sort of author-books or songs. The present day story takes a turn I didn't see coming at first and kept me turning the pages!

I had high hopes for this one but it didn’t completely work out for me. I usually enjoy dual timelines but this time I found myself more intrigued by the present than the past and the endings of each were unsatisfying. With the exception of Emily, I found most of the characters unlikeable. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a wonderful job, especially the amazing Julia Whelan! The novel did make me want to book a trip to Italy ASAP though! 3.5/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copies!

Atmospheric past and current setting share juxtaposed stories. Well written with good narration. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Villa is about two friends who go on vacation to a villa in Italy and get sucked into the story of what happened there 50 years ago that resulted in murder, and two very successful works of art. The story weaves the past and the present to slowly reveal what happened and its impact on present day.

🎧 I listened to this on audiobook, the narrators Julia Whelan, Kimberly M Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio really bring the characters to life. I think the audiobook format really elevates the experience of this book, so I’d highly recommend it.

This is the second Rachel Hawkins suspense book I’ve read, the other one being Reckless Girls. I found this book to be less atmospheric than Reckless Girls. I had some issues with that book, but it really did the sense of suspense and impending doom right. In this one, I didn’t get that much suspense, darkness or creepiness, and definitely not gothic suspense. It read more like a mystery to me, I don’t think this is a bad thing, but I think it helps to set your expectations from the get-go. I think it helped me that I went into the story without knowing anything about it, I didn’t read the blurb at all, I just knew it took place in a villa in Italy.

As far as the mystery, I thought it was very good. It keeps you guessing, and even the things you think you know, are not how they seem. You start suspecting each character, even the MCs, and keep trying to figure it all out.

I especially liked the mystery within a mystery aspect of things. There is the present story of two friends at a “murder villa”, there is the past, which covers what happened at the villa almost 50 years ago, then there are various books within the books. This dual timeline is done incredibly well. What I really appreciated was how the analysis of these mysteries by the characters within the story made you think about if any of it is actually a foreshadowing for the main mystery.

I really like how Rachel Hawkins always serves people their just desserts and highlights women empowerment. At the end you feel vindicated, like justice has prevailed somehow. I think those who didn’t like Reckless Girls because of how it ended will appreciate this one a lot more. I quite liked the resolution to the story, and how there were a lot of gray areas, and twists, of course.

I also appreciate that her characters are flawed, even the ones you root for are not always nice people. I loved the symmetry between the beginning and ending of the book and how the tables turned, though saying anything more would be spoilery.

It takes a bit at the beginning of the book for things to really get going, but I think reading this as an audiobook really helped with that as well.

Overall rating: 4⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

I really wanted to read this book! I enjoyed Hawkins other novels. This was a slow-burn thriller where the past and present mix. Even though this book was somewhat predictable, I did enjoy the ending. I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I listened to as much of the audiobook as I could, even though there were download issues, and thought the narrator did a nice job. The ending really made the entire book for me.

A slow paced book. hard to get into. but i'm glad I stuck it out. The ending was the best part. I'm glad I waited. I hate how it ended (personally) for the main character. but the ending of the book as a whole was perfection!

The Villa is a slow-burn mystery/drama about a crime from the past that intertwines with the present.

Writers Emily and Chess spend the summer in an Italian villa, which happens to be the same one in which a famous murder in the 1970s occurred. to spark their creativity. As the two former BFFs work on their new books, a deep-seated rivalry emerges, and they uncover some of the unsolved mysteries of the infamous murder.

The narrative alternates between the past and the present; the characters weren't altogether likeable, and a predictable ending continues to leave you without much sympathy for the main characters.

According to the publisher, parts of The Villa are inspired by the events of when Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. This is apparent in the structure of The Villa, which embodies a story within a story. I liked the setting in Orvieto, but I expected the villa to play a larger , more gothic role in the story.

Overall, this was a middle-of-the-road read for me. The audio narrator was excellent, but the story itself was a little flat and uncaptivating.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Hawkins (@ladyhawkins) has done it again! With 2021’s The Wife Upstairs and 2022’s Reckless, the author is making a name for herself in the thriller genre.

The Villa (published today) is a captivating story of two childhood friends (and authors) Chess and Emily, who spend a summer at a villa in the Italian countryside while working on their latest novels (and their friendship).

During the summer of 1974, stepsisters Mari and Lara stayed at the same villa while working on their own creative outlets that went on to become famous (a sensational horror book and a folk album that rivals Carole King’s Tapestry). Equally as famous is the murder of a musician (Mari’s boyfriend) during that summer at the villa. “Everyone knows the story. It was one of rock music’s biggest scandals, a dark and lurid tale of sex, drugs, and murder involving one of the most famous men in the rock.”

When Emily reads Mari’s masterpiece written years ago, she wonders if there is more to the story than what was told and if the answers lie within the house.

I loved the glimpses and stories behind Mari writing her famous novel in one timeline and being read and questioned in the current timeline. I was equally interested in both storylines and thoroughly enjoyed the writing and attention to detail by the author. There’s a lot going on in all the stories which fleshes out all the characters and makes them come alive as well as makes you question everything!

Newspaper articles, song lyrics, and even a bit of a podcast episode are sprinkled throughout the novel. I started listening to the audiobook and found myself a little confused, so I switched to the ebook which I found helpful.

Read if you like:
🍋Dual Timelines
🍋Interesting Settings
🍋Gothic Thrillers
🍋Well-crafted mysteries
🍋Creative storytelling
🍋Stories within a story

Every forthcoming thriller by Rachel Hawkins will be added to my list to read. If you have read her books, which is your favorite? Of the three thrillers, The Villa is mine!

Thank you to @netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is out today! It is set in Italy on a girls trip with the formerly inseparable Emily and Chess. As children they were close, but have grown apart over the years. After Emily's marriage ends in divorce she suffers from writer's block, that is when Chess suggests a girls trip and writer's retreat for the summer in Italy. They end up renting a villa made infamous in the 1970s by a summer of sex, drugs and rock and roll, resulting in a murder, a platinum album and a famous novel. As Emily spends more time in the house, she becomes more enthralled by the history and uncovering what really happened that summer.

As the two friends live together in this beautiful setting, tensions begin to arise and secrets are uncovered.

There are so many twists in this story. I loved the dual timelines and perspectives, from current day Emily to 1970s Mari and their pursuit of their creative passions. This story is about the women and the men who oppress and belittle them. I thought it was such a great and twisty thriller. And that ending is something I never saw coming! I rated it ⭐⭐⭐⭐!

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the galley!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm963Z4ye80/?igshid=OGQ2MjdiOTE=

"Houses remember."

I love a dual timeline and add a splash of a murder podcast and I'm sold. This book is an entwining of two stories all wrapped up with a neat, tidy bow. The exploration of complicated relationships and especially toxic friendships were so well done. I found myself so frustrated for our characters. This was a slow-burn thriller but I felt it added to the overall suspense of the story rather than just feeling slow. I enjoy Rachel Hawkins writing and recommend this one to anyone who has enjoyed The Wife Upstairs or The Reckless Girls.

A huge thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read, and review, this book early!

How convenient that I finished it on its release day?!?

I adored the setting of this novel. A gothic, Italian Villa? Best friends (and authors) getting away to hang out and write books?? Uh.. sign me up!

Emily and Chess have been best friends for years. Chess suggested the girls get away from the hum drum of adult life. Emily thinks this is a great opportunity to reconnect with her best friend. However, while it is clear that these two were best friends, the tension between them is palpable. They had a lot of tender moments that showed this friendship; and also had some situations that showed the disconnect and betrayal. I cannot believe that Chess would do what she did to Emily! Holy smokes! I was like shocked… haha

“I don’t always like you.. sometimes I hate you, but that is only because I love you!”

Emily, though she is supposed to be writing the 10th book in a series, becomes engrossed in the history of The Villa. This leads her on a quest to figure out what really happened all those years ago. Luckily, there are a number of clues that give her the information that she is searching for. With this, the descriptive flashbacks to the 1970s really gave us, the readers, the details that we needed to help understand the story better. I like that we got the perspective of Mary and her experiences.

I will also mention that I loved the small portion of the book where a podcast is shown, that discusses the crimes at The Villa. It almost reminded me a little bit of “Only Murders in the Building” meets “Gossip Girl” vibes. It was such a fun interjection within the novel.

Jeez… the twists and turns in this book! I didn’t see some of these things coming!

The Villa
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook and Audiobook
Date Published: 1/3/23
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Julia Whalen and Kimberly Wetherell
GR: 3.81

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: The story is narrated by Emily, through her POV and also Mari in the past, through alternating timelines. The book pulls you in from the opening chapter. I read Hawkins last book, Reckless Girls, and was hooked. I knew I would have to read any future novels and when I got approved for both the audio and ebook, I was overjoyed. Julia Whalen is one of my MOST favorite narrators, I will listen to anything she is narrating. She does a fantastic job at giving life to Hawkins’ characters and pulling you into the story. I really loved how Hawkins portrayed Emily and Chess as strong, empowering women, making there mark in the writing world. The backstory from 1974 instilled creepiness and awe in the Villa for the present day story. The characters were fleshed out well, even the 1974 characters, had depth, were mysterious, and creative. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, creepy, and kept me absolutely engaged throughout the story. The author does a wonderful job at building up the characters, delivering the plot in various twists, and having a fantastic ending. This book would be perfect for those who love Ruth Ware or Lucy Foley (both of whom I also adore). This book releases today and I would highly recommend the audiobook.

Netgalley ARC Review

The Villa follows best friends, Emily and Chess, as they go on a summer trip to Italy. Their friendship has not been as close in recent years and they are hoping to change that on this trip. This book follows two time lines. The second one is 50 years in the past, when rock stars stayed in the villa and a infamous murder took place. Emily discovers the history of the villa and becomes obsessed with finding out what happened.

I absolutely adored this book. It has amazing true crime vibes and I kept almost feeling like I was reading a true crime novel. As Emily became sucked into the obcession of the past murder, so did I. I couldn't put this down and finished it in record time.

Rating: 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting concept, with the timeline going from the present to the past and back again. The past timeline was not as enjoyable as the present day one; the idea of a 19 year old running off with a married student of her professor father's, along with her same-age stepsister, is not an overly pleasant one. Hawkins was clearly going for gothic horror, and she achieved it. By the time the past timeline wrapped up, I was ready for the soon-to-be-dead person to be dead.

In the present day, things skip along a bit faster without the gothic doom, but man! Emily made me nuts. She does all of her living for her ex (why??), who wants to bleed her for her future earnings as well. Her "bestie," Chess (a reincarnation of the former Jessica, Jess, JC, etc.) is a Glennon Doyle type lifestyle guru. These two are an unlikely pair, but I'm sure I've seen a charismatic girl with a wallflower trailing behind once or twice. The voice actor (I believe it's Julia Whelan) does a good job of making Chess that perky, annoying self-help chick who's already overexposed, and Emily a demure, quiet type looking for inspiration in their Italian villa with a secret past.

The story was fine, maybe dragged a bit - again, I was less than interested in the rock 'n' roll, '70s storyline. Hawkins does a good job of keeping things taut and suspenseful, but once we arrived at the end, it was no longer drawn out but a very quick denouement (I actually had to re-listen a bit). I have to say I don't exactly buy that Emily would stay teamed up with Chess after the revelations that come to light late in the book, but the aftermath of her doing so rings true.

This one was not as good as The Wife Upstairs but it's certainly not awful. The voice acting kind of makes it a win.

Set in two time periods two sets of women's lives change dramatically after staying at a villa in Italy.

I loved how you got to see the similarities in the two stories, and the tension and mystery surrounding what was happening in both kept this book moving.

In both stories I feel that the events at the villa may have helped the women but also trapped them in a way maybe the more present day one more than the one set in the past.

In the past both Mari and her step-sister Lara have had a relationship with the same married man. Now Lara has moved on and in a relationship with another older married man. Mari and Lara have always had a competitive relationship usually around men. First their father then it moved on to lovers.

Emily and Chess have had a similar rivalry. Both writers, Emily writes cozy mysteries and Chess has attained national status as a self help guru. Emily covets Chess's life and Chess believes that Emily is the one that has it all.

Emily has been dealing with the fall out of a messy divorce and Chess invites her to spend the summer at a Villa in Italy to hopefully get her writing juices flowing again. However there seems to be some secrets and mistrust between the two long time friends that culminates in a tragic situation.

Both stories centered around how the men in their lives manipulated and ultimately were the catalyst for their success. But I also see it as a story of how toxic women can be toward each other and how those toxic relationships grow and cultivate. It's a fascinating story. Definitely worth the read.

Read if you like: best friends, authors, past and present timelines, Italy setting

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. Now they are in their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend because she is in the middle of a nasty divorce, book deadlines, etc

Villa Aestas in Italy is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato. It was rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. A chain of events leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album, and Pierce’s brutal murder.

Emily starts to dig into the villa’s complicated history and it leads to her branching outside of her normal cozy mystery writing. She wants to write a story about that Summer. I received the audiobook of this. It's so good. I love the different narrators. This story is unique because within the book is another book being read. There are lots of ups and down and unlikeable characters. It's hard to pick someone to root for. I highly recommend this book and audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and MacMillan Audio for the gifted audiobook! ❤️

HAPPY PUB DAY! 🎉🍋

Okay I’m not gonna lie I was worried going into this book! The 2 previous Rachel Hawkins “thrillers” weren’t for me. I wanted to give her one last try so I picked this bc honestly that cover did it for me 🥰

BUT I’m happy to report I actually really enjoyed this book! There’s something about multiple perspectives and multiple timelines that I really enjoy. I liked that we got to follow writers along their writing journey. Emily discovering life after her marriage/life fell apart was a nice journey to follow. I felt like maybe some of the writer struggles that Emily was speaking about with wanting to switch from cozies to more thrillers felt like self insertion with Rachel Hawkins (not confirmed but I can see the parallels)

I really loved the past timeline. I was INVESTED in Mari’s life. I loved getting to see the development from living with her boyfriend and sister to this extravagant Italian villa. The rock n roll lifestyle with Noel and Pierce was fun to read about. I was just so invested in the past timeline that when we switched back to the current time I wasn’t as invested. Don’t get me wrong I still cared but I could see who the other woman was from page one so I didn’t need the build up there but that’s more personal preference.

My one complaint was the ending, I guess really it left me a little confused? Idk how to say more without spoilers 🤷🏻‍♀️ buttttt this book did make me curious to see what Rachel Hawkins does next!

THE VILLA
Rachel Hawkins
https://bit.ly/3BFJYE6
Mystery Thriller
Release Date: January 3, 2023

When Chess and Emily go to the Villa Aestas to try to rebuild their lifelong friendship. The secrets that both they and the house are harboring will either be a friendship deal breaker or knit them together with a tight bond.

Rachel Hawkins does not disappoint in her upcoming new book. There are shocks all around them and the Villa’s dark past. This book will leave you guessing even after you stop reading it. I give this book a solid 5 out of 5 stars!