#FirstLine - Houses remember.

This book was something! I loved the alternating timelines because it seamlessly and beautifully tied past and present together. I was so engrossed in the stories of all the characters. They all were flawed and interesting in their own right. All were worthy of their story being told. It is amazing how the actions of others can change the trajectory of another life. It was a wild ride of intrigue and suspense. I loved that I never really knew the full truth of what really happened at the Villa past or present until the very end of the story. I also loved that it was not tied up all perfect at the end. It was unsettling and illustrates how every action has a consequence!!! A must read for everyone in 2023!!!

4 stars!

The Villa follows Emily and Chess, two childhood best friends who take a girl's trip to the Villa Aestas in Orvieto, Italy to reconnect and work on their impending book deadlines. What they come to find out is that Villa Aestas was the site of a brutal murder but also the birth of a best-selling feminist horror book and a platinum album. As Emily starts to dig into the history, she thinks there may be more to the story, and she is determined to figure it out even as it causes tension with her best friend.

I find this book really hard to rate because I think it doesn't completely work as a mystery, which is being pitched as, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it. I think instead if you go in with expectations that this is more of a women's fiction book with mysterious elements you would like it better. I really enjoyed Mari's chapters, and I loved the end of the book. I did feel where things dragged was in the middle, where we were just meandering. I have read all of Rachel Hawkins' mysteries: The Wife Upstairs, Reckless Girls, and The Villa, and they have each been so different. The Wife Upstairs was a Jane Eyre retelling, Reckless Girls was literally a hoot and the most wacky but entertaining book I have read in 2022, and The Villa felt more along the vein of Daisy Jones & The Six (although I did not cry). I'm excited to see what Rachel Hawkins writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Two best friends staying in a villa where tragedy occurred 50 years ago, trying to spark creativity for their books, A vindictive ex husband, and the the past all collide in this brilliant novel by Rachel Hawkins. The story is told on multiple timelines and then all comes together amazingly. The first half of the book is slow burning but the 2ns half I couldn’t stop listening!

Two friends have grown apart. Things always seem to magically align for Chess. And, Emily seems to struggle to find her path. Best friends. Or, at least they used to be. Things are a bit strained. They don't see each other much these days. Things have grown a bit distant due to schedules, jealousies, changes. When Chess suggests a girls get-away to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect and rekindle their friendship. The villa where they are staying has a history....an excitingly dark one. A famous horror novel written there. Stunning music composed there. A murder..... As Emily gets pulled into investigating the events from 1974, it seems her relationship with Chess is disintegrating like those 3 friends from decades before.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Narrated by Julia Whelan, Kimberly Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio, the audio is just under 8 hours long. The narrators are wonderful!

The story is a slow burn, and while I did enjoy it, I expected a bit more actual darkness, mystery, thrilling aspects, but the plot fell a bit short for me. No real gothic feel for me. Not all stories are for all readers, and this one just wasn't for me. I didn't mind the shifting time lines. The 1974 plot held more interest for me, and really carried any thriller/creepy vibes this book had for me. The modern day characters fell flat for me. I just never felt connected to that portion of the plot.

Definitely up for anything else by this author as I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls, but this newest story just isn't my thing.

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

I really enjoyed the multiple point of views and the haunting mystery behind the story, but unfortunately it ended up falling flat for me. The “best friends” were unrealistic, there was nothing likable about either characters and it all seemed a little forced. I’ve noticed that Rachel Hawkins books do keep me engaged, but in the end the storyline tends to run its course.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for both the audio and ebook ARCs of The Villa. I enjoyed the multiple timelines of the novel, especially since they were read by different audiobook narrators. Each story kept you hooked and guessing at what might happen, although a few of the plot points were a little predictable. I enjoy Rachel Hawkins writing and look forward to what else she puts out.

Happy New Year! It is crazy to think that A Book A Week began way back in 2012, but I'm so excited to continue my goal of reading a new book every week and sharing my reviews with you. Over the years, my reading tastes have grown and evolved to encompass various genres and authors. My soft spot, though, will always be with mysteries and thrillers. I began last year by reading Rachel Hawkin's popcorn thriller, Reckless Girls. This year, I was pleased to once again accept a copy of her latest book/audiobook from her publisher. The Villa sees Hawkins apply her signature style to a multigenerational thriller, which is a fantastic way to kick off this new year of reading.

The year is 1974. The place is the gorgeous Villa Rosato, Italy. Rock superstar Noel Gordon has rented the estate as an artists' retreat. He hopes that his time in the home will yield his next bestselling album. Noel has invited songwriting hopeful Pierce Sheldon to join him, and Pierce brings his mistress, the young Mari, and her sister Lara. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll ensue, but not in the way you might expect. By the end of the summer, Mari will write one of the most influential horror novels of all time, and Lara will record a bestselling album. The art that flows from that time is notable in its own right, but this is not what the Villa is best known for. You see, that summer also ends up with Pierce being brutally murdered in a killing that will forever stain the reputation of the Italian chateau.

In the present day, the villa, now renamed Villa Aestes, is playing host to a new generation of creatives. Emily and Chess were inseparable childhood friends who both ended up with varying degrees of success as authors. Chess is a bestselling self-help guru, who has taken the world by storm. Emily has had more moderate achievements as the author of a series of cozy mysteries that are largely inspired by her own personal life. Both friends have drifted from each other over the years, focussing on their own lives and careers. This girl's trip to Italy serves as a chance to reconnect while also putting in the hours needed to stave off both authors' impending deadlines. Emily's curiosity about the place they are staying leads her to discover new aspects of the famed murders that occurred there decades ago. Secrets about the past, both of this place and of their friendship, come to light, causing tensions to mount between the two best friends. Before the summer's end, the villa may just claim another victim.

The Villa marks Hawkins's third foray into thrillers and is her most unique and intriguing novel to date. She takes inspiration from Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the creation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, combining these seemingly eclectic elements into a story that brims with tightly wound suspense. This is much different from the popcorn reads she has previously presented. While there are still plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, The Villa spends more time building atmospheric chills by alternating past and present perspectives. I simultaneously read and listened to this book, sucked into the spell that it cast upon me. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Hawkins threw in one more twist that I genuinely didn't see coming. The Villa is another solid page-turner from an author who is becoming one of my go-to writers for this genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

This book was a roller coaster. This followed two sets of guests to a villa in Italy and how their lives were interminged and similar. There were so many twists and turns I didn't know what to think. This is another good book from Rachel Hawkins and its one you definitely should read!


#TheVilla #NetGalley

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/a62782f909f9f31cc0a668273d58d56c330ee604" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

This was merely an okay entry into this genre. I enjoyed Reckless Girls and this title has been on many “anticipated” lists, so I thought I would give it a try. Slightly predictable. I think most readers will most likely be satisfied.

Rachel Hawkins has firmly established herself as one of my go-to authors when I need an adult thriller that will undoubtedly give me a mild case of whiplash from the couple of twists that she'll throw into the storyline. When I read the synopsis for The Villa, I knew I had to read it. The words Italy, rock stars and murder lured me in and got my attention. But it was the phrase: "The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy...." that nailed it and I was a goner.

The book is told in multiple time lines, Present day follows long time best friends Emily and Chess who go to Italy to reconnect. The other timeline introduces the reader to step-sisters, Mari and Lara who have a tumultuous relationship. The visit the Villa in 1974 along with Mari's musician boyfriend, Pearce. They are invited there by Noel who is a well-known rockstar that is currently struggling to put out new music. In addition, you also get a peek into Mari's book which makes for a third storyline of sorts.

Sometimes it's confusing to bounce between timelines, but it worked quite well in this book. It was actually a critical facet of the plot and it never felt forced or intrusive to leave one timeline to go to the other. I was intrigued by both the storylines and am continually impressed by this author's creativity.

Even though there were some unexpected twists which I loved, there were also a few things within the plot that I felt were too predictable. That's the only reason that I"m not giving this beauty five stars. Everything else was stellar. I just felt that there were some places where she played it safe and others where she blew it out of the water with her twists. But obviously, that's my personal opinion. Regardless, this book is a wonderful work and I highly recommend it.

In addition to receiving an early copy of the kindle copy for review, I also received an early audio copy. This allowed me to go back and forth between both. The audiobook for this is stellar. The narration was spot on. All three narrators do a wonderful job of portraying their characters and it all blends together in a way that makes this one of my most enjoyable listening experiences in a while. 5 stars for the audio.

Thank you to NetGalley for both the e-ARC and early listening copy. I voluntarily chose to read/listen and review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

This is a creepy gothic based on the story of Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron’s summer that resulted in Mary writing Frankenstein. The narrators were great! I really enjoyed this.

This started out really good and then the twist was so obvious that I found myself rushing to finish it, if only for the book to be over. It could have gone in some many better direction and, yet, it didn't. I still enjoyed the beginning and the intersecting stories. Julia Whelan is phenomenal, as always, too, in her narration. If you don't care about figuring out a twist, you may enjoy this one even more!

The Villa comes out next week on January 3, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

Somewhere around the time she started calling herself "Chess," I realized I might actually hate my best friend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

• two storylines/timelines
• wonderful narration (👏👏 Julia Whelan)
• toxic relationships

This doesn't give super 'thriller genre' vibes, but it was a fun ride! Great setting, intriguing characters, and steady pace. I also really enjoyed the podcast transcripts, emails, writing excerpts, etc sprinkled throughout. It added to the excitement of the plot for me!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC and audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

This was incredibly predictable but I appreciate that the author tried to play around with the readers' expectations. I was much more invested in the current storyline than the true crime mystery in the past. It wasn't the best thriller but it was an easy pageturner.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

One of my reads over the break was The Villa. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy on Netgalley as both an eARC and audiobook as well. I don’t always get approved for eARCs so when it’s a book I really want to read I request the audiobook which I sometimes have more success with.

I’m so glad I got the audio copy of this one! It’s co-narrated by my favourite narrator Julia Whelan - I could listen to her read anything! It really enhanced the story for me.

The Villa has a dual timeline with present day following two childhood friends Chess & Emily and the past following a rockstar, new musician + his girlfriend and stepsister.

Emily and Chess are both authors of very types of books. Emily was the first to publish but Chess’ career took off when she published her self help book. She rented the Villa Aestas for part of the summer and asks Emily to come along.

Once Emily realizes they’re staying in a former murder house, it’s all she can think about & wants to uncover what may have really happened.

You start to wonder if the house still carries the energy & if it’ll claim another person before the summer is up.

I will say, I started the ecopy and had a hard time at first getting into it even though I love dual timelines in thrillers. I would highly suggest this one on audio, I think the great narration makes it really engaging and hard for you to turn off.

This was a ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me & it comes out January 3rd!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author, Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the copies in exchange for my honest review.

Rachel Hawkins writes unique thrillers that are page turners I don’t want to put down! The Villa is no exception. The book is told from Emily’s perspective in the present day, and Mari’s point of view in 1974.

Present day: Emily is a cozy mystery writer who after separating from her husband, decides to take a six week long vacation to a villa in Italy with her lifelong best friend, Chess. While there she discovers the villa is the scene of a brutal murder that took place 50 years before. Emily decides to focus on this story for her next book.

1974: Mari, her boyfriend Pierce, and her sister Lara, are invited to spend the summer at a villa in Italy so Pierce can work on his music career. We know that Pierce was murdered that summer, and one of the other guests at the villa committed the crime. We just don’t know why.

I really loved the dual timelines, especially Mari’s story. I couldn’t put the book down because I needed to know what really happened that summer. I liked how the two storylines were intertwined. I was able to figure out a few things, but there is a great twist at the end, that I didn’t see coming. I loved the setting of this book and the atmospheric feelings the villa provided.

I had an eARC and ALC, and listened along as I read the story. Julia Whelan is my favorite narrator so I was very happy to hear her voicing Emily. The other narrators, Kimberly Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio, were great as well. The voices were different enough to know what timeline we were in, and who was speaking.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Rachel Hawkins book. I will admit that Reckless Girls and The Wife Upstairs are sitting on my shelf right now, waiting to be read. I will now be getting to her other books sooner, rather than later.

This is the present-day story of two childhood best friends, Chess and Emily, who have a strained relationship in their 30's. They are both writers, with different degrees of popularity, and decide to spend the summer in Villa Aestas, which was the site of a homicide in the 1970's. The book toggles between the present, and the story of what happened that awful night back in 1974. It definitely gives off some mild Manson murder vibes. The plot twist at the very end was fantastic. I knew there was more to the story than what we were led to believe happened back in 1974, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

- Why Not 5 Stars
This definitely had slow burn vibes for me. I wasn't entirely sure where the plot was going. It took me a little longer than expected to get into it. As the story unfolded, I became more engrossed in the 1974 version, than the Chess and Emily drama. It did leave a plot hole for me, that I was expecting to be filled. I wanted to know the true cause of Emily's mysterious illness. I wasn't buying the whole "toxic people can make you physically ill," that Chess was trying to push, and I was expecting a far more sinister explanation. I am trying not to give away any spoilers, but I also wasn't buying into Chess's explanation regarding the relationship between herself, Emily, and Emily's soon to be ex-husband, Matt. Throughout the whole book, Chess is built up to be someone that you don't ever want to believe a word that comes out of her mouth, so I don't know why we are expected to believe her when it comes to the Matt situation

Loved the narrator. Great story line. Has current story along with jumping to the 1970s to tell the death of someone in the villa they are staying in.

I enjoyed this book! I liked the different perspectives, dual timelines and various elements (podcast transcripts, articles, book excerpts). It was a bit of a slow burn, but all the different clues and elements kept me interested to see how everything would unfold in the end.

I didn’t love any of the characters. I wasn’t really rooting for anyone. Chess was extremely hateable, but in a good way!

Emily and Chess’s ending felt a little rushed. I didn’t love Chess’s explanation for sleeping with Matt or how quickly Emily bought it. Just because she thought he wasn’t good for Emily, doesn’t mean she needs to sleep with her best friend’s husband.

I also thought the idea to kill Matt came out of nowhere. No matter how terrible of a person/husband he was, most people would not think the only solution is to kill him. I wish they got revenge on him in another way, like not allowing him to win any of Emily’s money.

Overall, it was a good mystery and I did enjoy the reveal about Mary at the very end! I thought that wrapped everything up nicely.

Enjoyed this book. Dual timelines which I enjoyed. Page turner. Thanks NetGalley for the audio eArc.