This book starts really slow as it alternates between timelines, The back and forth makes it difficult to keep up. When you reach the last few chapters it really gets interesting and I didn’t foresee the ending. I won’t spoil it but you’ll love it. I really loved Emily and honestly though Chess just doesn’t get her proper reward for bad behavior. The way the story ends makes me excited to think maybe a part 2 is coming if so I can’t wait to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio arc of this great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this latest novel by Rachel Hawkins! Murder, sex, drugs, and screwed up friendships... make for very interesting reading!!

Firstly, I would highly recommend the audio version of this novel. Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Shiromi Arserio were amazing narrators. This story spans decades and the narrators did an amazing job of making the timeline swaps of this story easy to follow. The differing accents were a great addition that really allowed me to separate the two story lines.

I had never read a Rachel Hawkins book before this one and The Villa has left me wanting more! I read this book immediately after reading Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. I would say these two books are definitely in the same vein and readers of Knoll would love The Villa. That being said, I feel that The Villa is a unique book within the mystery/thriller genre. I have never read a book quite like it. I really enjoyed the alternating time lines and the weaving together of multiple women’s life stories all taking place in the same setting.
There are definite themes of feminism, feminine rage, and the negative and positive intricacies of female friendship.

This book kept me interested from the very beginning but I will say the true “thriller” aspects of the books did not pick up steam until around the 40% mark. After that point, I couldn’t stop listening!! The only reason I did not give this book five stars is the ending. The events of the last chapter were a bit hard to take for me. I’m sure that the last chapter will be met with mixed opinions. Either way, it came with a literally jaw-dropping shock factor, and I suppose that it was thrillers are all about.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think the plot and storyline were very unique. It was also nice to read a thriller with a beautiful, sunny setting. It added to the mysterious theme of dark and light, good and evil, etc. that was so present throughout the book. I will definitely be reaching for more books by Rachel Hawkins.

Thank you to MacMillan audio for the gifted audiobook of The Villa! This book has been my radar since announced and is set to be one of the best hits of 2023.

This story follows two story lines from different time periods that unfold simultaneously for the reader in a beautiful villa in Italy. There are two perspectives: Mary, a young aspiring author and her group of musicians and artists on a summer trip to the villa in the 1970s, and childhood best friends, now authors, Chess and Emily. Chess and Emily take a girl's trip to the villa and tensions build between them as they unravel that story of the famous murder that took place in the 70s.

I adored this book. First, it is a book about books, so as a bibliophile I loved reading from an author's perspective. I love reading about the thought process that goes into writing both books and songs. This was a truly fascinating and unique style of book that I devoured in two days. It was like Daisy Jones and Verity had a beautiful baby in Italy. I highly recommend this book to top your 2023 TBR!

* sidenote for MacMillan audio regarding the narrations - the narrators were fabulous! My only grip was Chess's inconsistent southern accent. I felt like it went in and out which maybe was a little more noticeable for someone from the American south. Overall, it was lovely!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC and audiobook.


Description from NetGalley:
As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and 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. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

I have read Reckless Girls by the same author, and I think I like this author. Reckless Girls was a 4 star for me and so is this latest book. We have a dual timeline going with both lines not being as strong on their own. I did enjoy how the two lines intermingled. I also fell for a few of the twists and reveals. Overall, it’s a very strong thriller.

Overall: 4/5

This book was addicting. I could not stop listening! I am a fan of Hawkins but this may be my favorite thriller of hers yet!

This jumps from present day with two bff writers (Emily a soon to be divorcee and Chess a free spirit ) in different genres who have a distant but close relationship. Chess invites Emily to join her at an Italian villa to jump start their writing and get over her ex. Then it alternates to the 1970s where two step sisters (Mari a writer and Lara an aspiring musician) and their musician love interests are at the same villa.

We quickly learn the villa was the location of a murder of a very popular musician in the 70s and present day it hides some of the dark secrets still.

Emily is constantly cautious of sharing too much with Chess their dynamic is a bit competitive which adds to the mystery.

Mari is a woman before her time free and young and a bit dark from her past and Lara is along for the ride to mirror everything her step sister does..including the sexuality. Their dynamic was turbulent but we see how events at the villa bond them more and their successes after that traumatic event is bitter sweet.

The flip flopping of the time frames was excellent and I loved the small bits of information and the pace at which we learn more. Hawkins has a way to get you super addicted to her stories with great pace and flow. The ending left me with one more surprise so just as you see it all come together there is a final curve ball.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book by this author that I have read. While not overly impressed by the story and it was just an okay story it was an easy one to listen to and read in a day.
This story follows two timelines one in present day and one in set in the 70s. Both timelines follow women who are being manipulated by men and other people in their lives. The story contained so much gaslighting and the main characters were so weak I was eye rolling for most of the story. The plot was definitely predictable and I guessed the twist/ending about 30% in.
However, I did find how the two stories intertwined to be entertaining. Overall I think I would recommend this story if you are looking for an easy book to read.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

Emily is not having a good year. She is in the middle of a messy divorce and she is months late in finishing her latest novel. So when her oldest friend Chess invites her to visit a villa in Italy, she jumps at the chance to escape. But this place has a dark history and Emily is eager to explore it. Pierce Sheldon’s infamous death here in 1974 sounds like the perfect subject for her new book, especially after Emily discovers his wife’s diary…
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What I Enjoyed: This book alternates between Emily’s perspective in the present day and Pierce’s wife’s perspective in 1974. The audiobook uses two different narrators, which I appreciated, as the shifts helped me feel more connected to both characters. The audiobook also incorporates fictional podcast episodes and excerpts from fictional tell-all books to help contextualize the speculation surrounding Pierce Sheldon’s death, which was really fun
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What I Didn’t Enjoy: I thought the revelations about Pierce’s death were predictable and I didn’t think the final twist was very compelling. The author also glosses over what I found to be the most interesting storyline in the present day, which was disappointing
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I recommend this book to fans of Rachel Hawkins and Ruth Ware. Though not consistently fast-paced, it includes elements of Gothic fiction and is suspenseful throughout.

Lovers of Julia Whelan will also love this audiobook, as she is one of the narrators!

Cozy mystery author Emily and self-help superstar Chess travel to gorgeous Italy in hopes to rekindle their friendship straining under the demands of, well, being adults. While there, Emily becomes enraptured with the story of Mari and Pierce and Noel and Lara and Johnny. Today, horror author, Mari and musician, Lara are infamous, but in 1974, they were just two ninteen-year-olds unsure of their place in the world and hanging on the coattails of two older men. One night at the villa goes horribly wrong and someone ends up dead. Back in Emily's world, she's spurned by Mari's story to start writing again after being grounded with writer's block. But is the story she wants to write the real story of what happened all those years ago?

I loved Mari's story and really enjoyed the obvious parallels to Mary and Percy Shelley. I would have loved to read a book about just that. I didn't care much for Emily and hated Chess, so that story fell flat on me. Unfortunately, I didn't like the ending of either Mari's story or Emily's. Emily's seemed rushed and like Hawkins was in a hurry to get it over with.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. The narration by Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell, and Shiromi Arserio really brought the story to life.

This story is written with dual timelines, as a book within a book. In present day, estranged friends Emily and Chess decide to rent an italian Villa to go on vacation together. Only it turns out that the villa was the site of a murder. And the second timeline is told as it is read to us by a book about the murders. Emily becomes obsessed with the murderer Mari, and her strained relationship with Chess starts to fall apart. Emily has also been ill, and her marriage to her husband Matt is barely hanging on.

Dual timelines don't always work, but I think it worked here, especially having two different narration styles for each timeline.

Overall an enjoyable 3.5 star read for me.

Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third Rachel Hawkins book and I’m definitely loving her style. Overall, I gave this 4 stars because the drama within the relationships just got to be too much and takeaway from the plot. I was not expecting the ending and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Rating: DNF (35%)

Yikes, this is another book that just did not work for me from this author. I don’t know what it is but I couldn’t connect to this story and was having a hard time paying attention. I really tried to give this one a fair chance but I ultimately ended up DNFing it. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was doing a good job but I still found myself zoning out due to the writing and pacing. The main character instantly annoyed me from the first chapter and I think that was the point? But either way, I couldn’t get past it. The pacing seemed to be going up and down. I don’t think this is a horrible book but it’s not a book I wanted to waste my time on. I know this author is very popular so I say give it a try if it sounds intriguing to you.

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the premise of this one, but the reality just didn't come through for me. The timeline from the past was not only confusing but was littered with SO MANY WORDS. The characters fell flat. Not my favorite Rachel Hawkins

The Villa was my second Rachel Hawkins book, and I liked it even more than her last! I was so drawn in to the mystery of the Villa and I loved the female leads in both the past and present storylines. The only complaint I had was the very end. I wanted more for the protagonist, but it was still a great story, and the men all got what they deserved, haha!

This was more of a 3.5 ⭐️ for me, but it gets the round up for telling a more audacious and tangly story than is typical of so many contemporary thrillers.

The Villa follows two timelines: a contemporary one about writers/best frenemies Emily and Chess, and another set in 1974 at the same Italian villa, where a group of famous/soon-to-be famous musicians and writers spend the summer before one of them is murdered. The stories start to intersect when Emily feels inspired to learn more and write about the other group’s stay to perhaps understand what really happened.

The fact that these double storylines exist makes this book a bit unwieldy—there’s a lot of story happening and it feels like it could have been more believable if the book were longer and thus allowed more time for these situations to develop. I found some of it to be predictable, which is often true in my experience of contemporary thrillers.

On the other hand, these stories’ various resolutions are less expected and likely to be frustrating to some readers (me included) in a way that I actually like. I don’t want to make a Gone Girl comparison, because nothing else is that good, but I think there are similarities in terms of probably frustrating your readers when the typical thriller resolutions don’t work out as expected. In my mind, the one thing to make this quality more believable would be a better understanding of why Emily and Chess are really friends since so much of what we see feels like they annoy each other. Regardless, I appreciate Rachel Hawkins’s effort to write something a bit dark that feels complicated rather than succinctly wrapped up by the novel’s conclusion.

I received a advanced copy of Villa. It was slow to start , for me. But then..... my goodness I couldn't stop listening. Some twists and shocking news along the plot.
Recommend.

Growing up Chess and Emily were best friends, but as the years progressed their friendship has waned. Emily has found herself stuck after her husband has left her and her next cozy mystery is way over due. When Chess storms into her life once again and suggests a summer to remember in a villa in Italy, Emily didn’t have to think very hard before making her decision. The villa ends up having a dark history and as Emily becomes more and more intrigued her cozy mystery suffers even more. As Emily digs deeper into the villas’s mysterious past, she decides to write about it, but Chess is interested too, will they be able to work together or will Chess take everything away from Emily. As the summer progresses things from their past come to light and, once again, the summer ends with a tragedy at the villa! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

Read/Listen If You Like:
🏰 Houses with Sordid Histories
⏳Past and Present Timelines
🧐 Unreliable Narrators
🇮🇹 Italian Settings
✌🏻Dual POV

My Thoughts:
I have seen reviews of this one of there are a lot of characters and that it could get confusing, but for me, I was able to keep things straight with knowing one POV was past, and one was present and that made things so much easier to track.

I loved the weaving of truth and lies, reliability and unreliability, past and present, writing and music, all around a mystery surrounding the villa and it’s sordid past.

I loved both timelines and how they were weaved to perfection that kept me wanting more, the way the ending was done was so satisfying as well for those that are okay with a little sprinkle of mystery still lingering.

Just remember… there are two sides to every story…

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for my ARC copies of this one!

I love a mystery with a good twist. As I listened, I was enjoying it, but wasn't thrilled... then the twist. I did not see that coming. What was a 3 star book turned into 4 in the end. Definitely worth a listen - I do think this one is likely better on audio.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This stunning book is told via the dual timeline….1974 and present. In the 1974 timeline, the residents of the villa are singing songs, drinking and taking drugs!! It is as a crazy atmosphere and bad things will happen!!

Fast forward to the present where we have Chess and Emily. They are both writers and have know each other since childhood. Chess is the more successful writer but it is Emily who decides that she wants to find out more bout what went on in 1974. What will she find out and how will it help her in the present day.???

Highly recommend this book to readers if Ruth Ware. I received an early audio copy.