This was a delightful and soapy family drama thriller. I enjoyed all these characters and the story. I am such a fan of people being trapped in an old house due to an impending storm. It’s my favorite type of thriller.

I wanted to really love this one but it was predictable. I feel like if you are just starting to read thrillers you may enjoy this one. It was entertaining because there was a lot of drama and mess lol

🍷🍾Book Review:
Title: The Weekend Retreat
Author: Tara Laskowski
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

The Van Ness siblings are coming together to celebrate the 35th birthdays of twins Harper and Richard. Three couples, the families' remote luxury winery, a big storm, what could possibly go wrong? Raised by a manipulative mother, Katrina, it seems the apples don't fall far from the tree in this family. Resentments, secrets, and a lot of alcohol consumption swirl into quite the first impression for Lauren Brady, who is dating Zach Van Ness, the third sibling. Talk about intimidating! Then, a secret party guest arrives, and mysterious gifts start to show up. This is definitely a birthday celebration to remember. This book was pretty good, not a favorite, but it kept me engaged.

Published: December 26th, 2023

Thank you, @netgalley and @graydonhousebooks, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Weekend Retreat" by Tara Laskowski is a gripping psychological thriller that was released on December 26, 2023. This novel expertly blends elements of Agatha Christie-style locked room mysteries with the drama of wealthy families reminiscent of "Succession".
The story revolves around the Van Ness siblings, heirs to a copper fortune, who gather at their luxury winery estate for their annual joint birthday celebration. What should be a lavish escape quickly devolves into a tense and deadly affair as old tensions resurface and secrets threaten to destroy relationships.
Laskowski's writing shines in her ability to craft complex, flawed characters that readers love to hate. The author deftly balances multiple perspectives, primarily focusing on the female characters and an mysterious "Party Guest," whose identity adds an extra layer of suspense to the narrative.
The novel's structure and pacing are particularly noteworthy. Short chapters and alternating viewpoints keep the story moving at a brisk pace, making it a true page-turner. Laskowski's vivid descriptions of the winery setting create an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the overall sense of unease and impending doom.
While some readers found the characters unlikeable and the plot somewhat predictable, many praised the book for its entertainment value and ability to keep them engaged throughout. The author's skill in slowly revealing secrets and building tension culminates in a satisfying, if not entirely surprising, conclusion.
"The Weekend Retreat" showcases Laskowski's growth as a novelist, following her award-winning debut "One Night Gone" and her well-received second novel "The Mother Next Door". For fans of domestic thrillers and stories about wealthy families behaving badly, this book offers a perfect blend of suspense, drama, and dark humor.
In conclusion, "The Weekend Retreat" is a solid addition to the psychological thriller genre, offering readers an engrossing escape into a world of luxury, secrets, and deadly consequences.

I really enjoyed this one! It was a solid thriller that kept me guessing the whole time, although with the limited amount of characters it was not that difficult to figure out who did it.

This book was hard to get into (maybe because the characters were so out of touch?) but the twists and development was great! I was a little disappointed by who died (it felt very safe), but overall enjoyed the read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I loved this one. Initially I was wondering how this would be different from other thrillers about a rich family away for a weekend. It was so satisfying! I loved peeling the layers back on the Van Ness family, their partners, and the motivations. It was full of twists and turns and I loved seeing how the stories were woven together. I was so curious who the party guest was, and I thought it was well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to round this up to 4 starts since it was sort of a 3.5 for me. It looks like these locked room mysteries are still a huge trend in the book world. One of the things I like about them, is they really grab you right from the beginning. Same with The Weekend Retreat.
The "family" that is the center of the book, starts out as a normal family celebrating birthdays in their traditionally way,

Its weird because the dynamics of the family are pretty much comparable to other family mysteries. We have the golden child (Zach) and then his older brother and sister Richard and Harper (who are twins) so right away that sets the family dynamic. The fact that Zach has a fiance Lauren has added a little bit of tension to the story.

So I liked the book....I really did. The characters however, meh. I could take them or leave them. This book was just that for me, a good/decent book.

Thriller or just plan family drama? Who cares, we love it all and are here for it! I love this author and she didn’t disappoint. TBR!


Thanks Netgalley for this advanced readers copy

For the most part I thought this was an excellent read. It was slightly predictable and took a little bit to get into but it was a solid read none the less. There were a lot of characters and I struggled a bit with remembering who was who which took away some enjoyment from the book. None of the characters were likeable but it made sense for plot the author was going for. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I has at least one character that was likeable. Overall I would still recommend this book to my friends.

Van Ness Family have arrived at the family estate to celebrate a birthday. When everyone arrives they are hiding something When the weekend ends not everyone will survive. There is violence inside the house and a violent storms rages outside cutting them off from help. The story moves along at a quick pace as more and more secrets are unveiled. It is a fun beach read with wealthy people acting badly.

This book had me easily with the above synopsis and the added bonus of a torrential rainstorm isolating these couples further. What more could you want? I was instantly intrigued. The book starts with the reader learning that things have gone very wrong and that someone or multiple individuals are dead. We aren't told who or any other specifics but the book goes from there. This is one of those fun books where really none of the characters were very likable. The pull for me though was learning exactly what had happened over the weekend and the whys behind it all. I thought that this book was an easy one to lose myself in. It was suspenseful and a very quick read. I especially liked the chapters from an unknown point of view because they added an extra layer of suspense. The ending wasn't too surprising but it worked for me overall. This is my second book by this author but it definitely won't be my last!!

Readers who enjoy suspenseful reads and those who are looking for a mystery perfect to be read on the beach or during the dog days of summer should pick this book up. If you enjoyed The Search Party by Hannah Richell then definitely give this one a try - I feel like this is a good comp. Four stars overall.

I really enjoyed this book so much I ended up buying a physical copy of it after I read this on Netgalley. I highly recommend reading this. The plot was everything. I gave this 5 stars.

Summary:

The wealthy VanNess family couldn’t be more dysfunctional. Twins, Richard and Harper, are having a 35th birthday party at their family vineyard.

My Thoughts:

Pretty predictable domestic drama with a locked room mystery thrown in. The characters switch point of view for each chapter, with one character being anonymous until close to the end. The characters are all unlikeable, and the ending made me dislike them even more! I enjoyed the descriptions of the home and the vineyard where they were for the weekend.

I would give this 3/5 stars.

Lauren and Zach are visiting his childhood home to celebrate the birthday of his older siblings. It's tradition. Every year, the illustrious Van Ness siblings—heirs to a copper fortune—gather at their luxury winery estate for a joint birthday celebration. It's a tradition they've followed nearly all their lives, and now they are back with their significant others for a much-needed weekend of rest and relaxation, away from the public spotlight.

With lavish comforts, gorgeous scenery, and indulgent drinking, the trip should be the perfect escape. But it soon becomes clear that even a remote idyllic getaway can’t keep out the problems simmering in each of their lives. As old tensions are reignited, the three couples are pushed to the edge. Will their secrets destroy them, or will they destroy each other first? And who’s been watching them from beyond the vineyard gates?

When a torrential rainstorm hits, plunging them into darkness, the answers prove all too deadly…

A good mystery with limited suspects.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Every year, the Van Ness family gathers at their boujee winery for a birthday celebration. This year, they bring along their significant others. When they have nothing to do but confront each other, past issues soon come racing back to the surface and the seemingly perfect family proves that they’re anything but idyllic.

I really enjoyed this one, but I’m a big fan of messy and dramatic stories. This isn’t groundbreaking literature, but if your idea of a good time is to read about relatives spilling each other’s tea for a few hours, this book is perfect for that. The ending was satisfying enough. Clearly the best time for me was the dramatic middle. 😂

Not my favorite book from this author but it still had a number of good twists and turns! Some of the characters were quite annoying and shallow.

2.5 Stars

This felt more dysfunctional family drama than mystery-thriller, although there are plenty of secrets to lend toward suspense. I was curious who the identity of “The Party Guest” was, but with limited characters, it’s not hard to figure it out.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

**Review of "The Weekend Retreat" by Tara Laskowski**

Tara Laskowski's "The Weekend Retreat" is an intriguing thriller that mostly delivers on creating a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere ideal for a story of suspense and mystery. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly serene cabin retreat, Laskowski plots a narrative that cleverly plays on the fears and secrets of her characters, making for some compelling psychological drama.

The book's strength lies in its setting and the initial setup, which are both well-crafted and effective in hooking the reader’s interest. Laskowski uses the isolated cabin and the surrounding wilderness to great effect, building a sense of impending doom that keeps the pages turning.

However, the novel does suffer from some pitfalls. The character development is uneven, with some of the retreat’s attendees feeling more like stereotypes than fully fleshed-out individuals. This sometimes makes their decisions and revelations less impactful than they could be. Moreover, the plot, while initially engaging, tends to meander midway through the book. Some twists and turns can feel forced or predictable, detracting from the suspense.

The resolution also leaves something to be desired; it wraps up the myriad threads a little too neatly and quickly, which might leave readers feeling unsatisfied after the build-up of such intense suspense.

Overall, "The Weekend Retreat" is a solid read with a great premise and setting that might appeal to fans of psychological thrillers. It earns a respectable three stars for managing to create a gripping atmosphere and some genuinely suspenseful moments, even if it doesn't always maintain its momentum.