A slow burn mystery with a few bursts of thriller. You can read this book during the day or at night all alone- nothing too scary- but you won’t be able to put it down.

Switching around from different perspectives keeps the story fresh as you embark on a horrible birthday weekend.

I’m a fan of Agatha Christie and am very judgmental of all mysteries, and this one worked for me. If you like a book you can’t stop reading, a crew of mildly awful people, and a gorgeous setting this book is for you.

I really enjoyed this thriller. It was hard to put down even though it was a slower burn for me with lots of family drama. Lots of really well written unlikeable characters in the book. You want to hate the spoiled Van Ness family but can't help getting wrapped up in the lies and scheming in the book. The setting of the family vineyard estate was a great place to set the story. I liked the storm trapping them there. It gave good creepy vibes and some good twists towards the end of the book . Highly recommend reading this.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book kept me on my toes and had such a satisfying ending that I let out a huge sigh as I read the last words. This book is a very good family drama that is very realistic in how it handles the family dynamic. The author does a fabulous job at painting each character and I, as the reader, can picture them perfectly in my mind. I would definitely recommend this book to a book club or any of my friends who like a good book about family drama. Thanks, Netgalley for my ARC because I really enjoyed this one!

While this story seemed somewhat a similar theme of many released in the last year, this one stood apart from all of the other “vacation trio gone wrong” thrillers and I loved it.

This was gifted by Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This is a classic, who done it style of story. Three different couples s out to spend three days in an isolated vacation getaway. They gather at their winery to have a joint birthday celebration, which is a tradition that they’ve spent most of their lives upholding. They are bringing a significant other with them. A Winery, a beautiful landscape and your siblings. What could go wrong? Of course, everybody has their secrets and intentions get high as the secrets start to slip out……some of them might even be deadly.

You know the style of book we’re talking about if you’ve read pretty much any isolated setting, locked room thriller mystery. This one wasn’t anything special, I found myself a little bit bored throughout the book. Rich people drama can be very interesting to me however, the writing style of this one just didn’t capture my attention. I think that if you are looking for a book like this one, there are better versions of it on the market. However, if you just want a light and easy read, and this is accessible to you, I don’t think it’s a waste of time.

The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski is a domestic thriller about family, wealth, and secrets. I was really looking forward to this book. I love a good locked room thriller. The book started so SLOW and didn't really pick up until about half way through. There were SO many characters and equally as many points of view and I found this confusing . I kept having to reread the passages to remember who was who.

There was definitely a lot of twists and turns and red herrings.

I wish the characters were fewer and better developed.

The Van Ness family and their spouses gathered at their sprawling estate for a weekend getaway as part of a joint birthday celebration. However, old grudges, secrets and a potential stalker turned their getaway into something far more sinister than they bargained for.

The Weekend Retreat was an bingeable domestic thriller with no shortage of family drama, lies and deceit. This book was a definite slow burn that picked up at the 60% mark. While The Weekend Retreat was highly entertaining, the twists didn’t pack as much punch as I would have liked. With that being said, the author delivered a satisfying conclusion, which I loved. All in all, this was a great light thriller that could be easily read over a weekend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A copy of this review will be posted on my Instagram account (whats.amy.reading) the week of October 23, 2023.

Classic dysfunction family locked in a room & everyone has a secret

Who wouldn’t want to marry into a rich winery family??

Kind of popcorn thrillery - got through it quickly, but I wasn’t overly surprised by the secret reveals

3/5 starts publishes Dec 26!

This book just was not for me. It was hard to follow, and not engaging at all. I would like better character development.

What a thrilling ride! When family members decide to get together for a birthday celebration, things take a chilly turn! This book had so many twists and turns! Loved it!

I found this to be a pretty average thriller.
It was an easy read that had two major twists. One I really enjoyed and the other felt pretty obvious.
Overall the story just fell flat for me. This felt more mystery than thriller with the action taking place at the very end of the book.
This book really focuses on secrets slowly coming to light.
The story follows three couples away for the weekend.
Told in multiple povs by the three females, we see everyone is hiding a secret and not everyone will leave the weekend alive.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Weekend Retreat is a thriller about family, wealth, and secrets. The book starts slow and didn't reel me in immediately. The characters were unlikeable but I guess that's the point. There are many POVs and one is an unknown guest. There was a lot of red herrings and misdirection and I enjoy that. I'd recommend this book to others and will read the author's next one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Weekend Retreat is a great murder/mystery thriller with morally grey characters you would love to hate!

When the Van Ness family returns to their family home for the twins, Haper and Richard's birthday, it is business as usual, filled with competitive games and each other's secrets. Things take a turn for the worst when a storm leaves them stranded. Not only is there no way out, but it also seems that a certain party guest has found their way in to the Van Ness home ready to make the family pay. Gear up for this wild ride with different POVs and secrets around every corner.

I loved this book. I enjoyed the different POVs and learning everyone's secrets. The party guest was unsurprising, but I was more interested in everyone's secrets and how they seemed to be out for each other. Overall, I devoured this book. This is the first time I have read a book from this author, and it will not be the last.

The Weekend Retreat comes out on December 26th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read The Weekend Retreat. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I couldn't put this book down. One of the fastest books I've read. I would highly recommend it if you like thrillers! I can't wait to read more of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and harlequin for the ARC. All opinions are my own

⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5

A family winery in New York is the backdrop to this family relationship mystery. Twins Harper and Richard return to the family’s estate reluctantly to celebrate their 35th birthday. Elle, Richard’s wife has planned quite the celebration with old family gamesmanship. Brother Zach introduces his girlfriend to the family for the first time and Lauren is eager for their approval

After observing the tense relationships, Lauren isn’t as enamored of the van ness’. Harper appears self centered, her husband Lucas not quite devoted, Elle structured and rigid even Zach seems different shifty and petulant. Each seems to be hiding secret

The story is narrated by Elle Lauren Harper and The Party Guest The house seems the most intriguing and interesting character with its secret chambers and passages. Character development is ok; there’s not much depth to buy into what motivates them. We read what surfacely drives them but not a layered nuance of self.

The pacing movement is quick enough that one doesn’t become bored. The mystery isn’t so mysterious. The ending seemed a little too quickly wrapped up. Maybe one last secret would have added some extra flair. Perhaps add more importance to what Elle found. Also I finished a little confused about Elle and zack. All in all, a good read that I would recommend or purchase

This was a great one as I happen to love "un-lovable" characters! The Van Ness children (now adults) get together to celebrate birthdays at their lavish winery every year. This year Lauren is invited as she will be newly-engaged to one of the heirs, Zach and is anxious to meet the rest of his siblings. But there's also an un-named "Party Guest" in attendance and it's clear he/she is up to no good. So when there's a huge storm during the party and strange "gifts" begin arriving, tensions rise as the tone becomes ominous. Told from alternating perspectives, the novel has so many twists and turns that I had to take notes! But it's always a treat to never guess the ending and who the "bad guy" is so I thoroughly enjoyed this!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

First time reading this author. Great read, loved the characters (even the unlikable ones) . Kept me reading and guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishings for allowing me to read this advanced copy of The Weekend Retreat!

This twisty thriller had love triangles, wealthy family secrets, identity fraud and more!

The Van Ness family has a lot of issues! Richard, Harper and Zach return to the Van Ness Vineyard with their partners for a birthday celebration. They all have secret motives for returning to the Van Ness mansion but an unknown guest kept the pages turning for me!

Every year it has been a tradition that the birthdays of the Van Ness children, have been weekend extravaganza and held at their family vineyard. Six months ago, the matriarch of the family Katrina Van Ness passed away and now it is time for the oldest twins' birthday Richard and Harper. They are turning 35 years old. Elle - Richard's wife has tried to recreate the birthday events that Katrina was famous for, Harper- reluctantly attends with her husband Lucas and the youngest Zach is about to introduce his new girlfriend Lauren to the family. Lauren is nervous as she doesn't come from the world of wealth like the Van Ness's. The thing though is that this adventure will end in broken hearts and even death as the weekend's events end up opening up raw wounds, dark secrets, lies, and even betrayals. The Van Ness fortune has been built on lies and traces back to an event that happened in the early/mid 70's in Monte Carlo. The weekend will be filled with a series of games, that will reveal dark intentions and catch the Van Ness's in lies as if they aren't careful - everyone's masks including Elle's, Lucas and Lauren's may slip revealing their ulterior motives for being part of the weekend festivities. If you are looking for a good family thriller then check out The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski. I have to admit reading books like this, makes you sit back and wonder if is it worth being wealthy as it does seem like a lot of work and all you do is spend time walking on eggshells and you never are quite happy.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was easy to read; the short chapters keep the book moving at a fast pace. I will definitely read more from this author!