Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

98 reviews

emeraldelephant's review

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This just wasn’t it for me.  Not a fan of either storyline, was kinda bored and unsympathetic to both main characters.  
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danajoy's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Probably would've been 5 star if I didnt have to put it down in the middle of the climax.
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kindleandilluminate's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Another enthralling thriller from Rachel Hawkins! Toxic friendships, ambitious artists, the dark tension of infidelity and murder in the air... all of it told in two timelines, both set at a beautiful Italian villa, over the course of two different summers. 

Both storylines are relatively slow burn, with a heavy emphasis on atmosphere and the tensions between characters. The resemblance to the Shelleys and Lord Byron are pretty explicit, along with traces of Fleetwood Mac, and they work beautifully to weave this pair of entwined stories. I read it in a day, and definitely recommend to anyone who's ever wondered what Daisy Jones and the Six would be like as a thriller. 

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance review copy. 
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allisonplus's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Villa read like a modern gothic, with the atmosphere oppressive, foreboding, with a stunningly described setting that makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. Rachel Hawkins deftly explores complex friendships, toxic relationships, and creative tension in a way that was so engaging I just didn’t want to put it down. The twists had me absolutely gasping and the dual pov with shifting timelines just added to the dread and drama of each storyline. 

Honestly, this book made me want to go back to Italy so badly! The setting is so well-depicted, it filled me with so much nostalgia for the Italian countryside. I actually studied abroad in a neighbouring province (Arezzo) to Orvieto and I can attest to the landscape and architecture is as described in this novel. And the photo I used is actually one I took a decade ago while on that trip, but on the island of Capri. 

Thank you so much @stmartinspress and @netgalley for a gifted copy of this gem. I loved Reckless Girls by the same author, so I was delighted when my arc application was accepted for this one—and it did not disappoint! 

*A note on the reading format: I did read this book half as an ebook and half on audio, and while both formats were good, I think I preferred it in ebook form, as I wasn’t a huge fan of Mari’s narrator. That being said, Julia Whelan is one of the narrators in this cast, so for those of you who are a fan of hers, you might want to pick up the audio version based on that alone. 
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lightlessxo's review against another edition

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2.0

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yell4danielle's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Everything I love in a thriller. Tension, unlikable characters, 70’s, dual timeline, twist!! 
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readingwithcats's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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blueeyedshook's review

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4.0

Well that was delicious. Definitely my favorite of Rachel Hawkins thus far. The characters were perfectly flawed without absolutely despising them. And that can be difficult to do. Dare I say, it had low key Verity vibes. Nothing near as wild or crazy, and it wasn’t a “romance” at all—if you can call Verity that. But as far as the plot and the book of Mari’s and Emily reading it. And the TWIST at the end. I could have done without the Mari/Pierce/Noel  part (if you know, you know). But I thought the Emily and Chess relationship was so relatable to long term friendship dynamics so often turning sour (minus the huge fame). Great audio narration. All in all fantastic book with language and sex warnings).
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syellico's review

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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