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theinstabookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Miscarriage and Suicide
Minor: Murder and Infidelity
amobrien's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a good mystery! I loved the way The Villa switched between narratives and how Emily's story complements Mari's. Aside from the mystery, this book does a great job of delving into the complex relationships and creating interesting and complete characters. The mystery itself was captivating and well-written. Overall, The Villa was a great read!
Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a good mystery! I loved the way The Villa switched between narratives and how Emily's story complements Mari's. Aside from the mystery, this book does a great job of delving into the complex relationships and creating interesting and complete characters. The mystery itself was captivating and well-written. Overall, The Villa was a great read!
Graphic: Infidelity and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide and Miscarriage
mrsmdavidson's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Infidelity
caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ARC Review
PUB Date: January 3, 2023
First off, this book is NOT a thriller because a thriller is a book about the fear of a future crime. The Villa is gothic suspense novel with a bit of a mystery thrown in. I rated The Villa three stars because it did what I wanted it to do, entertain me. I gave it another half star because I love atmospheric Gothic suspense novels. However, this was just a fun summer read. If you want top notch Gothic suspense, go read Daphne du Maurier.
LOVED:
• The book (Lilith Rising) and the folk music album (Aestas) created by the two female characters from the 70s felt so real. I wish I could read and listen to them.
• The Verity vibes. (Although this is nowhere near the mind fuck that book was.)
• I was transported to a villa in Italy for the summer. What’s not to love about that?
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
• The structure of the book can be confusing. In the same chapter we can be reading about the events in 1974, the current story, and a quote from a podcast or magazine article referring to the 1974 events. I really hope this gets fixed before the physical copy is published.
• I enjoyed the modern timeline, but it was wrapped up a little too quickly and conveniently.
PUB Date: January 3, 2023
First off, this book is NOT a thriller because a thriller is a book about the fear of a future crime. The Villa is gothic suspense novel with a bit of a mystery thrown in. I rated The Villa three stars because it did what I wanted it to do, entertain me. I gave it another half star because I love atmospheric Gothic suspense novels. However, this was just a fun summer read. If you want top notch Gothic suspense, go read Daphne du Maurier.
LOVED:
• The book (Lilith Rising) and the folk music album (Aestas) created by the two female characters from the 70s felt so real. I wish I could read and listen to them.
• The Verity vibes. (Although this is nowhere near the mind fuck that book was.)
• I was transported to a villa in Italy for the summer. What’s not to love about that?
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
• The structure of the book can be confusing. In the same chapter we can be reading about the events in 1974, the current story, and a quote from a podcast or magazine article referring to the 1974 events. I really hope this gets fixed before the physical copy is published.
• I enjoyed the modern timeline, but it was wrapped up a little too quickly and conveniently.
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, Cancer, and Death of parent
katieav's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: The novel The Villa gives the reader two stories, both of which are not what they seem. We have our present day writer who is down on her luck and spending more time with her best friend who she harbors some resentment for in one of the stories. The other focuses on a writer living in the 1970’s in the same house with a similar relationship with her sister.
The second I read the description of the novel I knew it was going to be interesting. I loved the parallel of Mari and Lara’s relationship compared to Emily and Chess’s. I could not stop reading I was so interested in finding out what happened. There were some points I found frustrating-especially everything to do with Matt, but the twist in the end will have me thinking about this novel for a very long time.
Summary: The novel The Villa gives the reader two stories, both of which are not what they seem. We have our present day writer who is down on her luck and spending more time with her best friend who she harbors some resentment for in one of the stories. The other focuses on a writer living in the 1970’s in the same house with a similar relationship with her sister.
The second I read the description of the novel I knew it was going to be interesting. I loved the parallel of Mari and Lara’s relationship compared to Emily and Chess’s. I could not stop reading I was so interested in finding out what happened. There were some points I found frustrating-especially everything to do with Matt, but the twist in the end will have me thinking about this novel for a very long time.
Graphic: Infidelity, Drug abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide and Miscarriage
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