Scan barcode
kari_f's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sometimes a book hits at exactly the right time and it’s just what you needed, and I think that was The Villa for me. It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller, and this one had a really fun blend of intrigue, drama, and historical fiction. Set at an Italian Villa, the book is told through three interwoven threads: one in the present, where two author frenemies are writing for the summer; one in the past, where a group of young musical and literary artists experience a tragic event; and one, inside the novel of one of the people in the past timeline.
While I saw the twists and turns coming a mile (kilometer?) away, I enjoyed the journey and thought the different timelines were written in an engaging and entertaining way. It wasn’t as thrilling as many high-stakes-murder-mysteries often are, but I actually liked that we got more story in place of the intense “someone is going to die soon” suspense. While I didn’t necessarily agree with many (most) of the characters’ choices, they made sense in the scope of this world.
This is my favorite book from Hawkins so far, and I’d recommend it if you’re a fan of dramatic mystery/thrillers with historical fiction (especially when it comes to writers and musical artists) elements!
*Note: the edition I had was the audio, and I quite enjoyed that each timeline had its own narrator. Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell, and Shiromi Arserio did a fabulous job on the narration!
Thanks again to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listeners edition
While I saw the twists and turns coming a mile (kilometer?) away, I enjoyed the journey and thought the different timelines were written in an engaging and entertaining way. It wasn’t as thrilling as many high-stakes-murder-mysteries often are, but I actually liked that we got more story in place of the intense “someone is going to die soon” suspense. While I didn’t necessarily agree with many (most) of the characters’ choices, they made sense in the scope of this world.
This is my favorite book from Hawkins so far, and I’d recommend it if you’re a fan of dramatic mystery/thrillers with historical fiction (especially when it comes to writers and musical artists) elements!
*Note: the edition I had was the audio, and I quite enjoyed that each timeline had its own narrator. Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell, and Shiromi Arserio did a fabulous job on the narration!
Thanks again to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listeners edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Drug use
Moderate: Murder
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.
Content Warnings
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
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
This was a stay up until 2am and read the book in one sitting book. By far my favorite Rachel Hawkins work yet.
A house with a creepy history? Check
A back and forth viewpoint between past and present? Check
Morally ambiguous characters? Check
Great read, especially for fans of Kate Morton.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
A house with a creepy history? Check
A back and forth viewpoint between past and present? Check
Morally ambiguous characters? Check
Great read, especially for fans of Kate Morton.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
More...