Scan barcode
thecriticalreader's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Why I Read It: I chose The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz for my February Book of the Month Club pick.
Review:
Although I am not a huge fan of mysteries/psychological thrillers—I almost always find their endings unsatisfying—I still wanted to read The Writing Retreat because I found the premise intriguing. Since I went in with low expectations, I found myself pleasantly surprised while reading the first part of the book. It is well-written, the atmosphere and scenario are sufficiently spooky, and the relationships between the writers on the retreat (as well as Roza Vallo) are fascinating. The main character, Alex, is not as interesting as her fellow writers, but I could appreciate the complex dynamics between her and her former best friend, Wren.
During the buildup to the book’s climax, I only had a couple of minor complaints. For one, there are a couple of unnecessary sex scenes (one of which is nonconsensual) that do not add anything to the plot or character development. I also did not enjoy the passages of the book that are excerpts from the novel Alex is writing on the retreat. I found them boring, unnecessary, and quite poorly written.
I knew that the book’s climax was probably not going to satisfy me, and I was correct on that front. The ending is over-the-top in a way that made me roll my eyes, although luckily it is not too needlessly complicated. The biggest disappointment for me was that Bartz seems to abandon the fascinating storyline about Wren and Alex’s breakup as soon as Roza’s evil plan is revealed. I was hoping that the book would have something meaningful to say about the dynamics of friendship, queerness, and friendship breakups, but instead Wren and Alex made up in about two paragraphs with some hasty apologies and the issue is never explored any further. Without that thread to keep me interested, I found the ending to be boring, rushed, and slightly ludicrous.
The Run-Down:
You will probably like The Writing Retreat if:
· You like thrillers
· You want to read a book about the dynamics of relationships between women
· You are a writer
You might not like The Writing Retreat if:
· You have high expectations for thrillers
· You hope to gain some clarity, insight, or closure regarding friendship breakups
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Sexual content, Cursing, Blood, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery, Abandonment, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Confinement
More...