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nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Grief, Toxic friendship, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Drug use, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism and Gore
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Sexual content
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
This one is split into two timelines—the past timeline (minus the murder) is inspired by Mary Shelley's life when she wrote Frankenstein and I love that for this story. I once again found the past more interesting than the present, with all the complicated relationships between the characters and a dramatic summer that we know ends in death. The present storyline was just okay, though it did get a lot more interesting once Emily actually arrived at the villa—and her and Chess's relationship became the focus. I liked that part, even though I'm not sure that I ended up liking either character lol.
I will say though, with this book being called The Villa, I expected the villa to actually play a more important role. A lot of times the location feels like its own character, but that did not happen here, which was a bit disappointing. The villa just happened to be the place where these things happened, rather than the *only* place where these things could happen.
The ending did not surprise me; I didn't guess it but once I read it, it just felt like the only ending. I do think it added to the story though, definitely mixed things up!
Thanks to Libro.fm, Macmillan Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Graphic: Infidelity, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Miscarriage
Minor: Suicide
emeraldelephant's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Drug use, Violence, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Miscarriage
kindleandilluminate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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.
Graphic: Child death, Murder, and Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Miscarriage
allisonplus's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Drug use and Alcoholism
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Chronic illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Blood, Drug use, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Terminal illness
mrsjoylovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
After reading the synopsis, I wasn’t sure if this was the kind of book that would appeal to me. I don’t read a lot of thrillers, but this dual timeline story that takes place in an Italian villa was pretty interesting. There are two POVs, Mary who was in the Villa Rosata in 1974 and Emily who is in the same villa, now named Villa Aestas in the present day, with her best friend, Chess. I found myself enjoying the 1974 timeline more, I guess because it has the allure of the 70s rock and roll attitude and love triangles. Emily & Chess weren’t characters I particularly cared for, but I think this was an intentional. This is a big assumption, but I feel like the author leaves clues throughout the story to explain some things that aren’t blatantly on the page. I finished this book around midnight and the next day, I couldn’t stop thinking about. I’ve read two of Rachel Hawkin’s previous thrillers, but this one is definitely different. In my opinion, it’s incredibly smart.
I have a lot of thoughts about this story, especially the ending, but they’re the kind of thoughts that can only be discussed with someone who’s also read the book. So, if you know anyone hosting a chat, lmk!
Minor: Drug use
readingwithcats's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage
syellico's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Drug use, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Murder, Death, Infidelity, Child death, Alcohol, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Violence
boundbywords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Told in alternating timelines between 1974 and present day, we hear from the perspectives of two women reclaiming their power, going for (literary) gold, and exploring the parameters of some seriously unstable relationships. Add in Rachel's incredible ability to create a perfect tension-filled scene, and you've got yourself your first read for January 2023.
Fun tidbit: The Villa is "inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein"!!
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♡Huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for approving the egalley for review!
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Death, and Infidelity