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A review by hangyreads
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
4.0
*alexa play the white lotus theme song*
This was the first ARC I’ve received where I had already pre-ordered the book! I have loved “The wife upstairs”, and “reckless girls” and was so excited for this book when it was announced. Not to mention this was perfect to read after finishing The White Lotus.
The story follows Villa Aestas, the infamous location of a high profile murder from the 70s. While that in itself is enough for pop culture fame, two of the times greatest pieces of art came from the group staying there that summer, a novel and an album. In present day Emily, an cozy mystery writer has lost her inspiration to finish her series during her nasty divorce. When her childhood best friend, and much more successful self-help author, suggests they go to Italy for the summer it seems like the inspiration she needs. However, the mystery that actually sparks Emily to writing is that of what actually happened that summer in 1974.
I loved the juxtaposition of the two storylines throughout the book. We are following the difficult relationship of Emily and Chess which is not always the most straightforward, as well as the complicated relationship between step sisters Mari and Laura in the 70s. The end surprised me in the most surprising way. I think Hawkins crushed the nuance out of it and I loved it.
This was the first ARC I’ve received where I had already pre-ordered the book! I have loved “The wife upstairs”, and “reckless girls” and was so excited for this book when it was announced. Not to mention this was perfect to read after finishing The White Lotus.
The story follows Villa Aestas, the infamous location of a high profile murder from the 70s. While that in itself is enough for pop culture fame, two of the times greatest pieces of art came from the group staying there that summer, a novel and an album. In present day Emily, an cozy mystery writer has lost her inspiration to finish her series during her nasty divorce. When her childhood best friend, and much more successful self-help author, suggests they go to Italy for the summer it seems like the inspiration she needs. However, the mystery that actually sparks Emily to writing is that of what actually happened that summer in 1974.
I loved the juxtaposition of the two storylines throughout the book. We are following the difficult relationship of Emily and Chess which is not always the most straightforward, as well as the complicated relationship between step sisters Mari and Laura in the 70s. The end surprised me in the most surprising way. I think Hawkins crushed the nuance out of it and I loved it.