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A review by c0d3nam3qt
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
I will say the writing was very “read-able”. It wasn’t difficult to follow along and it wasn’t boring. I just really hated certain scenes and I didn’t feel like they were in the same tone as the other parts.
I looked up spoilers for this just to see how it ended and even though I only got half way, I totally guessed the main plot of the ending. I think I had guessed that after the first 25 pages.
It was so obvious to me how Rosa was actually going to steal the woman’s work and pass it off as her own, because of that scene at the beginning where she calls out that other author for stealing from his ex-girlfriend. It laid it on so thick to me. And how the mansion is so remote, there’s no cell service and the whole thing is so hush-hush, it was probably done before and she did this her whole career. That’s why it takes her so long to release a new book.
Also, why did Rosa like -I think- Taylor’s story pitch about a spooky situation in the Paris catacombs? I feel like that premise has been done to death. Rosa is supposed to want the best of the best?
It really bothered me about the dubious consent between Wren and Alex that happened in the past and that wasn’t even talked about in that way. And then the freaking hallway scene! It turned into a dark romance there for a minute and I did not sign up for that. I know it’s supposed to make you uncomfortable, but even if that’s the intention I don’t have to like it or want to read it. And no, it’s not because they are both women. I would have the same dislike if it had been a man and a woman.
And Alex couldn’t stop talking about her damn groin.
I looked up spoilers for this just to see how it ended and even though I only got half way, I totally guessed the main plot of the ending. I think I had guessed that after the first 25 pages.
Also, why did Rosa like -I think- Taylor’s story pitch about a spooky situation in the Paris catacombs? I feel like that premise has been done to death. Rosa is supposed to want the best of the best?
It really bothered me about the dubious consent between Wren and Alex that happened in the past and that wasn’t even talked about in that way. And then the freaking hallway scene! It turned into a dark romance there for a minute and I did not sign up for that. I know it’s supposed to make you uncomfortable, but even if that’s the intention I don’t have to like it or want to read it. And no, it’s not because they are both women. I would have the same dislike if it had been a man and a woman.
And Alex couldn’t stop talking about her damn groin.