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A review by erinrae
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
3.0
Part historical fiction, part tale of friendship, [b:The Villa|60784641|The Villa|Rachel Hawkins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651426717l/60784641._SY75_.jpg|95849425] is predictable at best and a wannabe [b:Daisy Jones & The Six|40597810|Daisy Jones & The Six|Taylor Jenkins Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580255154l/40597810._SY75_.jpg|61127102] at worst. The main issue I had with the book is it tried to do too much and just didn't go deep enough. For example, the book takes place in a (presumably) fabulous villa in Italy, yet the descriptions leave you wondering if it was actually a Motel 6. There's very little immersion into the setting which seems like a wasted opportunity, especially because the title itself is THE VILLA. Any descriptions of the little Italian town or the villa itself seem like the author did so under extreme duress.
Editors: "Can you show us more of the villa?"
Rachel Hawkins: *sighs audibly* "IF I MUST."
Same goes for the characters. The most interesting character is Mari from the 1974 storyline. The whole book should be about her, but then, of course, that would just be too, TOO similar to Daisy Jones.
I liked [b:The Villa|60784641|The Villa|Rachel Hawkins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651426717l/60784641._SY75_.jpg|95849425] only slightly more than [b:The Lost Apothecary|53288434|The Lost Apothecary|Sarah Penner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593013000l/53288434._SY75_.jpg|74516135]. The two books are very similar– a historical timeline with interesting characters intertwined with a current timeline with annoying, superficial, first-world-problem characters. I would not recommend either of these books.
Editors: "Can you show us more of the villa?"
Rachel Hawkins: *sighs audibly* "IF I MUST."
Same goes for the characters. The most interesting character is Mari from the 1974 storyline. The whole book should be about her, but then, of course, that would just be too, TOO similar to Daisy Jones.
I liked [b:The Villa|60784641|The Villa|Rachel Hawkins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1651426717l/60784641._SY75_.jpg|95849425] only slightly more than [b:The Lost Apothecary|53288434|The Lost Apothecary|Sarah Penner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593013000l/53288434._SY75_.jpg|74516135]. The two books are very similar– a historical timeline with interesting characters intertwined with a current timeline with annoying, superficial, first-world-problem characters. I would not recommend either of these books.