Reviews with content warning for Miscarriage - The Villa

Emily is down on her luck and gets the chance to go to Italy with her best friend Chess. Emily has just found out her husband cheated on her and is now suing her for rights to the money she made off her book series. Chess is an uber-successful author of self-help books. She has been on talk shows and is well known everywhere.

When they get to Italy it becomes clear that the girls are more frenemies than best friends. They have been friends forever, but there is an imbalance in the relationship. In Italy Emily is inspired to right a true crime book based off the house they're staying in. Chess is seeing some writers block and wants to hop on the book with Emily. Why Emily would even consider this is beyond me. What could she possibly need from Chess in this situation besides the fans she already has?

In the other (and far more interesting) storyline we have a group of famous musicians on a vacation. There are a lot of drugs used and a lot of fighting and jealousy. Mari and Lara are 16-year-old girls (16!) that are staying and partying with the rockstars. Maris is also compelled by the house to write a book. Lara wants to be a musician in her own right. While the rock stars party, the girls balance between trying to mend their fight and jealousy. Turns out both girls are in love with Pierce (I don't have any idea why, probably because they're 16).

The storyline of the fighting, jealousy, and drug-fueled parties was by far more entertaining to me. I think that can happen in books with multiple timelines. One is generally more entertaining. Obviously, the fact that both Emily and Chess want to write about the part makes it more interesting.

Content Warnings

emmehooks's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

frenchvanillapowdercreamer's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The best book I’ve read so far this year. Fantastic.

Content Warnings

katymat18's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

poisoned_icecream's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

itsheyfay's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Content Warnings

vanella's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

ruthypoo2's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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? No

5.0

This is a very good story about the good and bad sides of relationships and the lengths for which people will go to protect themselves and others… and what price they may pay to guard their secrets. There are two women staying at an Italian vacation property for a working holiday and chance to reinvigorate their friendship. But this villa has a colorful history because of a murder that took place there decades earlier. The friends become fascinated with learning more about this murder that occurred in the midst of tensions among friends, created by passion and rivalry.

I loved the way the story unraveled over two timelines and multiple points of view to reveal what really happened at the Villa in the past, as well as how the modern-day friendship is being affected. All characters end up being more complex as the story progresses, and they’re thoughtfully written.

I enjoyed this book as a mixed genre of mystery and romance. The relationships were dynamic and fluid. Though not especially lovable, the characters were very interesting and quite unpredictable. The author, Rachel Hawkins, has written a twisty tale that had this reader guessing right up to the satisfying conclusion.

I listened to the audiobook and felt the narrators, Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell, and Shiromi Arserio, did a superb job creating distinctive voices for their respective characters. This is particularly helpful when the story jumps between differing timelines that both involve multiple personalities.

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