Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

34 reviews

annaonthepage's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Classism

mariella02's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

So coming from someone that has only ever read two thriller novels, this isn't at all what I think of when I think of the genre.
It reads more like a literary fiction book, especially in the past time line.

Contrary to most other reviews I've seen I actually really liked the 1974 timeline, for a lot of the book I actually found the group and their dynamics more compelling than Chess and Emily.
I'm actually really impressed by how much character work Rachel Hawkins was able to fit into this relatively short novel.

The mystery aspect of this book didn't feel too mysterious to me, hence my verdict that this read more like a literary novel. I never felt compelled to figure out what really happened and for the most part was able to guess where the story would go. Still I enjoyed seeing it unfold on the page.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Abortion, and Alcohol

charlotte_37's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Bullying, Miscarriage, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

tdawgg07's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

A brilliant blend of a fun summer read about friendship with a dark and winding mystery, this book seamlessly combines themes of art and history with a twisty mystery in an idyllic, summery setting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Blood

Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

lialovesreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

chanlo1994's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, and Vomit

Minor: Miscarriage

Loved the twists

tierraskye's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Abortion

nursestern's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book was twisty and captivating, I enjoyed the relationship dynamics between Chess and Em. I also enjoyed the similarities between their friendship and the relationship of Lara and Mari. The deeply interwoven tale of the residents of Villa Aestas will have you on the edge of your seat, devouring every detail as you try to piece the puzzles together. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug use, Suicide, Murder, and Alcohol

staceen's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

It took me a minute to get into the 70s plot, but once I did, I flew through this book. A fun thriller that I thought was really different. I was a little surprised by some of the author's choices, but not mad. 

For example, Matt actually wasn't poisoning Em, Chess was telling the truth about only sleeping with him once, and are we not going to address the fact that Chess stole Em's book and wanted to take credit with her agent? I did love Mari's last secret at the very end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity

wrestleacademic's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

It would’ve been a higher star rating without Mari’s final diary entry that to me undermined the whole narrative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infertility, Suicide, and Vomit