The Villa by Rachel Hawkins (2023)

If Daisy Jones and the Six was a thriller.
Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Plot: Authors Emily and Chess have been best friends since childhood, although Chess’s recent fame and Emily’s recent misfortune have caused them to grow apart. When the opportunity arises for them to spend the summer together writing at a beautiful Italian villa, they jump at the chance. Back in 1974, that same villa was rented out by a notorious rockstar and some of his friends. Two of the friends went on to produce a famous novel and a hit album, but one of them ended up dead. Is history doomed to repeat itself?
The Analysis: Inspired by stories of Fleetwood Mac, Mary Shelley, and the infamous Manson Murders, The Villa has a unique blend of historical inspiration. I love how author Rachel Hawkins blends these stories together, connecting them through events that take place at the villa in two different timelines.
The parallels between the events of 1974 and the present are certainly there, including themes about women’s agency and women’s relationships with other women. There is thoughtful commentary about competition between women and how they tend to blame each other rather than the men around them. The Villa explores how many stories reduce female characters to love interests, ignoring their own agency and goals. The book also features several sets of “frenemies”, friends on the surface that really don’t have each other’s backs and turn out to be closer to an enemy.
I was kind of obsessed with the idea of Lillith Rising, the fictional novel featured within the book. I would have loved to hear more about that story, but admittedly that may have been too much to include with everything else.
I wouldn’t call this book spooky or scary but there is a gothic vibe to it. It was suspenseful and dramatic and I just wanted to gobble it up. I’d highly recommend it to readers looking for a thriller with a unique inspiration and relevant themes.
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