Book Review: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

 

Book: The Writing Retreat 

Author: Julia Bartz 

Pages: 320 

Read on: Kindle 

Read in: 3 hours 

Plot Summary: Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.

But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate.

Things I Liked: 

1. The premise of this book was interesting and had all the elements of the slasher-horror genre that I usually tend to enjoy- a ragtag group of people, stuck in the middle of nowhere, mysterious background of the house where the retreat is happening and the writers start disappearing! What is not to like? 

2. Alex and her ex-BFF (best friend forever), Wren, are both at the same writing retreat and the book also delves into their frayed dynamic and we get to see their past and what led to them no longer being friends. So, that aspect of the book was nice as well.

3. The house where the retreat happens has a murky past. The original owners of the house died under mysterious circumstances and the owner's wife was supposed to have been communing with a demon called Lamia. So, it is believed that Lamia still haunts the mansion and when the first writer disappears, there are people in the house, who believe there is a supernatural element behind her disappearance. 

4. The book is quite fast-paced and makes for a quick read. 

Things I Didn't Like: 

1. The big reveal is quite obvious. I mean, you almost think that this can't be it, right? So, that was a bit disappointing! 

2. Also, the events towards the end of the book cross all boundaries of plausibility! I mean, some of the things that happen are so ridiculous and 'out there' and it doesn't work at all! 

3. There are several female characters but none of them are built up or sketched out sufficiently. There is little to no character development and you feel you don't get to know these women at all! It is very superficial and surface-level character descriptions rather than letting us get to know, at least, a couple of these characters. 

Rating: 2/5 

This is a very hyped up book and is being recommended all over social media! I don’t know why?! 

This book is really awful and is a total waste of time and money! Stay away!