A Retreat You Won’t Soon Forget
ABOUT THE BOOK
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’s desperate to discover the truth and save herself.
A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller exploring the dark side of female friendships and fame, The Writing Retreat is the unputdownable debut novel from a compelling new talent.
- Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
- Publication Date: February 21, 2023
- Length: 320 pages
Thoughts From Others
“Darkly satirical and action-packed, The Writing Retreat brings a breath of fresh air to the locked room mystery. . . . The writing is flawless and the plot adeptly woven. An absolutely splendid debut!”
– Wendy Walker, nationally bestselling author of DON’T LOOK FOR ME
“The book’s pacing—a slow roll of dread and horror—is exceptional . . . A perfect winter night’s haunting.”
– Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“An audacious psychological thriller debut…Boldly drawn characters complement Bartz’s gleefully twisted plot….Sara Gran fans, take note.”
– Publishers Weekly
“Julia Bartz’s shrewd, suspenseful debut takes the typical writer’s anxieties and obsessions and transforms them into a pulse-pounding, impossible to put down thriller. THE WRITING RETREAT is bonkers in the best way, and it left me with a brutal case of author envy.”
– Layne Fargo, author of THEY NEVER LEARN
“A wild ride into the pressures of publishing that is equal parts nightmare and erotic fantasy as five would-be writers are pulled deeper into the secrets of Blackbriar and its inhabitants. In THE WRITING RETREAT, Julia Bartz captures the hunger to have our stories told and the desperate measures some will take to cut through the noise.”
– Jennifer Fawcett, author of BENEATH THE STAIRS
“THE WRITING RETREAT is a sexy, thrilling, compulsive mediation on art and competition amongst women who ought to be sisters, only something malignant gets in the way. I couldn’t put it down.”
– Sarah Langan, award-winning author of GOOD NEIGHBORS
“THE WRITING RETREAT will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists. A suspenseful story of ambition and envy, friendship and survival, this novel asks how high a price will one pay to achieve their dreams. THE WRITING RETREAT is the very definition of a page turner, and a remarkable debut from a gifted writer.”
– Kirthana Ramisetti, author of GMA Book Club pick DAVA SHASTRI’S LAST DAY
If you have trouble falling asleep at night, don’t plan on reading The Writing Retreat in the evening. Author Julia Bartz might have you either reading all night or not being able to fall asleep even after the book is closed.
In this debut novel, Alex is surprised when Roza Vallo, an author Alex has long admired, selects her to attend an elite writers’ retreat, The retreat is at the rural Adirondack estate of the well-known mystery novelist. If that isn’t exciting enough, at the end of the four-week retreat, one of the five female attendees will win a $1 million book deal.
But a few things at the retreat don’t sit well with Alex. The first noticeable problem is that her once best friend, now more of an adversary, is attending. That, however, becomes a minor concern when she begins to discover that her favorite author isn’t conducting a comfortable, cozy workshop. Unsettling events leave her wishing this estate wasn’t so isolated.
The characters are unique and fit perfectly into the story, though for a time, I became overloaded with meeting everyone at once.
My Concerns
- The explicit sexual element (lesbian sex scenes) felt forced and unnecessary.
- The story within a story verged on a concern.
- Some of the mystery is easy to guess.
- I felt like the story was going off track by including too much of this and that in an attempt to create twists.
Final Thoughts
My feelings are pulled in many directions regarding this story. While I had concerns, Bartz carried a beautiful element of dread and the unknown throughout.
As a debut novelist, she will be a name I will be watching.
My final thoughts: Read this book, but make sure you take a flashlight to bed with you.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy. I was free to express my feelings about the book without any stipulations.
Better than GOOD but didn’t make it to the top! — Since I didn’t start out using any 1/2 star ratings I found myself having to round up too many times from 3 to 4 stars. In doing this I felt it wasn’t reflecting my real opinion.
So in a weak moment, I decided enough was enough. Thus, the little half star was created.
This is a very good book that you’ll want to check out, but it missed the mark in a few places.
About The Author
Julia Bartz is a Brooklyn-based writer and practicing therapist. Her fiction writing has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. The Writing Retreat is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @JuliaBartz and Instagram at @JuliaBartz.
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