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The Writing Retreat
The Writing Retreat: A Novel | Julia Bartz
The Plot meets Please Join Us in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writers retreat that descends into a nightmare. 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 doesnt dampen her excitement. But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshellthey 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 Rozas erratic behavior, Wrens 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, shes 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.
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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

This was an absolutely bonkers mystery thriller about a famous author who hosts a writing retreat with a big reward - the winner gets their story published. I had to suspend my disbelief to truly enjoy this, which I did. If you don‘t like when things get really weird and implausible in your thrillers, I would not recommend. However, if you don‘t mind a bonkers unique story, I would recommend! 3.5⭐️
#bookspinbingo 2 bingos!

CBee I agree it was totally bonkers and I was there for it 😂 3d
Nessavamusic @CBee I was prepared for it which allowed me to enjoy it, I can see why it isn‘t everyone‘s cup of tea 3d
Alfoster Yep! Loved it too! 3d
See All 6 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Sometimes a little crazy just hits the spot 😂 2d
Nessavamusic @TheAromaofBooks absolutely! This has been such a meh reading month a little crazy was refreshing 2d
37 likes6 comments
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Branwen
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Oh my! 😱 Well, that's definitely a good way to start the book and grab your reader's attention! 😂

Hooked_on_books I love a first line that grabs you by the collar and yanks you straight into the book! 4d
Clare-Dragonfly For better or for worse! 😂 4d
43 likes1 stack add3 comments
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batsy
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Pickpick

The negative reviews had me anticipating a bananapants book. Like a less literary, locked room Bunny crossed with the wackiness of Behind Her Eyes. Sadly, while I did find this entertaining & I kept turning the pages saying, "She did WHAT now", I wish the author had taken it a notch higher & gone wild. I got a kick out of the skewering of the publishing industry & writerly egos though. Silly yet entertaining. Leave your little grey cells behind ?

81 likes1 stack add
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Branwen
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YES!!! Look what hold came in for me today! 🎉🎉🎉

45 likes1 stack add
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Eggs
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Panpan

Where do I begin? The synopsis sounded pretty good, but it was just cray-cray cracker-pants. The plot the characters, the writing, the ending !😣

#Pantone2023
#MarvellousMarchReadathon Day 7
#MarchMadnessReadathon Day 10

DieAReader 😬Great finish nonetheless!🥳🥳🥳 2w
Laughterhp I picked this up when I first got it for BOTM, but the MC was a bit annoying to me, so I only read like 20 pages. 2w
Andrew65 That‘s not good 😔 2w
See All 7 Comments
Eggs @DieAReader Thank You 😊 2w
Eggs @Laughterhp Almost all of the characters were annoying 🙁 2w
Eggs @Andrew65 🤷‍♀️🙁 2w
Laughterhp Hmm good to know. Maybe I‘ll just avoid this one all together. 2w
65 likes7 comments
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she.hearts.horror
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Panpan

What an unfortunate book. 😐

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BBooks
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Horrible. The narration is okay. SO DISAPPOINTING 😫

she.hearts.horror It‘s awful🙁 3w
7 likes1 stack add1 comment
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lynneamch
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Here's a book from each of our TBRs to add to the mix for#lmpbc @shellleigh33 @BookishPiper @smalldogs_bigbooks2419

shellleigh33 They all sound good but my first pick would be A Little Life 4w
smalldogs_bigbooks2419 Women Talking is on my TBR. Summer Hours also sounds good. 4w
BookishPiper My first would be Summer Hours. Women Talking sounds pretty good as well. 4w
lynneamch Looking at our responses, how about this? @smalldogs_bigbooks2419 starts Book Haters @shellleigh33 starts Lessons in Chemistry. @lynneamch starts Women Talking @BookishPiper starts Summer Hours unless you'd like something else 4w
BookishPiper I'll be putting up a post with my picks when I get home from work this afternoon. 4w
30 likes5 comments
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HollyBolly
Panpan

Very weird! I think it was just not for me.

she.hearts.horror It‘s not for anyone😭 3w
23 likes1 comment
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EatSleepRead
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Panpan

This was a dumpster fire. So bad. 🤣 The characters were the worst, the writing sub-par, and the plot was ridiculous. I'm pretty annoyed I gave this author any support financially.

she.hearts.horror Yes!!! 🫠 3w
19 likes1 comment
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alecia3dixie
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Panpan

Nope. Didn't like this one. It started off slow, but was keeping me intrigued, it took half the book for anything to start happening. And once it did, it all just unraveled for me. I felt like this author pushed things too far sometimes. There were some things said and done in this book that just wasn't okay with me. The author pushed the envelope to get some reactions, but for me, it was in bad taste. 1.5/5

she.hearts.horror It was 🫠 3w
14 likes1 comment
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swishandflick
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Pickpick

This is one of those outrageously improbable thrillers, that also manages to be twisty and entertaining at the same time. Not a book that will stick in my head for long, but it certainly made for an enjoyable, quick, wild ride. I've also been SO distracted by all of my library holds thay it felt good to check something off of my #BOTM backlist.

PS: Why is it sometimes so EASY to ignore the books you actually paid for?!

BkClubCare The essential question. 1mo
dabbe Da sweet, sweet kitty! ❣️🐾❣️ 1mo
swishandflick @BkClubCare I know right!!! 4w
swishandflick @dabbe She's a trip. Ever since I got home from vacation (two weeks ago now) she's been stuck to me like glue and HAS to be in the same room 😹 4w
dabbe @swishandflick She's stayin' close to her mama! ❣️🐾❣️ 4w
111 likes1 stack add5 comments
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TamTracy
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Mehso-so

This was not what I expected when I started this book. I was intrigued and it kept me wanting to read but it took a couple turns I wish had gone a different direction. That‘s not always a bad thing because it keeps me on my toes and not knowing what‘s coming next. This was definitely the case with this book. Unfortunately I feel like even though I enjoyed the book while reading it I think it‘s going to be one that‘s not very memorable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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TheBookStacker
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Pickpick

I finished this in one day. It‘s been awhile since I got wrapped up in anything and it was quite nice. #botm

47 likes2 stack adds
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Suelizbeth
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Pickpick

A writing retreat as the basis for a mystery/thriller? Seems unlikely and that‘s why it works. I don‘t want to give anything away, but nothing is what it seems. And is it over the top to add in a ghost? Apparently not! It all meshes together for a really good story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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HOTPock3tt
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Mehso-so

Book #2 from #Auldlangspine
I didn‘t love this one nearly as much as my original auldlangspine pick.. The dual storylines felt a bit forced and I didn‘t like ANY of the characters. Maybe it was the fact that this is definitely not a favorite genre for me. I guess I was pulled in by the fact that it was about books 😕

HOTPock3tt Although this one wasn‘t the book for me, there lots of other books from @mcipher amazing list that I plan on trying as soon as I get my hands on them from the library!! 😎 1mo
monalyisha Good attitude! Fun cover, too. Bummer! 1mo
mcipher Awww too bad! But it happens, right? We can‘t all agree on everything…. 😎 Though I def agree on the unlikeable characters in this one! 1mo
35 likes3 comments
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CBee
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Pickpick

Welp, this was kind of bonkers but I ended up loving it 😂 Seemed a bit “trope-y” at first, and okay, maybe the locked room mystery is a bit overdone…. but for a debut novel, it worked. This fits #booked2023 #newin2023 AND #pantone2023 #andeantoucan 😊😊😊

Megabooks I hope my library gets this! 1mo
CBee @Megabooks I hope so and hope you enjoy! I love thrillers because they provide escape and I need that lately - this fit the bill! 1mo
Cinfhen Perfect color match 🙌🏻 1mo
See All 10 Comments
CBee @Cinfhen super lucky with that one! 😊 1mo
Clwojick Perfect match! Way to go! 1mo
batsy I have this on my list! Sounds fun 😆 1mo
Librariana You're doing so good on your Pantone matches! Wayttago, sis! 🤩 4w
CBee @Librariana thanks, sis! How‘ve you been? Miss chatting with you on Mondays 😘 4w
Librariana @CBee I dearly miss our Manic Monday chats, too! 💕 I've been coming out of the fog of a VERY bad cold 🤧 which has lasted the better part of a week and now my husband is coming down with it as well 😟 So working on being a good nurse to him. Now I'm just trying to get back into some semblance of a reading life! 4w
CBee @Librariana oh yuck, so sorry!! Those are the pits. Hope you both feel better soon!! ♥️ 4w
71 likes10 comments
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KimmyM
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Pickpick

4⭐️
This book went off the rails in the best way for me, because it lived up to its building tension and weirdness and bad vibes with a reveal that was as bonkers as it needed to be to not fall flat for me.
This was definitely a favourite last year when I read an advance copy, and one that I will be recommending a lot this year!

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Mpcacher
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Pickpick

While I did not love this debut novel, there was enough to make me watch for more by this author. This thriller leaned slightly towards horror (not my favorite genre) but was still a fun, albeit slightly, crazy story. The speed of the events at the end had me finding it occasionally difficult to keep track of things, but the plot held together and kept me entertained. Someone wisely compared it to “Nine Perfect Strangers“ meets “The Plot“. 3.5/5

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angel1
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My Valentine knows the way to my heart isn't flowers or chocolate...I saw this book display a few weeks ago and told him I wanted him to make me one, well being the amazing man he is, he made it for my Valentine! He's the best!! And I love my new book shelf!😍❤️

marleed Very nice! 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Cute! 🏡 1mo
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Jemgirl2014
Mehso-so

This book was so fantastic until the ending happened and blew it all to hell. I hate when that happens! Meh. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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TripleS
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About halfway and I‘m hooked!!! #BOTM does it again!!!

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Breanne1
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Panpan

This book was absolutely absurd, and not in the right way. I almost did not finish it multiple times but finish it I did and boy…what a silly story.

HollyBolly Oh boy! I am in the middle of this right now... something to look forward to I guess. 🤷‍♀️ 1mo
20 likes1 comment
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HollyBolly
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#botm February's pick. Plus an add on that I am super excited about!

Beachesnbooks loooved The Space Between Worlds! 1mo
HollyBolly @Beachesnbooks I'm excited for that one! I've heard great things! 1mo
31 likes2 comments
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MotherOfCats
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My girls usually aren‘t on the bed with me at the same time. I just couldn‘t resist 😍 #BOTM #FebReads #CatsOfLitsy

16 likes1 stack add
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jackilynn
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Taking a break from my planned Romance reads (it is February after all) to dive into this thriller.

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Jemgirl2014
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They‘re here! A day before the estimated delivery window dates. Wow! I‘m starting on “The Writing Retreat” tonight! 😃

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TheBookStacker
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Wow that was fast! #botm

Jemgirl2014 I‘m getting mine today too! I‘m starting it tonight. 😃 2mo
40 likes1 comment
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MaleficentBookDragon
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What did everyone get for their #BOTM ?
I‘m excited about this one.

50 likes1 comment
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tjwill
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This seems exactly in my wheelhouse. I have an unnatural attraction towards thrillers set in a snowy secluded place. Add in a contest for a publishing deal and this seems like an amazing winter read.
February 2023 #botm

AmandaBlaze I chose this one, too. 2mo
MaleficentBookDragon Same here! It is my favorite trope right now. 2mo
tjwill @MaleficentBookDragon Do you have any favorites that you‘ve read? (edited) 2mo
37 likes3 comments
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LeslieO
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I almost forgot to pick my #BOTM . I always lean towards the mystery/thrillers.

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Erinsuereads
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So excited for this months #botm. What did you guys pick?

What did you pick for first reads? I'm not super thrilled with any of them so recommendations would be appreciated!

marleed I picked this one too! 2mo
Erinsuereads The author seems real nice too. She commented back on my post on insta and has a great feed! @marleed 2mo
tjwill I picked this too! I‘m excited for it! 2mo
57 likes3 comments
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DeeLew
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I came really close to picking the tagged book but I just couldn‘t get excited about any of them this month. I‘m trying to cut back on spending so I‘ll save my credit for next month.

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Nessavamusic
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Very excited about my #botm pick!

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BookwormAHN
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Here are my choices for #BOTM I'm most excited about The Last Take of the Flower Bride. What dd everyone else pick 😺

63 likes5 comments
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Beachesnbooks
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My #botm pick for Feb!

AmyG That would have been my choice but I skipped. I just have too much going on. (edited) 2mo
28 likes1 comment
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Breanne1
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February #botm picked!!!

17 likes1 stack add
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TheBookStacker
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#botm yes please. Need this box asap for this winter storm system coming through! Lots of time to catch up on reading.

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Jemgirl2014
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My February picks! I canceled my Audible preorder of “The Writing Retreat “ since I can get it a bit earlier through the BOTM club. “Georgie All Along” sounds cute. 😊

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Kappadeemom
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Just got this #ARC and it sounds like a great October read

39 likes2 stack adds
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Alfoster
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Pickpick

This is an awesomely creepy thriller with gothic and mythological undertones about a month-long retreat for writers. Hosted by a famous author, the novel focuses on the five women brought together for the sole purpose of writing and critiquing each other. Well, that‘s the surface story! Dig in and prepare to be gasping your way through. I absolutely loved it!
#NetGalley out 2/21/23

73 likes3 stack adds