Sharp and cutting, I tore through this in a day. Kelly takes a dark look at reality shows with a backdrop of suspense and isolation. It will make you think about the ethics of shows such as Love Island and Too Hot To Handle - maybe read with a copy of Jon Ronson's The Psychopath Test at hand.

My only criticism is that I didn't warm to Laura - one of two narrators - as much as I'd have liked to. Otherwise a very tight debut. Very 'of the moment'.

I really loved this book. It was like a really dark and creepy episode of Love Island. Well written and relatable and likeable characters. A brilliant story set in the crazy world of reality TV. Xxx

A thriller based on a reality television show sounded like something I would enjoy (I don’t know if I should admit to watching reality TV shows after reading this!). Laura, a journalist, ends up going undercover on The Villa, where full control is then passed over to the audience. What follows is shocking behaviour and tragedy. How did this happen?

This book was fast paced and entertaining from the start. I eagerly raced through this book and kept having to stop for breaths with some of the shocks and character’s behaviour I was reading. The character’s were well written even though they were mostly unlikeable. I found it clever how it all came together at the end and enjoyed all the twists and turns. This is a brilliant summer read and I will be encouraging everyone I know to go out an buy this! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advance copy.

Bestseller for the summer definitely! I can see this one being snapped up to pack into the suitcase or picked up from the airport. The perfect holiday read for the sunbed. Fabulous start which is so important, set the scene and ensured you kept reading. Its dark voyeurism will appeal to all those readers who love the reality tv shows but also the great writing, the twists and the characters will appeal to those who don't. Total escapism - loved it! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review copy.

Well I think it’s safe to say that I have absolutely devoured this book, I can’t remember the last thriller that had me quite as hooked, I spent the majority of the book thinking that the death wasn’t going to be as it appeared. You know when a book is leading you one way so you deliberately push the other way? Well this does that for you. I wasn’t quite expecting it to pan out quite how it did though and it was like everything just started to unravel as soon as we had the first reveal - and that was when the first 70% hadn’t felt chaotic enough, the drama was non stop from the very first pages.

I can’t say too much without giving the story and twists away but this had my blood pumping for all the right reasons! Even the final page had me questioning and doubting things - what if there’s some subliminal messaging inside… and we actually didn’t have the full truth… The seen has also been planted for a second book but only time will tell!

This book is great, it's unique in the sense that I haven't read anything like this but seen these type of programmes of things like Netflix. But to be in a book made you feel like you were apart of them and could sort of understand the feelings of the characters. A great book, with plenty of twist and turns

Whether you love or loathe reality TV shows like Love Island or the dating shows that seem to be dropping on an almost monthly basis on the likes of Netflix, The Villa takes you into that world with really interesting commentary on it.
It's definitely a page turner and I found the last act pretty surprising too.
I also liked the two different perspectives and timelines that we get as we, as readers, start to piece together what has happened and who has possibly been murdered.
You can see things starting to go very wrong but like the viewers, can't seem to look away.
I wasn't entirely sure if I was 100% behind Laura and her motivations, etc. Given how Matt had treated her, I didn't expect her to immediately get back together with him, which was frustrating even if it did feel realistic, given how she had behaved up until that point.
What I especially liked was the behind the scenes bits that we don't see as viewers of these reality shows. That was definitely intriguing.
I was definitely hooked from the very beginning and found it difficult to put down.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.1/5

It is likely that Ruth Kelly is a new name to most readers. It certainly was to me. However, she is already an experienced and award-winning journalist who has also been responsible for ghost-writing a number of Sunday Times bestsellers. Having read "The Villa" I am glad that Ruth Kelly is now publishing books under her own name. She is clearly a talented writer and she deserves the recognition to go alongside that ability.

"The Villa" is a thoroughly engaging, page-turner of a novel. Taking its inspiration from reality TV shows such as "Love Island", "The Villa" is set in a custom-built island resort, which is the location of a live-streamed TV show of the same name. A group of hand-selected, sexy, single men and women are hoping to meet their ideal match and become the couple that the watching public deem worthy of the £50,000 cash prize.

We learn almost straight away that something has gone awry with the show and that there has been a death - but we do not know the identity of the deceased nor the circumstances that led up to it. Alternating between the present time and historical flashbacks from various perspectives, the pieces of the jigsaw will gradually fit into place. The mystery element of the story is well handled by the author and this novel would be worthy of praise for that alone. However, "The Villa" has much more going for it than that.

The characterisation is well observed and depicted. Not only do we see the superficial veneers of the contestants, but the author also cleverly offers us insights into their more hidden depths. There are aspects of the story's development that could almost be based upon a Shakespearian tragedy, but with a modern reworking. The result is that there is frequently a voyeuristic sensation of watching a car crash happening frame by horrifying frame in front of our very eyes. In spite of its glamourous and glossy content, this novel makes some astute social observations along the way and poses questions about societal attitudes and motivations. Readers will almost certainly find that they are asking questions of themselves, too.

A thoroughly enjoyable novel that works extremely well on a variety of levels. I will be watching out for Ruth Kelly's next offering with eager anticipation.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Laura is a journalist working for a trashy paper. When her editor hears about a new reality show, he’s adamant she gets in and gets the scoop. Side note, he is married and currently having an affair with Laura.

With a new look and a fake name/background, Laura is successful in her audition for the show. 4 girls and 4 guys destined got love. The Villa is completely within viewer control. They control the couples, the tasks even the temperature.

When Laura’s ex Matt enters, he exposes her lie. Then latecomer Jess ruffles more feathers. But what happens to cause tragedy?

This book is mainly told from the point of view of Laura, both present day after the Villa and during her time in the show. Also if the producer, trying to explain the events of the show. The reader slowly pieces together what happened. Better yet is what happens next.

This was a good read that I devoured quickly.

With thanks to Netgalley for this free ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily
Reality tv is something I never watch but somehow i found myself enjoying this book. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable so credit to the author for portraying them so well. It’s well written and you spend most of the book not only trying to work out who did it but who is actually dead. Good flow as it goes back and forth in time and different POV. My only gripe - and it’s a small one - was it was just a tiny bit drawn out. Other than that a cracking 4.5 ⭐️ read

This is such a good book! SO relevant for these times when we are immersed in reality TV. It is a fantastically entertaining story, but also has something of the cautionary tale in it too.

Laura is a journalist. A horrific breakup years previously has left her distrusting men and engaged in a sordid affair with her married boss. Much to her horror, he signs her up to an undercover operation as a contestant on a reality TV dating show. This requires her to pose as glamorous dental nurse 'Iris' and spend a week in an undisclosed exotic location meeting and potentially coupling up with men she has no interest it. The internet audience begin to control the behaviour of contestants with shocking, and eventually devastating consequences.

I would 100% recommend this book, I really struggled to it down!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

This was a really addictive read! One to devour on a sunlounger but making sure you keep a beady eye on your surroundings.
I loved the structure of the book with how it flits from multiple points of view. The differing characters adds adrenaline - some you love, some you hate. Some parts are incredibly chilling but at other times you can almost feel your skin soaking up the sun - it’s written incredibly well. I will be recommending!

A rollercoaster of a read. It never mentioned who the dead person was until nearer the end which made guessing what happened even harder. The ending then came as a complete surprise! I don't watch reality shows, but the way this book portrayed them led to a thrilling book!

This had me hooked from the start.
Death and mayhem erupt on an exclusive island as it plays host to a reality television show like no other.
An action packed thriller that i found hard to put down.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
I highly recommend.

This book was just so much more than o was expecting! The premise of murder on a TV reality show isn't a new one but omg, this book really does set itsself apart from all the rest! The characters were so well written, and mostly unlikeable. The overall plot kept you guessing and kept moving forward at such a fast pace. There were so many secrets and surprises right until that very last chapter and my jaw actually dropped at the ending. I read a lot of thrillers and this one is definitely in my top 10 of 2023. Ots the perfect summer read, it's fast and easy but also captivating and engaging. More to the point, its actually very real.... maybe not the lengths that the plot goes to but the overall premise and the viewer interaction etc is scarily realistic. After all, who doesn't like to see people get their jist desserts?! And all the better if you can be the one To be judge, jury and executioner. A must read!!

Atmospheric, Menacing,,
An idyllic island basking in the Mediterranean sun, a sparkling villa, a group of contestants, a ruthless crew and a reality live stream show to die for. Will this be the show of the season? The one to beat all others in the ratings? Probably - but perhaps for the entirely wrong reasons. Laura, a journalist coerced into the show for copy, will soon realise that she is out of her depth and that secrets run deep. Just how far will these people go to win? Pacy, fast moving and compelling suspense and a plot peppered with twists and turns as the action moves seamlessly from the Villa to the later police interviews and to the, perhaps, unexpected denouement. Atmospheric, menacing and claustrophobic.

Wow wow wow! This book sounded good, but I did have some doubts on whether or not I would like it. It was great! Laura, a reporter, goes undercover on a new live streaming tv show. Rules change on this island. New contestants show up with ties to other contestants. Secrets are revealed. Murder occurs. Who was murdered? How are all these people connected? Great book!