Three years ago, Dani, Celine, Tiff and Beth are at the Villa Floriana, near Marbella for Aoife’s hen do. However, one evening and several days into the alcohol fuelled celebrations, Dani wakes and can make little sense of what she’s seeing. In the present day, Dani returns to Andalusia having persuaded Celine,Tiff and Beth to accompany her as a bid for closure of the terrible events that led to the bride to be’s death, which is unresolved. Dani is haunted, she’s damaged by the loss of her dear friend and wants to lay it to rest if she can. However, each of the women have their own version of the events of three years ago, is it possible to get to the truth?

I really enjoy each of the women’s point of view and comparing the varying versions of three years ago in order to piece together recollections to get to the truth. There’s palpable tension in both timelines and the dynamics between them is fascinating. They are very different from each other and can rub sparks. There are some very strange moods at the hen do, some odd behaviour, there’s jealousy between least three of them and definitely mistrust and it becomes increasingly obvious that we have more than one liar. It gets nasty on occasions which creates even deeper divisions. None of them come across as especially likeable, but that adds a certain delicious intensity to the storyline.

As the plot moves forward, it becomes increasingly complicated and therefore more and more intriguing. There’s a strong unsettling sense, it feels offkilter and there’s an oppressive atmosphere. This contrasts well with the lovely Spanish setting and the sunny weather as it’s definitely chilly inside the villa.

This is a well utilised trope in psychological thrillers but the author does a good job via the perspectives of delivering something a little bit different. Whilst there are some good twists, I think the ending could’ve been a bit stronger as I hope for something a bit more punchy. It is an easy entertaining, read with very well explored dynamics.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

When a fractious hen party ends in tragedy, the surviving hens gather together 3 years later and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death start to unravel.

Set over the two time periods and jumping between them, there are a lot of voices to keep track of. The hen weekend is re-lived almost in real time and it felt as if we could have done with a couple less hen events along the way. The author could perhaps have included more of what happened in the original aftermath, and in the time period between the two episodes in the villa. The book keeps you guessing until the very end.

This book was set over two time periods, the present and three years ago. It was a bit of a slow starter but got better as the twists and turns led us to find out what really happened three years ago.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

"The Villa" by Jess Ryder invites readers into a gripping narrative centered around a tragic event that occurred three years ago. The story unfolds as a group of hens returns to the villa where a bride-to-be, Aoife, met her untimely end during her own hen party. The quest for closure becomes the driving force for these characters, but stepping back into the scene of the tragedy only serves to reopen old wounds and ignite simmering tensions.

Ryder skilfully weaves a tale where every character holds a different version of the events that transpired that fateful night. This narrative technique adds layers of intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they attempt to piece together the puzzle of what really happened. The suspenseful atmosphere is well-crafted, and Ryder adeptly explores the complex dynamics among the characters, highlighting their individual perspectives and motivations.

The strength of "The Villa" lies in its exploration of secrets and the lengths to which people will go to keep them hidden. Ryder masterfully builds a sense of unease and suspicion, leaving readers questioning the reliability of each character's account. The psychological depth of the novel adds a compelling layer to the mystery, making it more than just a straightforward whodunit.

The setting of the villa serves as a character in itself, with its haunting presence and the memories it holds. Ryder's descriptive prose creates a vivid backdrop, intensifying the emotional impact of the story. The tension steadily escalates as the characters grapple with their shared past and the consequences of their actions.

As the narrative unfolds, readers will find themselves engrossed in the web of deceit, secrets, and conflicting perspectives. "The Villa" is a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Jess Ryder has crafted a compelling story that explores the intricacies of human relationships and the consequences of buried truths.

I felt this was a bit of a slow burn initially but when it gets going (not all that far in actually), oh boy, do you get swept along with the girls! So many twists & turns, you think you know what’s coming but nope, there are still surprises to come. An excellent read, I couldn't put it down. Thanks for the ARC.

Slow start to this book and initially I didn't like any of the characters. But the whodunit kept me guessing to the end.

5 go on a hen party to Marbella, only 4 go home. What happened then and now is told in the alternating timelines.

Thank you very much to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

After the bride to be is killed whilst on her hen do, her best friend Dani still can’t piece together the pieces of what happened & has remained tortured by it.

Three years later, the remaining hens venture back to the scene to celebrate the life of their friend- with Dani intent on recreating that fateful weekend as best she can, in attempt to find answers.

Instead, this second weekend away reveals secrets that have in some cases festered throughout the years, bringing about further catastrophic circumstances.

The chapters cleverly switch between then & now, revealing each hen’s experiences and memories, and allowing the tensions and rivalries amongst them to both simmer and unravel along the way.

The grain of truth in this book- that people who often have little in common other than all knowing the bride get thrown together for a weekend where everyone is on tenterhooks, made much of the tension in this book feel real from the start. Add to that the twisted events & string pulling in the background & I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!

This was a quick read simply because it was unputdownable, and would make the perfect sun-bed read…as long as you’re not lying around the pool, on a hen weekend in a secluded Marbellan villa…

Note to proofreaders, at 98% of book (unsure of page as it didn’t display), Celine is shown as Celina.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a free review. All opinions are my own.

If you enjoyed One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke, you will probably – like me – enjoy this one too as both feature a small group of women on a hen weekend in the Mediterranean.
This one is set at a holiday villa in the hills above the Costa Del Sol and concerns the shocking death of the bride-to-be at a hen party three years prior to the start of the story.
Dani invites the three other hens back to the villa on the third anniversary of Aoife's death. She has total amnesia about what happened that night and hopes recreating the weekend with the surviving hens will trigger her memories.
The story is told in two timelines: then and now, and from the viewpoints of Dani - Aoife's university friend; Tiff and Beth - Aoife's school friends; and Celine - Aoife's work colleague. With all five women consuming industrial qualities of alcohol, it's a wonder they didn't all succumb to liver failure at the hen weekend. The author does a great job of describing the sleazy side of the Marbella club scene. (It makes me thankful I’m too old for hen parties.) However, she also depicts the beautiful countryside away from the coast and the delicious local food. Dani is a likeable lead character, and there’s a good sense of suspense.
This will be a great beach read for 2024.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

A really solid 4 star read. A hen party thriller that could easily have fallen flat but I found it gripping - believable characters, evocative scene setting, twists and turns. Also love a mystery/crime book that has short chapters with switching narrative voices and flashbacks - it always helps to make it a page-turner. Would recommend to get you out of a reading slump and for fans of Lisa Jewell. Thanks NetGalley and Penguin for the preview!

A great story with so many twists and turns, some I suspected from the descriptions of the characters but still some great shocks thrown in for good measure.

Aoife is in Marbs on her Hen Party with 4 of her friends when the worst happens and she is found dead in the villa.
3 years on one of her Hens Dani organises for her and the other Hens to go back to the place where it all happens to visit her grave and pay their respects but Dani has other ideas and wants to find out the real truth.

This book was really good! I couldn’t put it down and was shocked at the ending! It wasn’t how I thought the story would end at all! I loved the characters and the secrets they all had. I also loved how it was written from different characters perspectives and that it went from the past to present day.

I really recommend this book.
I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (4.5)

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone & Netgalley for the advanced reading copy.

Aoife is on her hen do in the costa del Sol. Staying at a luxury villa the hens are having a fantastic time. However, tragedy unfolds when there is a break in and the bride is left dead.
Three years one and the hens have returned to Spain in honour of Aoife. All have been suffering in their own ways. And some have secrets to hide over what happened on that fateful trip.
A very slow start with this book. At time I felt like giving up. However, the ending came together with a final twist.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

The perfect novel to read while sipping on cocktails somewhere warm on a sun lounger.
I thought at first that it was a relatively relaxed read a cross between a chick lit with a little whoddunit but it definitely hooked me in.
Poor Aofie the bride to be is marrying the man of her dreams, the beautiful flat in London, wonderful friends so who would break into The Villa on her hen party and kill her?

Not my personal favourite style of book but for that “thing” it definitely deserves a FOUR STAR review.
Thank you all for an advanced copy of The Villa

In my view this is poor ‘chick lit’ I wouldn’t have continued if I wasn’t reading for NetGalley.
I found it disappointing and full of repetitive scenes of drinking and parties.

This book was a quick and easy read. I was dubious at first as the plot sounds similar to a lot of other standard hen party thrillers.

I feel like it was slow to start (we are given a very in-depth description of their time at the airport, collection of luggage and their journey to the villa which I feel could have been edited down) so it took me a while to get into it. I think the author was trying overly hard to set up/create tension in the first few chapters which made the writing slightly flat for me.

Am glad I continued to the end as it was a worthwhile read.

Side note - the cover art is beautiful!

Would recommend.

The final twist was one I couldn’t see coming! This was a fun read. The type that is perfect for long commutes or the beach. I enjoyed it.

I was glued to this, and I couldn't wait to get back to it at bedtime and see what was happening and try to find out what had happened to Aoife. The secrets, tensions, and back stabbing are all so interesting. Couldn't help rooting for Dani and also, couldn't help being very suspicious of the others. A very cleverly written book.

I didn’t stop reading once I started as I had to know what was going on!

Dani needs to know what happened to her friend Aoife who was killed when her and her friends went to Marbella for a hen party three years ago. So she organises a trip back to the Villa where it happened the other girls are not very happy but she is determined to find out the truth.

I never guessed what was to unfold and I s a great story and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC

I literally TORE through this book!

From reading the blurb I was so interested as it's a unique idea quite different from most other crime/ thriller books in the market. The narrative didn't feel too far fetched and I didn't guess the ending at all.

Dani needs to know what happened to her friend Aoife who was killed when her and her friends went to Marbella for a hen party three years ago. So she organises a trip back to the Villa where it happened the other girls are not very happy but she is determined to find out the truth.

There is a lot of drama surrounding the story and really enjoyed it a real page turner and it was great to find out all the personalities of the girls,

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for an ARC