Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

A solid four star read, and I genuinely didn't guess the ending. There were a few twists and turns and red herrings along the way, and although it jumped from past to present it was easy to keep track of.

Quite an enjoyable thriller. Thanks @netgalley for the early copy of this book. Quite an enjoyable thriller. Thanks @netgalley for the early copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this new thriller by Jess Ryder. I was quickly transported to Marbella and felt like I was joining the group of friends for the hen and return trip.
There are plenty of twists and turns which meant I raced through it. It’s a very solid 4 star read that I would recommend.

I love holiday thrillers and this one was no exception. It kept me guessing throughout the entire story and I loved it! Perfect setting and atmosphere with complicated characters you just couldn't stop reading about.

"The Villa" by Jess Ryder is an exceptional addition to the genre of books about groups of friends reuniting after a traumatic event. What sets this book apart is its flawed and captivating characters. The story follows a group of friends at a Marbella hen party where the bride-to-be, Aoife, tragically dies. The mystery of Aoife's death haunts the group for three years until Dani convinces them to return to Marbella to uncover the truth and find closure.
The story switches between past and present, gradually uncovering the events of a hen party with a fateful outcome. The tension and intrigue heighten as Dani tries to find out the truth, with a range of suspicious local characters adding to the mix. The ending is a fantastic twist, finally revealing what happened to Aoife.
I was utterly absorbed in this book and couldn't put it down until I uncovered the truth. With all the essential elements of a captivating thriller, it's the ideal choice for a beach read. Jess Ryder's writing style is compelling and keeps the reader engaged and captivated from start to finish.
I was introduced to Ryder's work through "The Villa", and I must say that I am now quite eager to explore more of her books. How she crafts complex characters and weaves an intriguing plot demonstrates her talent as an author in the psychological thriller genre.
To conclude, "The Villa" is a compelling read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers and books that explore group dynamics. With its complex characters, intriguing plot, and surprising plot twists, it is a real page-turner that will keep you engaged until the end. I recommend adding it to your summer reading list if you want an enthralling read.

I really enjoyed this book by Jess. I was invested from the beginning and read it within a couple of days. I had no idea it would end like it did and that means it was written well with enough suspense to keep me interested!
I’d happily read more by this author.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
This is an okay beach read, most of the narrative is pretty decent and there’s a lot of good character build up - for me, the last act was a bit rushed and it felt like the “pay off” was a bit weak considering the potential “options” in the build up. Some of the plot seemed a little by the by, and didn’t really lead anywhere. That said, it was still pretty readable and other readers may not be so picky.

I really enjoyed this book despite not liking any of the characters! I thought all the women concerned were stupid: a) to even contemplate such a silly hen do and, b) to go back there after what had happened previously. Despite that I was gripped and desperate to know what had happened three and a half years ago, and the more pages I turned the more enthralled I was. It highlighted the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, especially being abroad, and of men who just love to control us women! A good holiday read. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the early copy.

There have been a fair few books about groups of friends reuniting after a traumatic event but despite this, I think this book really stands out.

I liked the fact that most of the characters were quite flawed. A mixed bunch of friends attend a hen party in Marbella but unfortunately Aoife, the bride to be tragically dies but who was responsible? Three years later one of the party (Dani) persuades the other hens to revisit Marbella, anxious for closure and to find out just what did happen to their friend Aoife.

The story flips backwards and forwards time wise so you get a good idea just what was going on at that fateful hen party! With a supporting cast of suspicious local characters, will Dani finally get closure on her friend’s tragic death. A fantastic twist at the end of the book as you as the reader finally find out just what did happen to Aoife.

I read this book over a couple of days as I was compelled to find out what did happen over that fateful weekend. A fabulous page turner to pack in your suitcase. A wonderful beach read for the Summer of 2024! This is the first book I have read by this author so I’m excited to read more from her.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this arc.

I loved this story, such a great read. Very twisty and dark and kept me guessing throughout. There were a few red herrings sprinkled in, but everything slots together like a puzzle in the end. I enjoyed the writing style and concept. The characters are relatable, flawed, imperfect and human. Even the characters i didnt like, i was still able to understand and empathise. I would highly recommend this story.

Loved this book, I could not put it down. It had the perfect balance of mystery and thriller that makes these types of stories so enjoyable.

The story follows a group of friends revisiting the site of a hen do gone wrong when the bride is killed and the crime never solved.

The characters were well thought out and balanced, each with different flaws and surprises that we discover along the way.

A really great read and one I would definitely recommend.

Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa
By far one of my favourite books I've read this year… I loved every minute…

The Villa by Jess Ryder was one of my favourite books I've read this year, and I read A LOT of books. Set in Marbella/Malaga it was a lovely setting that I know well so it was particularly nice to read about some of the real places that exist alongside the villa itself.

I loved the characters, especially the hard to like ones - and the story itself kept me gripped throughout. I found this a quick read because it was well written and kept me interested. I thought I'd worked out the ending but then it wasn't what I expected so that is always great. It was gripping and interesting, and I would definitely recommend to anyone - the perfect holiday read.

This book instantly had me gripped and I really enjoyed it overall. There were a few predictable moments but these didn't take away from the suspense and impact of the book.

I always know when I see a book my author I am going to be in for a treat and boy this one was no exception. It was full of secrets and so many twists and turns that once I started I could. It put it down fantastic. I loved the jump between timelines as it definitely helped build the suspense within and kept me hooked.

Dani arranges an anniversary trip to Marbella three years on from her best friend Aoife’s hen do that ended in tragedy. She has experienced gaps in memory since that fateful night and is keen to find out what really happened to best friend and try and move on with her life. Reluctantly the other girls who were there after to join Dani but once they arrive they realise that Dani has other ideas than just remembering there once friend.

I can not recommend this enough fantastic thriller which would be a great holiday read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

This book wasn't for me unfortunately. I felt that the plot and storyline was a little bit weak and unbelievable. I don't want The characters aren't really likeable either. The ending was a little bit rushed but it did have a good twist towards the end that saved it for me, A good read I just didn't enjoy it as much as others by this author,

I was a little unsure by this book when looking at the cover but it really delivered. I was Completely hooked. I loved the characters, it was well written in a way that made you want to read on. Throughout this book I had several theories, but at no point did I guess the ending ( I won’t give it away). If you want a book to escape from your reality for a while this is it. Go and read this book

Four women, all very different, reliving a hen weekend from three years ago. At that time there had been five women, but only four made it home. Dani, one of the survivors, has struggled since the tragedy, but is now determined to discover what really happened on that fateful night.

This was a typical scenario for a holiday read, with mismatched characters, beautiful surroundings, lots of secrets and a fair bit of controlling, not dissimilar to many plots. No one could possibly like or admire a single character, but they were compelling in their awfulness. However, stick with it, it does grow on you and for me, what started as a DNF, quickly became a page turner. It is still totally bonkers and belief had to be suspended on several occasions. Still a worthwhile read, although the ending was a little weak and some filler/repetition needs culling.

The perfect beach read when some light, very light, is required. Just don’t rent a villa!

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK.

Okay so this book had me hooked! I loved the way the book flipped timelines and characters. I needed to know every narrator’s story, so every time I finished a chapter, I had to read on to the next one! I felt for Dani, Aoife’s best friend, who was so desperate to recall her missing memories from that weekend, even if she was a little misleading in the beginning. But every one of the hens had an interesting story behind them that needed exploring.

I was adamant that I knew what had happened that weekend, but there were twists and turns in there that I just didn’t see coming!

Oh and I could totally see this being on screen too! I think it would adapt so well into a limited series, in fact, I need it to become one!

This is such an incredible, unputdownable (yes I know that’s not a word), tense mystery. It was so well written that I felt I was there in the villa with them. It’s a fantastic summer thriller, and as this is out in July 2024, it’ll be the best holiday read for thriller fans next summer!

Jealousy, betrayal, complex friendships and a whole lot of history. This story is set in Marbella with the glamour but also a look at the seedier side of the resort. Everyone has a secret and there are lots of twists and turns till we finally get to the truth. A really engaging story that keep me gripped till the end