The Writing Retreat: A New York Times bestseller

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The beer gurgled in my stomach. I turned and raced towards the bathroom, making it to a stall just in time. Yellow liquid frothed in the bowl. I sat on my knees and wiped my mouth. I was still clutching the books.

When it came right down to it, however, there were enough positive aspects to outweigh that flaws in my eyes. Granted, I wasn’t thrilled with the book within a book passages as I’m not particularly a fan of paranormal tinged horror stories, but they were few and far between, so I suffered through their brief appearances. And, when all was said and done, this fast-paced, surprisingly addictive, twisty, dark and suspenseful tale was a thoroughly impressive debut. And I, for one, look forward to seeing what else she manages to come up with next. Rating of 3.5 stars. This has a good premise. Alex, a writer, is invited to a writing retreat at the secluded home of a famous author who she has greatly admired for many years. So she quits her job, goes on the retreat, and meets the four other female writers who were also invited, one who she has known intimately. Yes, our female Alex is discovering her sexuality throughout the book. This gripping thriller solely follows Alex’s pov. It has a dark gothic vibe and a bit of spice. The plot becomes fairly wild and almost nightmarish, but I enjoyed the drama of it. The characters frequently did things they knew were unwise, but it made for an entertaining read. I really tried to give this book every chance. But it went from bad to worse (IMHO). My eyes rolled throughout.I liked meeting all of the women involved, including the infamous author, Roza Vallo. The setting is lovely. I definitely could picture it and felt the isolation and claustrophobic, creepy feel in my gut.

This is the definition of "retreat" referenced in the title of this book, and looking at the cover, this definition makes sense (despite the ominous Overlook hotel-esque overtones provided). There is a book within the book, and while the storyline is interesting and mirrors the plot of the retreat, I couldn’t help but focus on the anachronisms. This might have been a purposeful plot device, but these sections of the book had me rolling my eyes. I was excited to read this debut, and it did not disappoint in the least. If you enjoy dramatic, tension-filled thrillers, I think you’ll have fun with this one.I will say that I didn't understand the importance of the WIP novel we got excerpts of. I'm sure there was a deeper meaning behind them but I didn't catch on. This is fantastic debut! It seems like writing gift is genetic and runs in the family! This book introduces us Andrea Bartz’s sister Julia: such a gifted mind! She nailed it with her first work and I’ll look forward to read her future works! A: I decided to become a therapist after the writing didn’t seem to be working out, at least career-wise. I started therapy myself around this time, and I found it so helpful that I became excited at the idea of providing this space for other people. Interestingly, I found that becoming a therapist helped to deepen my writing. It allowed me to more clearly define the dynamics between people (for example, Alex and Wren’s codependent relationship), as well as understand the characters’ motivations, which are affected by their past, their family, and various forms of trauma, including societal and generational trauma. SUCH A GREAT READ! I absolutely loved all the intricate details of this book & wondering what was true & what was false! Speed read through at a record pace to figure out fact from reality. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This reading group guide for The Writing Retreat includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Julia Bartz. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. I blinked before realizing he was talking about Ursula, not Wren. “I guess about eight years?” The crowd from the bar oozed into the main room.A: I’m working on a new novel. I can’t say too much about it yet, but if you enjoyed THE WRITING RETREAT, then I think you’ll definitely like this one, too! 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.