$14.21 sale price when purchased online
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Book Synopsis
The Plot meets Please Join Us in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writer's 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 doesn't dampen her excitement. But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell--they 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 Roza's erratic behavior, Wren's 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, she's 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.Review Quotes
"THE WRITING RETREAT will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists. A suspenseful story of ambition and envy, friendship and survival, this novel asks how high a price will one pay to achieve their dreams. THE WRITING RETREAT is the very definition of a page turner, and a remarkable debut from a gifted writer."--Kirthana Ramisetti, author of GMA Book Club pick DAVA SHASTRI'S LAST DAY
"An audacious psychological thriller debut...Boldly drawn characters complement Bartz's gleefully twisted plot....Sara Gran fans, take note."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Julia Bartz's shrewd, suspenseful debut takes the typical writer's anxieties and obsessions and transforms them into a pulse-pounding, impossible to put down thriller. THE WRITING RETREAT is bonkers in the best way, and it left me with a brutal case of author envy."--Layne Fargo, author of THEY NEVER LEARN
"A wild ride into the pressures of publishing that is equal parts nightmare and erotic fantasy as five would-be writers are pulled deeper into the secrets of Blackbriar and its inhabitants. In THE WRITING RETREAT, Julia Bartz captures the hunger to have our stories told and the desperate measures some will take to cut through the noise."--Jennifer Fawcett, author of BENEATH THE STAIRS
"THE WRITING RETREAT is a sexy, thrilling, compulsive mediation on art and competition amongst women who ought to be sisters, only something malignant gets in the way. I couldn't put it down."--Sarah Langan, award-winning author of GOOD NEIGHBORS
"NIGHT FILM meets THE SECRET HISTORY in Julia Bartz's bold, brilliant, and genuinely scary debut. THE WRITING RETREAT masterfully delivers everything thriller readers crave: palpable atmosphere, sinister characters, full-body chills, jaw-dropping twists, and stay-up-all-night suspense. I am obsessed with this book. I never wanted it to end."--Megan Collins, author of THE FAMILY PLOT
"THE WRITING RETREAT by Julia Bartz is a wild ride from page one. I've been on a good few writing retreats myself and thought I'd seen it all - I was wrong. Blending themes of friendship, ambition, creativity and courage, this thrill-packed story brims with secrets, intrigue and murder. Bartz wrangles tension of the highest order, and executes a fiercely original story with vigour and style. A five-star read that's intelligent, accomplished and exciting. I dare you to put it down."--Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of THE TWYFORD CODE
About the Author
Julia Bartz is a Brooklyn-based writer and practicing therapist. Her fiction writing has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. The Writer's Retreat is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @JuliaBartz and Instagram at @JuliaBartz.Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Sub-Genre: Thrillers
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Number of Pages: 320
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: Hardcover
Author: Julia Bartz
Language: English
Street Date: February 21, 2023
TCIN: 87169066
UPC: 9781982199456
Item Number (DPCI): 059-01-9744
Origin: Made in the USA
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.5 inches length x 6.36 inches width x 9.3 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.06 pounds
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3.8 out of 5 stars with 5 reviews
75% would recommend
4 recommendations
Read it
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Mbum - 1 year ago, Verified purchaser
Great book, really never wanted to put it down.
An "okay" read
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Ana622 - 2 years ago, Verified purchaser
The storytelling to get to the plot was not so interesting, but I get she had to explain the process of relationship building and surroundings. But I didn't see this "mind games" that was depicted in the description. The thriller part was barely there, no really "twists and turns"... it was an okay read. I thought more was going to come out of the ghosts and haunted house but it never expanded to that, instead we get a fake story of the ghosts....
Great storytelling
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Stcollins79 - 2 years ago, Verified purchaser
This one is pretty dark, but riveting. This is the kind of read where you’re forced to put your life on hold until you finish, because you just can’t put it down.
A story that stays in the pages, with no need to read between the lines.
2 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
Regina - 2 years ago, Verified purchaser
Flat characters, with overly thick foreshadowing. Although most "thrillers" have an unrealistic or relatable plot the characters are usually complete and compelling. The characters in this book are 30 going on 13. An additional warning: graphic "relations" and vulgar language, this didn't go into the rating, but I know some people don't want to read that.