The Writing Retreat (Unabridged)
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3.7 • 115 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Sex, suspense, and the supernatural fuel this propulsive debut.” —People
A young author is invited to an exclusive writer’s retreat that soon descends into a pulse-pounding nightmare—in the vein of The Plot and Please Join Us.
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 must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate.
A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller that “will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists” (Kirthana Ramisetti, author of Dava Shastri’s Last Day), The Writing Retreat expertly explores the dark side of female relationships, fame, and the desire to have our stories told.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Getting your break as a novelist is a dangerous game in this striking and original thriller. Struggling writer Alex is trapped in a job with an academic publishing house when the chance of a lifetime appears: an invitation to join a monthlong writer’s retreat led by her favorite author, gothic-horror novelist and feminist champion Roza Vallo. At Roza’s remote mansion, five young writers will each complete a novel in 30 days—and the best of the bunch will win a seven-figure publishing contract. This setup stokes anxiety right from the jump, especially when Alex realizes her frenemy Wren is also attending. Debut novelist Julia Bartz has a load of fun plotting the alliances and rivalries among the competing writers, and narrator Gail Shalan makes each character distinct. The Writing Retreat is a smart, scary, and surprising thriller with a feminist outlook.
Customer Reviews
Entertaining
Really enjoyed this! I wouldn’t say this was like the most amazing mystery novel but it was different and entertaining!! A fun ride.
Cool idea
I liked the trope of the story but sadly for me I couldn’t wait for this book to be over.
3 stars
Interesting plot, some parts were strange and didn’t feel necessary to be part of the story.