The Writing Retreat: A New York Times bestseller

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Competition is a key theme in The Writing Retreat, and it can be seen as both a driving force and a hindrance to the young women’s creative process. In what ways does the novel depict the ways in which competition can lead to toxic comparisons and sabotage? How do the characters navigate these challenges, and where do they find empowerment and growth in the face of such pressure? The Writing Retreat features a cast of female writers with distinct personalities and motivations. Which character did you relate to the most, and why? A successful film professor and podcaster, Bodie Kane is content to forget her past—the family tragedy that marred her adolescence, her four largely miserable years at a New Hampshire boarding school, and the murder of her former roommate, Thalia Keith, in the spring of their senior year. Though the circumstances surrounding Thalia’s death and the conviction of the school’s athletic trainer, Omar Evans, are hotly debated online, Bodie prefers—needs—to let sleeping dogs lie. Overall, there is little doubt in my mind that Julia Bartz is very talented, and I look forward to reading what she comes up with next.

The book has been compared to other thrillers and mysteries, such as Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and Riley Sager’s Final Girls. What similarities and differences do you see between The Writing Retreat and these other works, and how does it stand out from the crowd of similar books in the genre? The master of the Providence plantation in Barbados gathers his slaves and announces the king has decreed an end to slavery. As of the following day, the Emancipation Act of 1834 will come into effect. The cries of joy fall silent when he announces that they are no longer his slaves; they are now his apprentices. No one can leave. They must work for him for another six years. Freedom is just another name for the life they have always lived. So Rachel runs. A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller exploring the dark side of female relationships and fame, The Writing Retreat is the unputdownable debut novel from a compelling new talent. I'm not sure if this was meant to be a haunted house story, a tale of demonic possession, or someone's mental breakdown as they struggled through a dead end job and sexual identity confusion. What I do know is that The Writing Retreat was a letdown.Q: Did you attend writing groups or a writing retreat before you wrote your novel? What were your experiences like? The pacing is fast and furious. Whether one is inside Alex’s head or experiencing the weird dynamics of the retreat, there is always entertainment for the reader. Um why in the heavens would you invent a story of a Jewish woman falling in love with a n*zi during WWII. It really wasn’t integral to the story whatsoever.

Why not 5 stars? The last third of the book took another direction and I wasn't as enthralled as I was while reading the parts before, but thankfully it didn't drag too much. Host a (more fun, less intense) writing retreat of your own! Have everyone bring a short piece of writing they’ve worked on and kindly critique it. Once you’ve had time to revise, collect all the pieces together and print it out as a keepsake of your book club. A writing group. A long time ago.” Seeing her in the flesh—tortoiseshell glasses and animal-print dress against pale tattooed skin and hot-pink hair—made me relax further. It was a bit sad that the fear of seeing Wren had made me forget about the point of this whole event: to celebrate Ursula’s success. But my fingers were shaking in the moment before I gripped the subway pole. So much for bravado. And I had to admit: this wild, frenetic energy coursing through me wasn’t rage, exactly. It was more like abject terror.Suffice to say, it wasn't my "glass of drugged wine" or even water The two stars are mine for finishing this absurd book. Stomach-clenchingly thrilling from beginning to end . . . Highly recommended for fans of authors like Ruth Ware and Riley Sager.” ― Booklist 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. In The Writing Retreat, Julia Bartz weaves horror and a sly touch of satire into an utterly addictive thriller about ambition, rivalry and the heartache of friendship breakups. I can't wait to read what she writes next!" Ana Reyes Slowly, I stood and flushed the toilet. At the sink a pretty girl washed her hands and avoided looking at me. She must have heard my retches. I wanted to burst into tears but I kept them firmly down.

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. Wren’s ruby lips curved. “Me too.” She leaned in, eyes narrowing. “I kind of love your eyebrows. Where do you get them done?” The characters of Alex and Wren are, quite frankly, just not all that likable. Wren in particular comes across as narcicisstic, greedy and opportunistic until very late in the game where that changes slightly. As for Alex, she spends most of her time obsessing over Wren, acting bitter, needy, weak and confused. To be fair, she does grow into becoming more of a “heroine” toward the end of the story but the journey there feels contrived. This one has such a promising premise – an exclusive writing retreat, successful but reclusive writers, a story within the story, and trauma with friends.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. disapproving : politically liberal (as in matters of racial and social justice) especially in a way that is considered unreasonable or extreme With everyone in attendance Roza informs them that they must complete an entire new novel in the month they are there. The winner will be published and receive a seven figure deal. Alex does her best to ignore the distractions from Wren and the others however, when one of them disappears during a blizzard, the group begins to realize some things really are too good to be true.

Multiple VERY sexually explicit scenes, including one where a character engages in sexual acts with a DEMON Alex jumps at the opportunity to attend a month-long writing retreat hosted by lauded feminist horror novelist Roza Vallo. The only downside is that her former best friend, Wren, will also be there. The two parted on less than amicable terms a year ago. However, Bartz does a GREAT job exploring themes of self-discovery and empowerment in her many LGBTQ characters, and there are some decen The first-person narrative is shared from Alex’s PoV with excerpts from her book interspersed throughout the novel. With its atmospheric setting and Gothic vibes, complicated characters, consistent pacing and intricate plot, Julia Bartz’s The Writing Retreat is a dark and suspenseful psychological thriller with bold feminist overtones. Though not completely unpredictable, there are enough surprises along the way to keep you hooked. If you can suspend disbelief and don’t mind OTT , this will prove to be an entertaining read! This is the kind of book that you would want to finish in one sitting! Overall, The Writing Retreat is an impressive debut and I look forward to reading more from this talented new author in the future.

Julia Bartz

I’d been more relieved than I’d let on that Pete, my one work friend, had agreed to come to the book party. Seeing him in his smudged glasses, loose jeans, and non-ironic running shoes caused my heart rate to slow. Roza is a formidable antagonist in the novel, and her characteristics are both terrifying and fascinating. What traits make Roza such a successful adversary, and how does the novel explore the dynamic between her and the other writers? How does her presence contribute to the atmosphere of tension and unease that pervades the retreat? The premise for Julia Bartz’s debut novel is enough to instantly hit the buy button but trust me, you may want to hold off on doing that. In its simplest form, five women are selected for a month-long writing retreat where they’re whisked off to a remote estate operated by a famous feminist writer called Roza Vallo. This was a VERY strange debut novel. Honestly, I almost DNF’d it several times. I know, I know…I just couldn’t do it. So, I persevered.