#julia bartz

[bones-clouds]

books i read in 2024:

"the writing retreat"

julia bartz

“where did one’s power lie in a world that stripped it from you, over and over again? how could we reclaim it when the dominant forces dangled it above our heads, shouting: only the strong survive?”

[aliteraryprincess]

Where did one's power lie in a world that stripped it from you, over and over again? How could we reclaim it when the dominant forces dangled it above our heads, shouting: Only the strong survive? Was harming others the only way? Or was that a trick too? Maybe the answer was even simpler than I could have imagined. Maybe the power had never really gone away. Maybe it still lived in me, in my guts, in my bones. Maybe all I had to do was see it.

Julia Bartz, The Writing Retreat

[ijustreadthisbook]

I just set down The Writing Retreat and holy shit.

That book was such a wild ride but not the kind that feels flippant and thrilling but the kind that has sunk its claws into your arm and is dragging you along, until you realize you're not being dragged but gladly running along.

Locked door mysteries are hard, and this one expertly subverts expectations in terms of what you get to know and when, which sets up twists that feel earned as well as shocking.

The characters feel real at even their most cartoonish because they've all been well established, without endless exposition you have a real sense of who these people are (or at least, who they want you to believe.)

I'll have more to say maybe, but for now I'm just in awe and desperate for Julia Bartz to write more books.

I can't even immediately think of books to compare it to, not because it's wholly unique but because it's pushed every other book I've ever read out of my head.

Aaaaaah I love books!!!!

[pipernicolereviews]

Five Women, One Month, Countless Mysteries

Writer's block: it happens to us all at some point. The cause of Alex's writer's block isn't just a loss of inspiration. There was a near tragedy involving her (former) best friend, Wren, and she hadn't been able to write a single word since then. It had been almost a year since the two women, usually joined at the hip, had seen or spoken to each other when fate came along and brought them back together.

Fate's name is Rosa Vallo; an immensely famous author. Rosa is beautiful, powerful, and mysterious-- and she is hosting a retreat for young women who have the passion for writing. Alex knew about the retreat but she was 30 years old, one year older than the oldest allowed at Rosa's retreat.

However, at the very last minute, Alex gets invited. Soon after, she learns that her former bestie, Wren, will also be there but, she doesn't let that get in the way of meeting her favorite author of all time! How could she?!

The author of this book, Julia Bartz, begins to blow you away at this point.

The women all arrive at the estate of the famed Rosa Vallo, and they get to know each other before Rosa finally comes along and gives them the rundown on the 'retreat' is going to go down. I'll just say, I don't believe any of them were expecting that kind of news.

It doesn't take long for Alex to sense that something isn't quite right about this 'retreat' and the woman who is hosting it.

This is another kudos to Julia Bartz because she makes you suspicious of everyone except our protagonist. Rosa takes extreme measures to motivate the women. Some of her tactics are quite dangerous. One of them goes beyond Rosa's control, beyond anyone's control and someone disappears.

Alex is having a battle in her mind at times it seems like she is struggling to determine what is real and what is not.

I will say this: the plot twist was one I never saw coming. Of course, I knew there was something off about our beloved Rosa from the start, but I was NOT expecting what unfolded in the last portion of the book.

If you are looking for a novel that will keep you wanting more, look no further. I loved it so much that when I was done reading it, I started reading it again!

[aforcedelire]

La Reine du noir, Julia Bartz

Pour beaucoup, Roza Vallo est une autrice extraordinaire, qui a révolutionné la littérature. À seulement 16 ans, elle publie le cruel, trash et sensuel roman La Langue du Démon, et bouleverse des générations de lectrices. Depuis plusieurs années, elle vit recluse dans le domaine de Blackbriar, loin de tout… et pour la première fois, elle a décidé d’ouvrir ses portes, et de proposer à 5 talentueuses, jeunes et inconnues autrices un mois entier de retraite d’écriture. Quand elle est sélectionnée, Alex, éditrice et fan de Roza, n’en revient pas. Mais très vite, l’ambiance au manoir se fait tendue… surtout quand l’une des participantes disparaît.

J’ai ADORÉ. Pour un premier roman, c’est un presque sans faute ! Je suis rentrée dedans hyper facilement, et l’ambiance était tout de suite posée et maîtrisée : gothique, sombre, un peu macabre même, un huis-clos haletant et féministe. Je savais que ça allait me plaire, mais je ne savais pas que ça allait autant me plaire ! Le personnage d’Alex m’a un peu dérangée par moments, mais celui de Roza est GÉNIAL, et j’ai beaucoup apprécié la place centrale de l’écriture. J’ai envie de parler de ce livre à tout le monde ! La deuxième moitié du roman m’a passionnée, je ne pouvais plus le lâcher, je devais savoir où ça allait aller, comment ça allait se terminer. Un énorme, ÉNORME coup de cœur !

12/11/2023-26/11/2023

[wttnblog]

Thriller Recommendations: "I Support Women's Rights (and Women's Wrongs)"

I think it might be obvious by now that I am a SUCKER for a good thriller. It has become my most read genre (I have already read more than thirty of them so far this year.) I love trying to figure out the plot twist before it is revealed, and although I am still pretty bad at it, it is still a fun process. I have come to love the trend of “supporting women’s rights and women’s wrongs.” I have…

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[coffeeatmidnight]

ARC Review: "The Writing Retreat," by Julia Bartz

Hi all, and happy Valentines Day! Everyone “celebrates” slightly different (I for one and seeing Book of Mormon with the hubby), but know that I love you all on this delightful week. One of the books I was looking forward to reading around the “holiday” was The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz, which comes out February 20th. So when I won the ARC from Netgalley and Emily Bestler /Atria Books, I was…

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[thebonnevillegamepodcast]

Looking for a new read? Check out Julia Bartz's debut novel, The Writing Retreat!

It has a similar vibe of The Bonneville Game and it's a lot of fun. We could also definitely see Minty, Laura, and Ingrid gushing over it together.

"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 exploring the dark side of female relationships and fame, The Writing Retreat is the unputdownable debut novel from a compelling new talent."