I went into The Writing Retreat knowing very little about what to expect. What I discovered was a thrilling story of Alex and several other young aspiring authors who are selected for a prestigious and mysterious writing retreat with the lauded author, Roza Vallo. 

The selected female authors travel to a secluded home in the dead of Winter. They are faced with their hero, Roza Vallo, and also her extreme demands. They must write 3,000 words a day and provide feedback to their peers to go home. The winner will have their book published at the end of the thirty days. 

But soon, things become spooky and then deadly. Who can be trusted in this isolated house? Who will even survive? 

I really enjoyed the light horror in this book and chapters from Alex’s work in progress. I also enjoyed the character development in the second half of the novel, we learned  more about nearly everyone. I didn’t like the pacing in the final 20%; it felt very stop and go after the pace had revved in the back third. I still enjoyed the ending, I was just ready to know how things sorted out. 

Overall, this book was a great surprise. I hope you will give it a read when it comes out next year! 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.