Publishers Weekly is all in on Julia Bartz’s “gleefully twisted plot” — and so are we.
When Alex gets the opportunity to kickstart her writing career (finally!), she jumps at the chance. When she arrives at Blackbriar Estate, the grand and eerie mansion of famed writer (and her personal icon) Roza Vallo, she meets a group of young women with similar book publishing aspirations. Among the group is Wren, formerly Alex’s best friend, currently her object of obsession. So begins Julia Bartz’s debut thriller, The Writing Retreat — a twisted, edgy read that’s perfect for book clubs that like to kick things up a notch from time to time.
At dinner the first night, the retreat takes a twist: Roza has created a framework for the month, wherein the young writers will be pushed to produce at near-impossible speeds and volume. The consequence for not delivering is dismissal. As deep insecurities rise to the surface, Alex doubts her own abilities — and her own standing among her peers.
But before long, those worries are overtaken by something far more grave: One of the women has gone missing, and it appears to be no accident. As the plot plays out, the women’s quest to get to the finish line is driven by the desire not just to succeed — but to stay alive. With elements of erotica as well as humor throughout, The Writing Retreat is as seductive as it is suspenseful. You won’t want to put it down — and you’ll be desperate to discuss it with your own bookish friends.
The Writing Retreat
by Julia Bartz
Read an excerpt.
From the darkly twisting plot to the deep-rooted psychological elements that each of these women bring to Blackbriar, there are hardly any elements of The Writing Retreat that don’t compel deeper discussion and thought! We’ve got a ton of questions here to get your book club’s conversation going.
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Julia Bartz is onto something with her culinary choices in The Writing Retreat. The very first meal at Blackbriar is a decadent filet mignon and risotto, served by Chitra, the in-house chef at the estate. Food quickly becomes a centerpiece of the writers’ days — first in its abundance but later something, well, not quite as abundant. We’re leaning into the former, and offering up a beef dish that’s just as sumptuous — but a little easier to share with a group.
The wine flows throughout The Writing Retreat, and the first glass Alex has is “a dark maroon, the type that always reminded [her] of blood.” For our pick with this month’s read, we’re recommending the Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre. Mourvedre recently came back onto our radar, and we were immediately reminded of its full, complex body. It will pair beautifully with your steak — and even better with your quickening pulse.
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“Blackbriar Estate is a place where powerful, creative women gather to explore the darkest corners of their psyches. To that end, this playlist includes songs by some of my favorite female singers who aren't afraid to go there — whether that's singing about an aggressively intense crush (Garbage's “#1 Crush”), how love can feel more like war (SZA's “Seek and Destroy”), or even finding a defiant pleasure in pain (Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Shame and Fortune”). Women and girls are often told to be compliant, quiet, and sweet. These artists beg to differ.” —Julia Bartz
Get the playlist.