The Villa: An absolutely gripping family drama packed with secrets and lies Paperback – 14 Mar. 2022

Good twist

Costume designer Nora has rented a luxurious villa in the South of France. She has invited her two daughters, Emma and Libby with their partners and children for a two-week vacation in the sun. But this is far from a happy families situation. From the start it's clear she's a self-absorbed individual who is convinced her actions have always been in the best interest of her two daughters. After her divorce, she threw herself into her work, which often took her away from home. This meant the girls were looked after either by her ex-husband or neighbours. She has never been the kind supportive mother she actually believes she is as those moments, when they did occur, were few and far between. But there is a serious reason for Nora bringing the family together under one roof. She wants them together to enjoy a perfect holiday. She feels it will make the news she is about to break easier. Unfortunately, that is not the case.At the age of 64 Nora looks back and sees her mistakes and how she might have handled things differently. Unfortunately she cannot help making more. The dynamics of the family group makes for a compelling read and kept me turning pages, eager to see what would happen. It’s also a very sad story. What Nora seeks is too little too late. The only positive for me was it brought the two siblings, Emma and Libby closer. It’s difficult to write any more without giving the plot away. So all I will say is Clare Boyd has assembled an interesting group of characters, some flawed, others not so, and incorporated them into a truly absorbing and sometimes moving read.I would like to thank Clare Boyd, Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC of The Villa in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like the blurb suggested this would be a thriller but after the first few chapters I realised that was not true. That aside, the story itself was good and realistic. 3/5 stars

A family holiday in the South of France provides the setting for a dramatic encounter between two sisters and their mother. Clare Boyd's novels are never disappointing , and in The Villa she skilfully provides realistic portraits of a family dealing with the problems of their past and most crucially a devastating revelation that they all have to deal with in their future. This is a touching sensitive book which combines wonderful descriptions of the landscape that it is set in, with tense dramatic scenes which held my interest from the beginning.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Villa’ written by Clare Boyd in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.Nora takes her daughters Libby and Emma and their families to Nice for a two-week holiday in an expensive villa. But Nora has a reason behind her generosity as she has something to tell them that they might not want to hear.I always look forward to reading Clare Boyd’s novels and although I flew through the first half of ‘The Villa’ I thought the story slowed down somewhat from this point on. I found it hard to empathise with any of the characters, apart from Emma’s young son Eliot who copes with his stress by swimming, and Nora was annoying by being just that bit too theatrical and calling everyone ‘darling’. This is a family drama that covers love, betrayal and adultery, it’s well-written with a fair and reasonable ending, and I enjoyed it although some parts were hard to read.

Sorry but couldn’t like this book, it’s so depressing. After reading other books from this Author that have been brilliant I was disappointed. The characters are awful and it’s flat throughout.

This book,for me, was quite depressing starting with some shattering news which,incidentally,was very predictable as was the outcome. Unfortunately felt I could not pass this on to any of my friends.

Its a very intriguing dilemma these vibrant characters face. It could happen to any of us. Love the way Boyd makes us see-saw from loathing one particular character to sympathising with them. And involves us in the family's secrets so convincingly. It's tight and beautifully written. The villa and the environs vividly portrayed. I loved it.