This one has such a promising premise – an exclusive writing retreat, successful but reclusive writers, a story within the story, and trauma with friends.

In the last scene from The Great Commission, Daphne chooses a new name, Elizabeth. “She was leaving her old self behind” (299). Consider who at the writing retreat is trying to leave their old selves behind and why. Does anyone do so successfully? If so, at what cost? Your favorite author, we're talking a person whose words you have read since childhood, who has had a lasting impact on your life... I loved the unhinged and obsessive relationship between Wren and Alex. It's a deep platonic connection but also sexual but also hatred sewn throughout. There's shame and fear and longing and tension and genuine connection. SO juicy! The pace is off balance, the characters are all full of angst, and the author tries to blend other genres into the story. It is a salad with ingredients that don't belong. The excerpts of a book within a book that truly bored me. The descriptions of breasts, nipples and other graphic sex scenes/dreams were awkward and cringeworthy.

I really tried to give this book every chance. But it went from bad to worse (IMHO). My eyes rolled throughout. Q: What were the themes or messages that you’d most like people to take away from THE WRITING RETREAT? Events go off the rails in the last 20%, and while chaotic and a little over-the-top, I enjoyed watching it all play out. At the same time, everything wraps up a little too neatly.

Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach. Content Warnings: Murder (poisoning, shooting, bludgeoning, stabbing, slitting throat), consumption of alcohol, LSD, and Marijuana, kidnapping and abuse. Lots of unexpected things happen throughout this story; however, I really enjoyed how the writer’s mind was captured and how everyone worked together at the end for the good of the group. Cult - ???????? This is fantastic debut! It seems like writing gift is genetic and runs in the family! This book introduces us Andrea Bartz’s sister Julia: such a gifted mind! She nailed it with her first work and I’ll look forward to read her future works! However, this book had me wanting to personally jump to the OTHER definition of retreat a bit too often. That is, "MAKE a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity"Welcome, everyone.” Ursula’s agent, Melody, had a commanding voice and everyone quieted down immediately. As she introduced Ursula, I kept an eye on the crew. Watching them gave me an unexpectedly powerful ache. The friend breakup with Wren hadn’t just been between the two of us; I’d lost all our mutual friends too. Since she was young, Alex has always had dreams of being a writer. But now, at thirty years old and still unpublished, she has all but given up on her goal. That is, until she comes face to face with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the exclusive month long writing retreat with the famed horror author, Roza Vallo. There is only one problem. Her former best friend turned enemy, Wren, will be there as well. But surely they can behave as adults and coexist for a single month? When it came right down to it, however, there were enough positive aspects to outweigh that flaws in my eyes. Granted, I wasn’t thrilled with the book within a book passages as I’m not particularly a fan of paranormal tinged horror stories, but they were few and far between, so I suffered through their brief appearances. And, when all was said and done, this fast-paced, surprisingly addictive, twisty, dark and suspenseful tale was a thoroughly impressive debut. And I, for one, look forward to seeing what else she manages to come up with next. Rating of 3.5 stars. I liked the description of the isolated setting for the writing retreat with the head guru, Roza as the beloved mentor. She reminded me a bit of Masha from Nine Perfect Strangers by Moriarty. They were both crazy loons! I was most intrigued by her, but she failed to save this one. She claimed to be a feminine heroine, but was more of a predator! We are supposed to believe that these talented writers would "fall for her setup". 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.

I suppose it could be considered an adventure and a challenge with an off amount of gratuitous gay sex as a side. The writing is all over the place and the old "kitchen sink" moniker deserves its place with this story.

Right away it gets creepy. But Alex and the others are so enamored with their hostess, the famous author, that they accept what I think should be unacceptable. And, of course, they get snowed in, so they can't leave, anyhow.