What do you think?
Rate this book
Goddess
An entrancing novel about a wellness retreat on a remote Greek island hosted by a celebrity guru who is more than meets the eye.
On a flight to New York at the end of her first book tour, up-and-coming writer Agnes Oliver meets Jack Verity, the handsome filmmaker and ex-husband of Geia Stone, a famous actress turned wellness guru, whose popular lifestyle brand Goddess promotes controversial therapies and expensive beauty tools in the name of self-care and inner nourishment. Jack invites Agnes to a party in the Hamptons, where she meets Geia and finds herself welcomed into the guru’s inner circle.
That summer, Geia arranges for Agnes to attend the Goddess summit, an exclusive wellness retreat held on a remote Greek island. There, Agnes observes many strange happenings she can’t explain, as one by one the other guests seem to fall under the spell of their enchanting host. When Agnes begins to discover who Geia really is, she realizes it’s up to her to protect the other women at the summit from an unexpected and unwelcome fate. A propulsive and captivating story about beauty and influence, self-doubt and seduction, Goddess is the electrifying new novel from a talented writer to watch.
On a flight to New York at the end of her first book tour, up-and-coming writer Agnes Oliver meets Jack Verity, the handsome filmmaker and ex-husband of Geia Stone, a famous actress turned wellness guru, whose popular lifestyle brand Goddess promotes controversial therapies and expensive beauty tools in the name of self-care and inner nourishment. Jack invites Agnes to a party in the Hamptons, where she meets Geia and finds herself welcomed into the guru’s inner circle.
That summer, Geia arranges for Agnes to attend the Goddess summit, an exclusive wellness retreat held on a remote Greek island. There, Agnes observes many strange happenings she can’t explain, as one by one the other guests seem to fall under the spell of their enchanting host. When Agnes begins to discover who Geia really is, she realizes it’s up to her to protect the other women at the summit from an unexpected and unwelcome fate. A propulsive and captivating story about beauty and influence, self-doubt and seduction, Goddess is the electrifying new novel from a talented writer to watch.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2023
16 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
November 5, 2022
The ads made this sound like a real romp: A Gwyneth Paltrow-esque actress turned wellness guru called Geia Stone offers a wellness retreat on a Greek island, and the new lover of her former husband joins to write an article for Vogue. As a fan of Goop-spoof Covetton House, I expected a witty parody or at least discussion of curated hypercapitalism that morphs wellness trends into weapons in the great distinction games - but on the contrary. Protagonist Agnes Oliver, a bestselling author, doubts the enterprise, only to have life-shattering insights in hypnotherapy and to find out about the real, ancient powers of healer Geia Stone. Of course, dear readers: Your troubles will be healed by magic, brought about by exclusive celebrity retreats.
Unfortunately, nothing here is plausible: The whole set-up relies on bizarre incidents (e. g. Agnes thinks of Geia Stone and her former husband, only to have the letter show up right in front of her). The psychology of the characters makes no sense (e. g. Agnes is said to be 30, but has the emotional maturity of a 14-year-old, and her "romance" with the director-ex-husband is grotesque). The inner workings of the story are not shown, but fully told (e. g., Agnes explains her trauma to us, repeatedly and at length, just like the ex-husband, to make sure we know what to think). Bits and pieces are thrown at us, but not really employed for the story (Agnes wrote a story about nature, we are told nature speaks to her, but none of her actions show it; she is said to love the Greek classics, but it's not worked into the text on an aesthetic level).
And then there's the language: Shortish, plain sentences, cringeworthy dialogue (that interview Agnes gives: Platitudes that hurt), none of the stated sensibilities of our narrator recognizable in her narrative voice. The book starts as a Künstlerroman, turns into a love story, a thriller, and then a supernatural tale, and nothing works.
I was really excited to read something more light-hearted and smart, but this was all-over the place, with no consistent creative concept or message. This could have been so much better!
Unfortunately, nothing here is plausible: The whole set-up relies on bizarre incidents (e. g. Agnes thinks of Geia Stone and her former husband, only to have the letter show up right in front of her). The psychology of the characters makes no sense (e. g. Agnes is said to be 30, but has the emotional maturity of a 14-year-old, and her "romance" with the director-ex-husband is grotesque). The inner workings of the story are not shown, but fully told (e. g., Agnes explains her trauma to us, repeatedly and at length, just like the ex-husband, to make sure we know what to think). Bits and pieces are thrown at us, but not really employed for the story (Agnes wrote a story about nature, we are told nature speaks to her, but none of her actions show it; she is said to love the Greek classics, but it's not worked into the text on an aesthetic level).
And then there's the language: Shortish, plain sentences, cringeworthy dialogue (that interview Agnes gives: Platitudes that hurt), none of the stated sensibilities of our narrator recognizable in her narrative voice. The book starts as a Künstlerroman, turns into a love story, a thriller, and then a supernatural tale, and nothing works.
I was really excited to read something more light-hearted and smart, but this was all-over the place, with no consistent creative concept or message. This could have been so much better!
September 7, 2022
*ARC from NetGalley*
This was… so bad? What did I just read? And why did I give it the benefit of the doubt for so long when I started having DNF pangs about 30% of the way through?
The plot felt like a lot of unfinished thoughts smushed into one book. The synopsis reads like it will be a scathing commentary on influencer culture, when really it’s a supernatural story that wants you to think it’s a thriller (which it kind of is, for like 2 pages). She plays up the main character’s connection to nature and then does not thread that anywhere else in the book. She plays up her relationship-or-whatever with Jack and then that doesn’t get a lot of air time.
The pacing is horrendous. A majority of the action in this book took place in the last 15%. I knew when I got 82% in and we were still only on day 8 of the 10 day Summit that the ending would be so disappointing… and it was. I hate when books get wrapped up with a pretty bow ending when absolutely nothing in the book even remotely suggested that it would be a short and sweet finish.
I hesitate to leave bad reviews because obviously a book is a lot of work that goes through a lot of hands to get to publication, but I think a few more people and a better editor would have made all the difference here. The story had the potential to be something slightly interesting but man… that pacing. I just can not emphasize enough how bad the pacing is.
This was… so bad? What did I just read? And why did I give it the benefit of the doubt for so long when I started having DNF pangs about 30% of the way through?
The plot felt like a lot of unfinished thoughts smushed into one book. The synopsis reads like it will be a scathing commentary on influencer culture, when really it’s a supernatural story that wants you to think it’s a thriller (which it kind of is, for like 2 pages). She plays up the main character’s connection to nature and then does not thread that anywhere else in the book. She plays up her relationship-or-whatever with Jack and then that doesn’t get a lot of air time.
The pacing is horrendous. A majority of the action in this book took place in the last 15%. I knew when I got 82% in and we were still only on day 8 of the 10 day Summit that the ending would be so disappointing… and it was. I hate when books get wrapped up with a pretty bow ending when absolutely nothing in the book even remotely suggested that it would be a short and sweet finish.
I hesitate to leave bad reviews because obviously a book is a lot of work that goes through a lot of hands to get to publication, but I think a few more people and a better editor would have made all the difference here. The story had the potential to be something slightly interesting but man… that pacing. I just can not emphasize enough how bad the pacing is.
January 3, 2023
A thriller where a Gwyneth Paltrow type heath guru hosts a mysteriously discreet retreat on the remote Greek island she’s from. It has all the fixings of an absolute page turner, and it was!
This book had me hanging on right until the third act. Spoiler alert, there’s a supernatural element I just found a bit unnecessary. I actually found this kooky figure leading her loyal followers via pseudoscience believable, it didn’t need her being an actual goddess on earth twist.
This book had me hanging on right until the third act. Spoiler alert, there’s a supernatural element I just found a bit unnecessary. I actually found this kooky figure leading her loyal followers via pseudoscience believable, it didn’t need her being an actual goddess on earth twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2022
I was so excited to read this book after reading a promising blurb about a woman invited to a "wellness retreat" of a famous actress-turned-guru and suddenly having it take a turn for the weird and worse. I expected a thriller/mystery meets commentary on social media and beauty standards, but this was... not it at all.
The best comparison I can think to make is its similarities with a psychological-thriller/mind-bending horror such as Midsommar or Don't Worry Darling, just not in a good way. The intent was there, but the execution was bad - especially the ending.
Goddess, to put simply, was just all over the place.
It took over 60% of the book to get to the actual retreat mentioned in the synopsis, and the 'strange happenings' don't start happening until approximately the three-quarters mark. None of the characters seemed particularly likable or real (i.e., two-dimensional), and the plot was lacking in multiple regards: the attempts at romance, building self-image, commentary on alternative 'healing' methods, etcetera.
I tend to give books the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the way it's written --especially in how it can be perceived by others-- but there are just too many things wrong with this book for me to think it can be properly enjoyed by its general audience. I think the synopsis was more promising/interesting than the actual plot of the book itself.
Nevertheless, my deepest thanks to NetGalley, Deborah Hemming, and House of Anansi Press Inc. for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The best comparison I can think to make is its similarities with a psychological-thriller/mind-bending horror such as Midsommar or Don't Worry Darling, just not in a good way. The intent was there, but the execution was bad - especially the ending.
Goddess, to put simply, was just all over the place.
It took over 60% of the book to get to the actual retreat mentioned in the synopsis, and the 'strange happenings' don't start happening until approximately the three-quarters mark. None of the characters seemed particularly likable or real (i.e., two-dimensional), and the plot was lacking in multiple regards: the attempts at romance, building self-image, commentary on alternative 'healing' methods, etcetera.
I tend to give books the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the way it's written --especially in how it can be perceived by others-- but there are just too many things wrong with this book for me to think it can be properly enjoyed by its general audience. I think the synopsis was more promising/interesting than the actual plot of the book itself.
Nevertheless, my deepest thanks to NetGalley, Deborah Hemming, and House of Anansi Press Inc. for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2023
The build up seems long and drawn out with little return. It seemed like the author had a point to make, didn’t know how to make it so blurted it all out in a moment of verbal diarrhea at the end of the book.
Interesting concept, poorly executed.
Interesting concept, poorly executed.
January 19, 2023
Review posted on my Instagram:
Book Review: Goddess by Deborah Hemming
What a fun read! @houseofanansi sent me this advance reading copy that comes out in February 2023.
🐍In this story, we follow Agnes, a first-time author who is struggling to write her next novel for which the deadline is quickly approaching. Agnes meets a big-shot celebrity, Jack, who produced her favourite movies and who is divorced from his famous actress ex-wife, Geia. Those two still have a tight-knit relationship as they are co parenting. Geia is now mainly known for her wellness brand called Goddess (similarly to Gwenyth Paltrow). Jack invites Agnes into their world and that’s when the adventure begins.
🐍The author writes in a way that doesn’t make me feel like I’m reading. All of this was like one very entertaining movie going on in my mind. The characters have easily identifiable traits and the story is guided by the plot, which makes for a quick-paced story, even given its 361 pages.
🐍There’s some Greek Mythology elements thrown in there, along with therapy, a masturbation class, and ageless friendships. I highly recommend you pick it up for a light, quick read.
Final rating: 4/5⭐️
🐍The only downside to this book is the ending, in my opinion. Although the whole story is beautifully executed, the last few pages seemed rushed. I would have liked to read more about the events unfolding at the end, but we seemed to skip over some of the development. However, it’s not something that should stop you from picking it up. It’s definitely still worth the read.
Book Review: Goddess by Deborah Hemming
What a fun read! @houseofanansi sent me this advance reading copy that comes out in February 2023.
🐍In this story, we follow Agnes, a first-time author who is struggling to write her next novel for which the deadline is quickly approaching. Agnes meets a big-shot celebrity, Jack, who produced her favourite movies and who is divorced from his famous actress ex-wife, Geia. Those two still have a tight-knit relationship as they are co parenting. Geia is now mainly known for her wellness brand called Goddess (similarly to Gwenyth Paltrow). Jack invites Agnes into their world and that’s when the adventure begins.
🐍The author writes in a way that doesn’t make me feel like I’m reading. All of this was like one very entertaining movie going on in my mind. The characters have easily identifiable traits and the story is guided by the plot, which makes for a quick-paced story, even given its 361 pages.
🐍There’s some Greek Mythology elements thrown in there, along with therapy, a masturbation class, and ageless friendships. I highly recommend you pick it up for a light, quick read.
Final rating: 4/5⭐️
🐍The only downside to this book is the ending, in my opinion. Although the whole story is beautifully executed, the last few pages seemed rushed. I would have liked to read more about the events unfolding at the end, but we seemed to skip over some of the development. However, it’s not something that should stop you from picking it up. It’s definitely still worth the read.
August 10, 2023
This is one of those books that I was throughly enjoying until I looked at the reviews and started second guessing myself. A lot of the reviews are asking so much of this book, when it was enjoyable as is. Sure the ending was a little lack luster for all that build up. And there is no genre either- it’s supernatural, literary fiction, romance hybrid and that is okay! I loved the snake, so strange. Pretty close to five stars for me.
Read
August 10, 2023this book fell victim to me being exhausted and busy and never having the capacity to read so it took me a while to finish. i automatically like books less if they take me a while to read. that’s not to say i didnt like this, there were a lot of aspects that i enjoyed and the first half had me really excited. agnes having to “protect the other women from an unexpected and unwelcome fate” was a bit overkill because in the end the stakes were pretty low, but the concept was nice. im kind of confused on the commentary on celebrity wellness cults bc id definitely want eternal health but i guess that’s just me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ overall i feel neutral, if i binged this i think idve liked it
February 14, 2024
This book was difficult to finish. The first half of the book moved slowly, and we see a lot of mundane details. It’s this pace that did not prepare me for the second half of the book, which moved faster. A few things:
1. Owen takes up a lot of space without readers really being connected to that history through Agnes, until the very end.
2. Agnes’s overwhelming awkwardness and lack of confidence was so overly done it made the book difficult to read.
3. We never really get the tie-in between Agnes’s supernatural abilities and the actual supernatural happening that comes about at the end of the book.
4. The ending felt rushed.
I liked the second half of the book far more than the first half. The Summit was so much more interesting than any of Agnes’s book tour. Now that I think about it, what was all that really about? Why show her tour so thoroughly? It just didn’t matter. If the whole book had been similarly paced as the last half, I would have given it more stars.
And…I could have seen Agnes being the only one to go through with the ritual in the end. Like oh, she’s going to do it! Do it, sis! Embrace your abilities! And then…nothing.
1. Owen takes up a lot of space without readers really being connected to that history through Agnes, until the very end.
2. Agnes’s overwhelming awkwardness and lack of confidence was so overly done it made the book difficult to read.
3. We never really get the tie-in between Agnes’s supernatural abilities and the actual supernatural happening that comes about at the end of the book.
4. The ending felt rushed.
I liked the second half of the book far more than the first half. The Summit was so much more interesting than any of Agnes’s book tour. Now that I think about it, what was all that really about? Why show her tour so thoroughly? It just didn’t matter. If the whole book had been similarly paced as the last half, I would have given it more stars.
And…I could have seen Agnes being the only one to go through with the ritual in the end. Like oh, she’s going to do it! Do it, sis! Embrace your abilities! And then…nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2023
What an interesting story! The author gives clear insight into the main character, Agnes, a writer. Agnes has lifelong doubts about her importance and has a difficult relationship with her mother. On a flight to a publishing event, she meets Jack and they click right away. Agnes is invited to Jack's birthday celebration at his vacation home in the Hamptons, which he shares with his ex-wife Geia, who is a beauty expert with a wide following. Agnes is then invited to write a piece about Geia's wellness retreat to a small Greek island.
I loved how the characters were developed. Agnes's character growth was impressive and believable. The island and retreat were described so well, I almost felt I was there. Strange things happen at the retreat, and we find out in the last few pages what that was all about. I will watch for more from this author!
I received an ARC. Goddess will be released Feb. 14, 2023.
I loved how the characters were developed. Agnes's character growth was impressive and believable. The island and retreat were described so well, I almost felt I was there. Strange things happen at the retreat, and we find out in the last few pages what that was all about. I will watch for more from this author!
I received an ARC. Goddess will be released Feb. 14, 2023.
June 9, 2023
This was the perfect book for me to read in a hammock, in a pool, and beneath the Big Dipper. I needed a lighter read and this contained things that always grab my interest (animism, a writer, alternative healing modalities, cult-like leaders & followers, family/relationship dynamics...) Was it an insanely captivating plot? No. Will it always remind me of an amazing trip I took with my partner? Yes.
Five stars for the memories.
"Goddess" felt like a less intense "Nine Perfect Strangers" though I only watched the TV series. I'd like to sit down with Lianne Moriarty's book at some point in the future.
Five stars for the memories.
"Goddess" felt like a less intense "Nine Perfect Strangers" though I only watched the TV series. I'd like to sit down with Lianne Moriarty's book at some point in the future.
November 24, 2022
GODDESS by Deborah Hemming is a super fun read! I was intrigued by the premise and cover right away. It’s about a writer, Agnes, who attends a celebrity wellness guru’s retreat where there’s something weird going on. Once I got to part two I just couldn’t put this book down and I had to find out what was going on! I really enjoyed the writer side of Agnes and the focus on celebrity culture, touch of supernatural and bonding female friendships. This would make the perfect beach or vacation read. I loved the short chapters, beautiful Greek island setting and intrigue until the very end.
.
Thank you to House of Anansi for my advance reading copy!
.
Thank you to House of Anansi for my advance reading copy!
February 27, 2023
This was a really interesting read in that I wasn't really sure what was going to happen and how this was going to end. Although I feel like I should have known what the ending was going to be, I was still thrown off. I feel like there could have been more anticipation/build-up for the climax in this and I feel like in that regard it fell short.
January 19, 2025
Well that took an unexpected turn. I liked it a lot, but I wish there’d been more after the reveal
March 14, 2023
I enjoyed this book until it got to the Goddess summit. Then it seemed contrived and reminded me of Goop. The cover art is what attracted me, it is gorgeous.
April 14, 2024
2.5 rounded up!! I was pretty interested but the ending fell sooo flat for me. like a YA version of Rouge by Mona Awad with more unnecessary nudity.
December 14, 2024
This started off quite strong, but seemed to lose it towards the end. I can’t decide whether it’s a thriller/suspense novel or fantasy. It becomes more fantastical as it goes on and not in a very convincing way. The main character is quite engaging and the depictions of self consciousness in wellness retreats is really goo. But it all unraveled at the end.
September 13, 2022
I’ve been anxiously awaiting reading this one since I read the blurb and got accepted on @netgalley. I’m a sucker for all books set in Greece, probably my absolute favorite setting for a book.
Agnes is coming down from being a best selling author of her debut novel when she’s headed to NY and meet the Jack Verity. Jack is a huge fan and is currently reading Agnes’s novel. Agnes is also a fan of Jack - sexy filmmaker and ex to the Goddess herself Geia. After the course of a few days Jack and Agnes cross paths again and Jack invites Agnes to his place that he still shares with Geia for his birthday. Not quite understanding the relationship Jack and Geia still have, Agnes’s feels like an outsider. However Agnes connects with Geia. and Geia invites her to attend her first ever 10 day wellness retreat on a small Greek island. Agnes agrees and spins finds herself with 50 other women on their wellness journey. Over the course of the 10 days, Agnes learns so much about herself and unlocks things she thought were locked away forever. Having found the clarity she sought, Agnes returns home a changed person.
This was a wonderful contemporary fiction novel where the journey was wonderful. I was invested in Agnes and her journey. I wish there would have been more in the way of Jack and Agnes’s relationship but I enjoyed the pieces that were there. I loved the development of Geia’s character and the ultimate reveal. This wasn’t a thriller or mystery, but there was a distinct purpose associated with Geia’s character and I enjoyed it. Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for giving me a e-ARC in exchange for this honest review. Strong 4/5 from me. Make sure to add this one to your radar - it’s out early next year, Jan 3, 2023 and it would make the perfect book to go along with your New Years resolution.
Agnes is coming down from being a best selling author of her debut novel when she’s headed to NY and meet the Jack Verity. Jack is a huge fan and is currently reading Agnes’s novel. Agnes is also a fan of Jack - sexy filmmaker and ex to the Goddess herself Geia. After the course of a few days Jack and Agnes cross paths again and Jack invites Agnes to his place that he still shares with Geia for his birthday. Not quite understanding the relationship Jack and Geia still have, Agnes’s feels like an outsider. However Agnes connects with Geia. and Geia invites her to attend her first ever 10 day wellness retreat on a small Greek island. Agnes agrees and spins finds herself with 50 other women on their wellness journey. Over the course of the 10 days, Agnes learns so much about herself and unlocks things she thought were locked away forever. Having found the clarity she sought, Agnes returns home a changed person.
This was a wonderful contemporary fiction novel where the journey was wonderful. I was invested in Agnes and her journey. I wish there would have been more in the way of Jack and Agnes’s relationship but I enjoyed the pieces that were there. I loved the development of Geia’s character and the ultimate reveal. This wasn’t a thriller or mystery, but there was a distinct purpose associated with Geia’s character and I enjoyed it. Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for giving me a e-ARC in exchange for this honest review. Strong 4/5 from me. Make sure to add this one to your radar - it’s out early next year, Jan 3, 2023 and it would make the perfect book to go along with your New Years resolution.
August 26, 2022
When Agnes’ first book is published and becomes a New York Times Bestseller, she’s stunned. All she did was write about her love for nature and how it was her getaway when she was a child. Now, she’s becoming a household name and she doesn’t know what she’s doing. So, when she finds herself sitting next to a famous (and hot!) celebrity on an airplane AND he confesses that he is reading her book, she’s speechless. Everything stops when he shows up at her book signing and, later, invites her to his ex-wife’s house for his birthday party. This is the best thing that has ever happened to her… and the worst. Geia (the ex-wife) is a hot influencer of her product, Goddess, and the woman everyone wants to be. In a series of events, Agnes finds herself alongside 49 other women on an island for the Goddess Summit, ran by Geia. And it’s here, on this island, where everything just gets…. Weird.
I did not know what to expect. As I’m writing this review, I’m wondering what Agnes would think of it. Would she overthink if I said it was a page-turner (because it was!!) or would she look too far into it when I said that the real excitement seemed to be held until the end. Honestly, I enjoyed this book and the mystical nature it gives off. I felt myself laughing at Agnes’ inner dialogue a few times and genuinely concerned for her sanity in other times. It was the perfect length and I was instantly happy with how it ended.
I did not know what to expect. As I’m writing this review, I’m wondering what Agnes would think of it. Would she overthink if I said it was a page-turner (because it was!!) or would she look too far into it when I said that the real excitement seemed to be held until the end. Honestly, I enjoyed this book and the mystical nature it gives off. I felt myself laughing at Agnes’ inner dialogue a few times and genuinely concerned for her sanity in other times. It was the perfect length and I was instantly happy with how it ended.
September 3, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
Agnes is a newly published author still struggling to find her path after the success of her first novel. Tasked with writing a follow-up, she is on a book tour when she meets enigmatic filmmaker Jack Verity, The two begin to grow closer, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Jack is still very close to his ex-wife, Geia Stone. Things get even weirder when the former actress and self-care guru Geia invites her to a ten-day retreat in Greece for her Goddess brand.
I enjoyed this book. I resonated with Agnes and how she felt that she never really fit in anywhere, and how she doubted her worth and talent. I liked the plot and the setting and thought they were explored well. I did feel like the end was a little too pat and easy, and I would have liked to see more conflict, but overall, this book was quite enjoyable!
Agnes is a newly published author still struggling to find her path after the success of her first novel. Tasked with writing a follow-up, she is on a book tour when she meets enigmatic filmmaker Jack Verity, The two begin to grow closer, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Jack is still very close to his ex-wife, Geia Stone. Things get even weirder when the former actress and self-care guru Geia invites her to a ten-day retreat in Greece for her Goddess brand.
I enjoyed this book. I resonated with Agnes and how she felt that she never really fit in anywhere, and how she doubted her worth and talent. I liked the plot and the setting and thought they were explored well. I did feel like the end was a little too pat and easy, and I would have liked to see more conflict, but overall, this book was quite enjoyable!
August 21, 2022
The things I love about Goddess are the things I didn't expect going into it: rhe beautiful descriptions of nature and Violets in Her Lap, the supernatural thread that runs throughout, the nods to real celebrities.
However, the book's execution threw me off a little. The main part of the plot — the Goddess retreat — doesn't come until almost halfway through. The beginning could have been much more condensed to allow for the retreat to truly build suspense. On the flip side, the ending felt a bit rushed and underwritten. I didn't believe Agnes would react in the way she did, and all of that built-up tension felt pointless.
However, the book's execution threw me off a little. The main part of the plot — the Goddess retreat — doesn't come until almost halfway through. The beginning could have been much more condensed to allow for the retreat to truly build suspense. On the flip side, the ending felt a bit rushed and underwritten. I didn't believe Agnes would react in the way she did, and all of that built-up tension felt pointless.
September 19, 2022
A fun, escapist read! The premise of this book reminded me of Liane Moriarity's Nine Perfect Strangers, but I enjoyed Goddess so much more! I absolutely adored Agnes, the perfectly flawed protagonist, and I enjoyed being on her journey of newfound success, happenstance, self-discovery...and traveling to a remote Greek Island for a wellness retreat.
I envisioned a different ending but I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style and character development.
I envisioned a different ending but I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style and character development.
August 24, 2022
This book is a bit different but in a fun way. It was easy to read and the story was amazing. Loved the main character in this one as she was so relatable.
April 4, 2023
Agnes Oliver wrote a book, a novel narrated by the woods. It’s a strange book, but it’s a bestseller. But Agnes still feels just as nervous and insecure as she did as a child. When she took a flight to New York City for her book tour, she sat in first class, next to famous movie director Jack Verity. And he was reading her book. And he recognized her from her author photo. Agnes was stunned. She had long been a fan of one of his early movies, one he had made with his ex-wife Geia Stone.
They talk a little about what she will be doing in New York and how he’s going to the Hamptons to spend time with his girls, the two daughters he has with Geia. He ends up coming to one of her book signings, and then he—the Jack Verity—invites her out to the Hamptons to celebrate his birthday with his family.
Agnes agrees to go, but she’s very nervous to meet his ex-wife. Geia is not only a gorgeous actress, she is an influencer with a huge wellness brand named Goddess. Goddess includes make-up and skincare, clothing, cookbooks, and a special health water that really does make Agnes feel better. Agnes is intimidated by her, but also confused. The woman has a wellness brand, but she eats potato chips and drinks alcohol. She can cook up an amazing dinner, but her latest boyfriend is young and doesn’t seem interested in Geia’s wellness brand or her acting career or anything beyond what he’s staring at on his phone screen.
But when Geia invites Agnes on a 10-day retreat on a small Greek island, Agnes feels compelled to say yes. She’s struggling to come up with an idea for her second novel, which is already late to the publisher. Maybe the retreat will help her write? And she gets the offer to write about the retreat for Vogue, which makes the offer to go even sweeter.
But as soon as Agnes shows up, something feels off. The island is beautiful, and the retreat is filled with women who worship Geia. When Geia wears a white linen dress around the hotel, most of the women buy up white dresses of their own from the Goddess Market set up there. Their days are spent in a variety of wellness classes, where they talk about intentions and breathing and self-care. They lay on the ground in the forest and listen to the trees’ roots. They learn makeup tips for the organic, vegan, clean skincare items Geia has created. They share secrets. They learn self-love.
Agnes tries to understand the things she’s seeing. A lot of Geia’s brand is fairly typical wellness influencer items. But Agnes can’t help but feel that there is more going on. That Geia is hiding something. Most nights, Agnes can’t remember how she got back to her room, but she wakes up in the morning in her bed, in her pajamas, each morning. There are rumors about strange happenings in the hypnotherapy sessions. Agnes is torn. She likes Geia and is falling for Jack, but she also wants to write an honest article. She wants to be friends with Geia but she also wants to be honest. What will it take for Agnes to break through her writer’s block? Can Geia actually heal Agnes, or has Agnes stumbled into something that’s beyond her ability to deal with?
Goddess is also a strange novel, but it has some genuinely interesting moments. It’s a statement on wellness gurus and their, um, goop. But it’s also a story about a woman trying to heal from childhood trauma and find her voice again. It’s pretty smart and a little awkward and while I had to set it down from time to time to catch up with where it was going, I did stick with it all the way to the end. And that ending was far more satisfying than I expected it to be.
I can’t give a blanket recommendation for Goddess, as it’s not a novel for everyone. It feels a little experimental, like something I would stumble over in a bookstore and not quite love but not quite hate and keep thinking about from time to time. There are some challenging scenes to read, but there is a lot to think about, so I do hope that this book finds its audience. But I would recommend reading a chapter or so before you decide to jump all the way in on this one.
Egalleys for Goddess were provided by House of Anansi Press through Edelweiss, with many thanks.
They talk a little about what she will be doing in New York and how he’s going to the Hamptons to spend time with his girls, the two daughters he has with Geia. He ends up coming to one of her book signings, and then he—the Jack Verity—invites her out to the Hamptons to celebrate his birthday with his family.
Agnes agrees to go, but she’s very nervous to meet his ex-wife. Geia is not only a gorgeous actress, she is an influencer with a huge wellness brand named Goddess. Goddess includes make-up and skincare, clothing, cookbooks, and a special health water that really does make Agnes feel better. Agnes is intimidated by her, but also confused. The woman has a wellness brand, but she eats potato chips and drinks alcohol. She can cook up an amazing dinner, but her latest boyfriend is young and doesn’t seem interested in Geia’s wellness brand or her acting career or anything beyond what he’s staring at on his phone screen.
But when Geia invites Agnes on a 10-day retreat on a small Greek island, Agnes feels compelled to say yes. She’s struggling to come up with an idea for her second novel, which is already late to the publisher. Maybe the retreat will help her write? And she gets the offer to write about the retreat for Vogue, which makes the offer to go even sweeter.
But as soon as Agnes shows up, something feels off. The island is beautiful, and the retreat is filled with women who worship Geia. When Geia wears a white linen dress around the hotel, most of the women buy up white dresses of their own from the Goddess Market set up there. Their days are spent in a variety of wellness classes, where they talk about intentions and breathing and self-care. They lay on the ground in the forest and listen to the trees’ roots. They learn makeup tips for the organic, vegan, clean skincare items Geia has created. They share secrets. They learn self-love.
Agnes tries to understand the things she’s seeing. A lot of Geia’s brand is fairly typical wellness influencer items. But Agnes can’t help but feel that there is more going on. That Geia is hiding something. Most nights, Agnes can’t remember how she got back to her room, but she wakes up in the morning in her bed, in her pajamas, each morning. There are rumors about strange happenings in the hypnotherapy sessions. Agnes is torn. She likes Geia and is falling for Jack, but she also wants to write an honest article. She wants to be friends with Geia but she also wants to be honest. What will it take for Agnes to break through her writer’s block? Can Geia actually heal Agnes, or has Agnes stumbled into something that’s beyond her ability to deal with?
Goddess is also a strange novel, but it has some genuinely interesting moments. It’s a statement on wellness gurus and their, um, goop. But it’s also a story about a woman trying to heal from childhood trauma and find her voice again. It’s pretty smart and a little awkward and while I had to set it down from time to time to catch up with where it was going, I did stick with it all the way to the end. And that ending was far more satisfying than I expected it to be.
I can’t give a blanket recommendation for Goddess, as it’s not a novel for everyone. It feels a little experimental, like something I would stumble over in a bookstore and not quite love but not quite hate and keep thinking about from time to time. There are some challenging scenes to read, but there is a lot to think about, so I do hope that this book finds its audience. But I would recommend reading a chapter or so before you decide to jump all the way in on this one.
Egalleys for Goddess were provided by House of Anansi Press through Edelweiss, with many thanks.
November 28, 2022
I received this ARC from @houseofanansi as part of their book subscription bundle, and was immediately interested after reading the synopsis. Agnes is a new writer who, through luck, ends up in a sort-of friendship with Geia, a popular lifestyle celebrity, which earns her a seat at an exclusive wellness retreat led by Geia on a Greek island, with the concept of writing an article about it for Vogue. Struggling with impostor syndrome and a skeptical eye on “Wellness”, Agnes struggles, both with writing about the retreat and participating in it. But she also starts to realize that there is something unusual going on, and starts to investigate.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! There were a few parts of it that didn’t really land with me, but it didn’t stop me enjoying the book. Once it really picked up, I couldn’t stop reading until I got to the end. The mystery is revealed slowly, and it kept me turning pages. I also sympathized a lot with Agnes and her view of “Wellness”. Geia is very much a Gwenyth-Paltrow character, and discussions between her and Agnes have some great tidbits about beauty culture and the obsession with health and wellness quick-fixes.
I think another part I liked is that Agnes seems to change her relationship to wellness at the retreat. Like her, I generally see the cornucopia of wellness activities around my hometown with something ranging from suspicion to cynicism. But that’s not to say that being in such environments and people hasn’t probably been a good influence on me in some ways. I don’t believe that attending an ecstatic dance class will solve my problems, but it might help some people, and really, why shouldn’t we dance like nobody is watching? With maybe some external influence, Agnes seemed to have a similar growth at the retreat.
If you’re looking for a quick, mysterious read, check out Goddess! Publish date January 2023. Thanks Anansi for the copy!
Overall, I enjoyed this book! There were a few parts of it that didn’t really land with me, but it didn’t stop me enjoying the book. Once it really picked up, I couldn’t stop reading until I got to the end. The mystery is revealed slowly, and it kept me turning pages. I also sympathized a lot with Agnes and her view of “Wellness”. Geia is very much a Gwenyth-Paltrow character, and discussions between her and Agnes have some great tidbits about beauty culture and the obsession with health and wellness quick-fixes.
I think another part I liked is that Agnes seems to change her relationship to wellness at the retreat. Like her, I generally see the cornucopia of wellness activities around my hometown with something ranging from suspicion to cynicism. But that’s not to say that being in such environments and people hasn’t probably been a good influence on me in some ways. I don’t believe that attending an ecstatic dance class will solve my problems, but it might help some people, and really, why shouldn’t we dance like nobody is watching? With maybe some external influence, Agnes seemed to have a similar growth at the retreat.
If you’re looking for a quick, mysterious read, check out Goddess! Publish date January 2023. Thanks Anansi for the copy!
February 24, 2023
When I read the synopsis of this book, it gave me 9 perfect strangers kinda vibe, so i thought I would give it a go.....and boy was i glad I did. I'm not a person who wants to tab / highlight / underline in a book (that is just a huge no no for me.. lol) but if I had the actual book in front of me instead of my kindle, I would have done all 3. I did highlight a few passages that stood out for me.
We meet Agnus who has a life changing moment happen to her when she was a child and she was able to use it to write a very successful book. Whilst on a flight to New York, she meets Jack Verity who is a very famous Actor / Producer with an extremely famous ex-wife Geia Stone who is a lifestyle influencer. Jack and Geia's lives are very intertwined due to their relationship and shared twin daughters.
Geia invites Agnus to join her on a 10 day Goddess retreat in Greece to write a glowing article for Vogue (this would highlight the retreat and the Goddess name brand even more). But Agnus who is attuned to strange things, starts noticing some odd things about Geia and the retreat that just don't make sense. We also get to delve into Agnus' past and her brokenness and how she needs to heal from it in order to move forward in her life and with her next book.
There were a lot of pivotal moments which I think many people would be able relate to, like certain aspects of Agnus' brokenness and society with its drive to have everything and anything to do with the next big fad and it gave me some food for thought.. Some self actualization if anything.
I was obsessed with reading this book as it had such a good flow to it, the characters had some depth. But the one thing that made me laugh out loud is that, no matter how sucked into what ever latest fad there is happening, asking a woman to cut her hair off for it, will definitely make her wake up out of whatever trance she is under.
We meet Agnus who has a life changing moment happen to her when she was a child and she was able to use it to write a very successful book. Whilst on a flight to New York, she meets Jack Verity who is a very famous Actor / Producer with an extremely famous ex-wife Geia Stone who is a lifestyle influencer. Jack and Geia's lives are very intertwined due to their relationship and shared twin daughters.
Geia invites Agnus to join her on a 10 day Goddess retreat in Greece to write a glowing article for Vogue (this would highlight the retreat and the Goddess name brand even more). But Agnus who is attuned to strange things, starts noticing some odd things about Geia and the retreat that just don't make sense. We also get to delve into Agnus' past and her brokenness and how she needs to heal from it in order to move forward in her life and with her next book.
There were a lot of pivotal moments which I think many people would be able relate to, like certain aspects of Agnus' brokenness and society with its drive to have everything and anything to do with the next big fad and it gave me some food for thought.. Some self actualization if anything.
I was obsessed with reading this book as it had such a good flow to it, the characters had some depth. But the one thing that made me laugh out loud is that, no matter how sucked into what ever latest fad there is happening, asking a woman to cut her hair off for it, will definitely make her wake up out of whatever trance she is under.
October 3, 2022
I hate leaving bad reviews because I cannot imagine the amount of work that goes into publishing a book but this was a mixed bag for me. I'll start by saying I think this story has a lot of potential. I thought the premise was good and interesting. An insecure, introverted novelist (Agnes) being invited to a wellness retreat led by a suspiciously perfect actress (Geia). There were definitely portions of the book that were cinematic and could be easily adapted onto the screen. I just think this book needs to narrow down on what it wants to be.
The first 50% of the book is just Agnes hanging out in Geia’s home. Agnes' relationship with Jack, her being a novelist and her connection to nature really don’t add anything to the plot. This could have been condensed with Agnes receiving an mysterious email inviting her to the wellness retreat.
While the classes were interesting, the lessons learned from the wellness retreat were repetitive. Trust yourself. The answers are within. Agnes' transformation of character is something she is able to control but it’s unbelievable that she’s able to figure out Geia’s motives by “looking within.” When she can’t do that, Geia just admits her motives in the last 15 pages of the book. The twisting suspense is wrapped up in a neat bow with literally every character getting a happy ending.
I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC. Thanks to Netgalley and House of Anansi Press Inc. and Deborah Hemming for the opportunity to read this. Goddess will be published February 14, 2023.
The first 50% of the book is just Agnes hanging out in Geia’s home. Agnes' relationship with Jack, her being a novelist and her connection to nature really don’t add anything to the plot. This could have been condensed with Agnes receiving an mysterious email inviting her to the wellness retreat.
While the classes were interesting, the lessons learned from the wellness retreat were repetitive. Trust yourself. The answers are within. Agnes' transformation of character is something she is able to control but it’s unbelievable that she’s able to figure out Geia’s motives by “looking within.” When she can’t do that, Geia just admits her motives in the last 15 pages of the book. The twisting suspense is wrapped up in a neat bow with literally every character getting a happy ending.
I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC. Thanks to Netgalley and House of Anansi Press Inc. and Deborah Hemming for the opportunity to read this. Goddess will be published February 14, 2023.
February 1, 2023
This book left me feeling really frustrated. The beginning was so interesting and intriguing and I was genuinely interested to see where the story would take us. A Gwyneth Paltrow-esque health guru brings a group of loyal followers plus a writer with her own issues to a Greek island for a beauty and health summit? There were so many really cool ways this book could have gone and instead the big reveal and ending were really silly to me. This book was so atmospheric and really ominous vibes that just seemed pointless after the reveal. I did enjoy Agnes as a character with her insecurities and family issues to work out. Geisha was VERY interesting and I was waiting for more and then of course…that ending. I was expecting more of a psychological thriller and it felt like it wanted to go there, but just didn’t. It did keep my interest so I’ll give it credit for that. But overall, I’m a little disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anasi Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anasi Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2023
Okay this book felt way longer than it actually was. And took me way longer to read that I expected. Overall, the story was fine. I was expecting a lot more, just based on reading the back cover, but it was just…alright.
I really enjoyed the first part but I kept waiting for something to happen in the second part, and then when something finally did happen it was fairly anti-climatic.
I did appreciate seeing the main character work through some childhood trauma, adult trauma, and start to take care of herself. I can even appreciate that the book wasn’t all about romance, but about finding yourself and even connecting with other women. I just feel like they could have done more with the whole “Greek goddess” thing. It could have been far more developed. The mystery dragged on for far too long.
It was not a bad read. Just after finishing it I realized it was just okay. I was bored at parts, somewhat invested at other parts, and a little disappointed that it wasn’t as exciting as I was hoping.
I really enjoyed the first part but I kept waiting for something to happen in the second part, and then when something finally did happen it was fairly anti-climatic.
I did appreciate seeing the main character work through some childhood trauma, adult trauma, and start to take care of herself. I can even appreciate that the book wasn’t all about romance, but about finding yourself and even connecting with other women. I just feel like they could have done more with the whole “Greek goddess” thing. It could have been far more developed. The mystery dragged on for far too long.
It was not a bad read. Just after finishing it I realized it was just okay. I was bored at parts, somewhat invested at other parts, and a little disappointed that it wasn’t as exciting as I was hoping.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews