This is a Safe Space

by Lucinda Berry

“Lucinda Berry is just so so brilliant, and This is a Safe Space is a thrilling, addictive addition to her extensive catalog.” —Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A therapist discovers an unnerving connection between one of her patients and her own family in this gripping audio thriller by the bestselling author of The Perfect Child and One of Our Own.

Jenna, who runs a successful private therapy practice, still struggles with trust issues of her own. She’s made a promise to stop snooping in her husband Colten’s phone, but sometimes she can’t help herself. One night, she discovers a troubling exchange between him and his cousin Bodie, who’s one of his closest friends. A dancer from a bachelor party they both recently attended is threatening Bodie, claiming they crossed a line sexually and that she’ll expose the truth to his family if she doesn’t get what she wants. They don’t know much about this woman, or how far she’s willing to go. But Jenna might.

Lexus Chardonnay, the stage name of the dancer from the party, is one you don’t forget. And Jenna’s heard it before—from one of her clients.

Kaitlyn is a medical school student who dances on weekends to put herself through school. Jenna’s been her therapist for years, except she hasn’t seen her for three months. Not since Kaitlyn stopped showing up for treatment, without explanation. As Jenna begins to listen back to their past sessions, desperate for answers, a more complicated picture emerges, and she must decide who to trust as her career and her family hang in the balance.

Specially produced for a dynamic listening experience, This is a Safe Space is a shocking, emotional thriller from “a leading voice in the genre and a force to be reckoned with” (Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage).

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Novella

Audible Audio

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.

If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.

Reviews

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your therapist may need therapy more than you do!😂

Jenna is a therapist with trust issues of her own. It’s already almost cost her - her marriage. But she can’t seem to stop herself from needing to read her husband Colton’s texts. But maybe she has good reason…

Colton has been texting nonstop with his cousin Bodie. It appears that a woman has been threatening to expose Bodie (Oh, that doesn’t sound good). The woman’s name…Lexus Chardonnay (ya - I laughed at that one too)🤭

Jenna knows that name! Worlds may be colliding when those text messages may refer to one of her patients. Rot roh!

Hold on to your hats because Lucinda Berry packs a lot of thrill into this audio novella. And with a full cast of narrators, it created a perfect audio production!🙌

✍️ written by: Lucinda Berry
🎧 Narrated by: Danielle Savre, Alicia Crowder, Dan Bittner, Matt Godfrey, Janina Edwards
⏰ three hours and forty minutes
📈 4/5🌟
📆 Publication date: Oct 21 2025
👉listen if you enjoy twisty thrillers, multiple narrators, novellas
🥨 psychological thriller

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Audio

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Electric tension, twisted secrets, & relentless suspense!

This Is a Safe Space by Lucinda Berry gripped me from the first listen with its layered mystery and tangled family drama. The full cast narration brought so much life and energy, making Jenna’s inner turmoil feel urgent and real. Fun, short, and effective, the creeping distrust and unfolding revelations kept me hooked all the way through. The twisted surprise at the end sealed the deal. A tense, compelling thriller perfect for fans of dark psychological suspense.

Expected publication October 21, 2025.

Thank you to Libro.fm for the audiobook copy. From my experience, this one really delivered. I would recommend it to suspense fans looking for a quick, gripping listen.

[Ericka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Loved this audio! I love when Lucinda does audio only books because the production on them is outstanding. Seriously, I loved this audiobook. It’s super short and I was captivated from beginning to end; finished it in one sitting. Definitely recommend for a bit of the Lucinda fuckery we all know and love

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and entertaining

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHEW THAT SPACE WASNT SAFE ENOUGH!

If Lucinda writes anything I am immediately front in line to read it!
I love her audio novellas as they are always produced so well.
The whole cast did a fantastic job and get me entertained and engaged the whole way through!
I really loved the story and although i knew how it was all going to play out, it still very much had me at the edge of my seat.
I hope she continues with these audio releases!

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts | 3.5⭐️
This was an entertaining read, the full cast graphic audiobook was done really well and adds to the experience. The synopsis was intriguing, I was pulled in from the get-go however it did feel a tad predictable, I was expecting more twists especially towards the end. Overall all enjoyable quick listen

Plot Summary
Jenna, a therapist with lingering trust issues, tries to stop snooping through her husband Colten’s phone—but slips one night and uncovers a disturbing text thread. Colten and his cousin Bodie are worried: a dancer from a recent bachelor party is threatening to expose a sexual encounter unless she gets what she wants. They don’t know who she really is… but Jenna might. The name Lexus Chardonnay rings a bell—because it’s the stage name of Kaitlyn, a med-school student Jenna has been treating for years who suddenly stopped showing up three months ago. As Jenna digs into old session recordings for answers, she uncovers a far messier and more dangerous story than she expected. Now she must untangle the truth and decide who to believe—before both her career and her family fall apart.

My Bookstagram

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Jenna has a thriving private therapy practice and is married to Colten, a man she loves and who loves her back. He’s never given her a reason to mistrust him but she brought trust baggage to the relationship. Despite promising to stop secretly checking his phone, she falls off the wagon and sees a damning text exchange between him and his cousin Brodie who’s also her brother-in-law. It involves a stripper at a bachelor party and Brodie apparently crossed a line, cheating on Jenna’s pregnant sister. Oh, and the stripper is her client!

the heart of the story…
That took a turn! To say Jenna has trust issues is more than an understatement as she took even more risks sticking her nose into Colten and Brodie’s messaging. She grapples with ethical and moral issues…does she insert herself with the client, tell her sister what’s going on?

the narration…
I not only enjoyed the storytelling by Danielle Savre, Alicia Crowder, Dan Bittner, Matt Godfrey & Janina Edwards, but loved the dynamic effects used to distinguish recorded sessions from live dialogue. It elevated the story immensely.

the bottom line…
I thought I knew where this might go but even in this short story there was a head-snapping twist. Nicely done!

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio Originals for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I recently finished another book by this author, so when I saw this one on Libby. I jumped on it. I believe this book is only available on audio, but if it’s not, it’s the only way you should dive in.

This audio is a shorty, but that doesn’t mean it lacks in suspense and twisty punches! Full cast narration with sound effects make this one totally binge-able and fun!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is short! ( A bit over 3 hours)
This is sweet? (Well, not really…. Unless you consider sweet as plots literally blowing up in your face!)
This is INCREDIBLE!!!!

This one pulled me in right from the start!

We have Jenna. She’s a therapist. She’s got a long list of clients.
She also has a terrific husband (Colten), one that she almost lost because of her compulsive snooping, but she’s better now. She’s not going to be snooping anymore!
He actually left her last time, so now she’s promised to be better… and he’s back!

But, we open up with a frantic phone call from Bodie, Colten’s cousin, who’s married to Phoenix, Jenna’s sister. He’s a wreck…stating that his wife’s car was just keyed… and he KNOWS who did it…

I’m going to 🛑🛑 STOP 🛑🛑RIGHT HERE…

But I will say that there was a bachelor party. And a stripper. And a lot of dinking. And both of these guys were there…

And the ending??? Totally blew me away! And then some! But…. It. Was. Perfect!!!

I will also say that this was a NON-STOP, EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT, NAIL-BITING, HAIR-PULLING, EXPLOSIVE KIND OF BOOK THAT WILL KEEP YOU REELING LONG AFTER THE READING IS DONE!! 😮😮😮

All the stars, and then some for me!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫

#ThisIsASafeSpace by @LucindaBerry and narrated, very chillingly by a full cast including: @DanielleSavre; @AliciaCrowder; @DanBittner; @MattGodfrey and @JaninaEdwards.

*** THIS ONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE 👀 LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON 10/21/25!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #SimonAndSchusterAudioOriginals for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Successful therapist Jenna is struggling with her own insecurities when it comes to her husband Colten, and is working to stop snooping when a troubling exchange pops up between him and his cousin Bodie. When information in their exchange begins to match information one of her clients has shared with her in session, Jenna worries there is more to the story, especially when her client vanishes.

When I think of palate cleansers or slump busters, this new audio novella by Lucinda Berry is exactly what I envision. For such a short story, coming in at under 4 hours, it packs a powerful, nail-biting punch. I found myself on the edge of my seat the entire time as I found myself unable to trust anyone (my favorite type of thriller). I was able to stay completely immersed in the story throughout, and while it may not be the most original story I have ever read, it sure was a ton of fun, especially given the full-cast narration complete with full sound effects. If you need a quick, easy thriller you can read in a sitting, this would be a great option.

Read if you like:
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️domestic suspense
▪️who can you trust vibes
▪️bingy stories
▪️graphic audiobooks
▪️One of Our Own

📆 Pub: October 21, 2025

Thank you Simon and Schuster Audio for the advanced copy.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm shooketh. This audiobook was so amazing. I truly loved all of the narrators! I was SHOCKED by the twist at the end. While this is a short audiobook, it will keep you on the edge of your seat! Lucinda Berry truly is the twist queen!

I received this ARC audiobook from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Audio Originals to listen/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.

[Chelsea | thrillerbookbabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Lucinda Berry and Simon Audio for my copy of this book. It was my first Lucinda Berry book, and it was about Jenna, a therapist who has been going through marriage troubles. She promised her husband Colton she would stop going through his phone, but when she goes back to her old ways, she finds out something suspicious. Colton's cousin is in trouble, and is being blackmailed by a dancer that he went too far with. Jenna is even more drawn in to the story when she realizes the dancer is one of her therapy clients. She wants to dive deeper, so she goes back and listens to her old sessions, only to discover there may be something much more sinister going on.

Thoughts: This book was really odd. It felt like it had an introduction and a conclusion but all the information and build up in the middle was missing. It skipped right from learning the problem to hearing the finale, so I had no time to get invested. There were some plot holes in the story that could have been fixed with more information and I think that it was a very basic thriller. It felt like a creative writing assignment and that wasn't really my thing. 2-stars.

[Jan Agaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was darker than I expected, which I appreciated, but it didn't have anything super shocking or special about it other than the audiobook having sound effects and a lot of the book being told via therapist sessions. It was nice to do chores to lol

[_blondebooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Audio, and Dr. Lucinda Berry for the advance audiobook of This Is a Safe Place in exchange for my honest review! 🎧



As someone who’s read nearly all of Lucinda Berry’s books, I was immediately intrigued when I saw a brand-new audio original pop up on NetGalley—and I requested it instantly 🙌🏼



I hit play.

I never paused.

I devoured this in one sitting.

It’s that good. 🔥



The audiobook clocks in at just over 3 hours, but thanks to the high-quality production, it felt more like an immersive, edge-of-your-seat audio drama than a standard thriller. It gave me major One of Our Own vibes (also excellent!) but with a fresh, intense plot all its own. 🎧



💥 The Premise:

Jenna, a therapist with her own trust issues (👀), breaks a promise to stop checking her husband’s phone... and finds a concerning message involving a dancer named Lexus Chardonnay. That name? She knows it.



It belongs to a longtime client—Kaitlyn, a med student who dances on weekends to make ends meet and recently stopped showing up to therapy after confessing she thought she was being stalked.



Not missing.

Just gone quiet.



Suddenly, Jenna’s professional and personal lives collide—and she dives into past recordings, desperately trying to uncover the truth before everything unravels. 🧠💣



And the tension never lets go.



✅ What I loved:

✨ A fast-paced, well-timed plot—no filler, no fluff

✨ Deep, emotional stakes beneath the suspense

✨ A powerful sister storyline that hit so hard (no spoilers!)

✨ An ending that felt satisfying, earned, and perfectly executed 👏🏼



If you’re tired of thrillers that take forever to find their footing—this isn’t that.

This one gets to the point, keeps it moving, and still delivers heart, tension, and twisty brilliance until the final moment. 🔥📚



🗓️ Release date: October 21, 2025

⏳ Go ahead and add this one to your fall TBR—you won’t regret it 💀🎧

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After secretly checking her husband’s phone, therapist Jenna makes a chilling discovery: her patient Kaitlyn, a college student paying her bills as an adult dancer, may be the same woman threatening her husband’s cousin, Bodie, following his wild bachelor party. It’s clear Kaitlyn has endured something traumatic, but she’s abruptly cut off therapy, leaving Jenna desperate for answers. Driven by concern and curiosity, Jenna begins to listen to their recorded sessions. What she uncovers is far more disturbing than she ever imagined.

Though trained to help others, Jenna is far from having her own life in order. Her messy past makes her actions understandable, but I couldn’t help but hope she wouldn’t unravel her life in her pursuit of the truth.

This is a Safe Space is a fast-paced, addictive listen that had me hooked from the first chapter! The full cast narration enhanced my enjoyment of this tense, twisty novella!

I voluntarily listened to an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the therapist in me is absolutely appalled, but then I remind myself that the book is fiction and just a story. That being said, this book was okay. It didn't really grab me, but was a decent story to finish. There were really not any twists that you couldn't see coming, and all in all was pretty easy to figure out. I listened to this on audio book and the narrator was not great.

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Magen • Bone Chilling Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this audiobook in less than a day and loved it. It was a great listening experience with a cast of characters. I also like how it was done with mixed media - you heard recordings and phone calls with all the sound effects. Well done!

The story itself was great - full of suspense and twists you didn’t expect. Love Lucinda Berry’s psychological thrillers and this one didn’t disappoint.

This was super fast paced and done before I knew it. At only 3h40m long, I flew through this audiobook in record time.

Highly recommend this audiobook!

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fast audio by Lucinda Berry, 3 hrs and 12 min long. I loved the shorter chapters and I loved the narrator’s who were in it. Everytime I thought I knew where this was going, I was completely wrong. What a wild ending! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio in exchange for my review. This book will be published October 2025.

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid thriller audible original by an author that I really enjoy listening to their books!

This was engrossing and mysterious and kept me interested from start to finish. I love how Lucinda Berry always ties in her career in psychology with many of her books. I love the therapist / client dynamic. It was a fast paced audiobook that I got to listen to while getting some work done. It was good.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Is a Safe Space by Lucinda Berry was such a wild ride! This audio original is narrated by a full cast, and the production quality was phenomenal, making it one of the most immersive listening experiences I’ve had in a while. The story follows Jenna, a therapist with major trust issues, who uncovers a chilling link between one of her troubled patients and her own family. It’s short, fast paced, and absolutely relentless with twists, drama, and nonstop action. I never knew who to trust, and it kept me glued to my earbuds from start to finish. If you love psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, this one’s a must listen!

[brittany:)]

excited for this, love her books!!

[Kim Seay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and steady moving story! I quickly felt connected to the characters and enjoyed the non stop suspense! Would definitely recommend! The narration was perfection, sounded and felt like a movie!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this short story from Lucinda Berry in one sitting! Therapist Jenna discovers that there is link between a client and her own family, sparking a chain of events she never saw coming.

Unfortunately I did guess all of the twists and I was kinda waiting for another one to come at the end but it never did. I did however like the production of the audiobook and it was nice to listen to something shorter than what I usually listen to though and still enjoy the thriller element.

[Courtney LaGamba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this book really did it for me. It had all the elements of a good thriller. I was locked in. It was short but executed so well.

[paige (paigesofbookss) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ couldn’t put it down but could predict it

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only safe space here is the audiobook pause button - and even that won’t save you from the twists.

"This Is a Safe Space" is a fast, twisty, enjoyable popcorn thriller that kept me guessing the whole way through. Jenna, a therapist with serious trust - and other - issues, uncovers troubling messages involving her husband, his cousin, and a mysterious dancer from a bachelor party. As she begins piecing together the puzzle through past therapy sessions, she confronts questions of trust, betrayal, and her professional ethics while the stakes escalate, threatening both her career and her family.

The short format audiobook is a standout, with an excellent cast and dynamic sound design that elevates the tension and emotion. Each narrator brings their characters to life, and the production effects add a cinematic quality that makes the story feel immediate and immersive. It’s a quick, engaging listen that makes it hard to pause, even as the plot twists in unexpected directions.

While Jenna is well and truly unhinged and should likely never be allowed to practice therapy in real life, this makes for a fun, juicy setup that drives the story forward. For fans of psychological thrillers and audio dramas, "This is a Safe Space" is a an enjoyable, immersive, suspenseful listen that’s impossible to put down.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio | Simon & Schuster Audio Originals and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

"This is a Safe Space" is slated to be released on October 21, 2025.

[Lia Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall synopsis of this book sounds great and I liked the first half but then I found it got pretty predictable. I was hoping there was going to be one more huge twist and the end and there wasn’t. Quick read, but I wanted more.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Not my favourite from Lucinda Berry, but still a solid novella. The audio production was great.

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is was a fantastic, exquisitely paced thriller. I wish there were more short format thrillers! Jenna has a hard time trusting because her father left their family for a new family when she was younger. Her mom never had another partner despite it being 16 years. Jenna is a therapist who practices from their home and married 5 years to Colton, who she works on trusting despite the fact that he’s never given her a reason to doubt.

Her sister Phoenix, pregnant with twin girls, is married to Colton’s cousin Brodie. She isn’t as close to her sister as she’d like to be. This story starts when she sees a text exchange between her husband and brother in law that gives her pause. And then somehow there seems to be a strong connection to one of her most vulnerable yet strong clients, Caitlin.

I listened to this while on a cross country flight. It was the perfect length and made the time fly by (lol). The relationship was really interesting and the performance…. WOW. Truly a five star performance from the narrators.

This had me riveted from start to finish! I was floored by the ending. Had no idea that was coming!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Audio for the ALC. Publication date 10/20/25.

[Stacy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

This held my attention up until the end. The ending wasn't my favorite, but overall, I really enjoyed the story.