Helpless

by Jessica Knoll

From the New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive and Bright Young Women comes a smoldering psychological thriller with a singular, mind-bending last page.

It’s been twelve years since Faye Heron broke Henry Spalding’s heart. Henry was her college boyfriend, her first intense love, but Faye was in danger of being subsumed by him.

Now, Faye is one half of a power-producing duo with her Hollywood husband. Henry is a married father running the family business. Both of their lives have essentially gone to plan.

When a former and beloved college professor suddenly passes away, Faye and Henry find themselves back on campus for the funeral, circling something old and dangerous. Something, if Faye is honest with herself, she has been trying to duplicate for years. But Henry is one of a kind.

The kind who delivers a hypnotic apology for the way things ended.
The kind who suggests they go back to the hotel for a drink.
The kind who drugs and kidnaps her.

When Faye comes to Henry’s remote mountain cabin, she’s beside herself. Has Henry brought her here to punish her? She did, after all, write and star in a lauded episode of television based on their indelicate appetites and vicious breakup. As her week of captivity unfolds, Henry’s wanton demands intensify, and a sprawling, years-old mystery begins to take shape—one that will rewrite history as Faye remembers it and reveal an astounding, cataclysmic truth.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Adult, Horror, Horror Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Jessica Knoll is the New York Times Bestselling author of THE FAVORITE SISTER and LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE—now a major motion picture on Netflix starring Mila Kunis. She has been a senior editor at Cosmopolitan, and the articles editor at SELF. She grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and graduated from The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and bulldog, Franklin. BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN, her third novel, publishes on September 19th.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Knoll’s writing is something I keep returning to because she always surprises me. What makes her so unique is that each of her books feels like it could have been written by a different author, yet they all intersect at one powerful point: the awakening, rage, and rising fist of women taking back their narratives.

I loved Luckiest Girl Alive for its cutting corporate-world commentary, and I adored Bright Young Women even more. So when I started this book, I’ll admit—I was confused. I caught myself thinking, Why am I reading an erotic, obsessive romance wrapped in a mystery full of dominance, dysfunctional family trauma, and psychological obsession?

But I told myself to keep going, because this is still among my favorite genres. And I’m glad I trusted the process. Without giving anything away, there is a twist at the end that will absolutely divide readers into two fierce camps: those who love it, and those who absolutely hate it.

As for me? I’m on the lover side. I spent most of the book questioning what was real, who to trust, and what truly happened in the past. The final reveal made the entire narrative click for me—smart, bold, and a genuine rug-pull moment. While this isn’t my favorite Knoll book overall, it’s still uniquely compelling, psychologically twisty, and populated with characters who are perfectly hateable yet strangely sympathetic once you understand the trauma they carry. They aren’t toxic for no reason—they were shaped by everything they endured.

Here’s a spoiler-free plot outline with my own commentary to help you decide if this book is for you. (My vote: yes! You may question my recommendation during the first act, but once the second act begins, everything escalates beautifully—especially if you appreciate daring twists.)

Our main character, Faye Herron, is a powerful Hollywood producer, married to another successful producer. She becomes a rising star after writing a hit TV episode inspired by her ex-boyfriend Henry Spalding, portraying him as a villain for millions of viewers. Years later, when her beloved college professor passes away, his nephew Campbell reaches out and asks her to speak at the ash-scattering ceremony. Faye agrees, even though it forces her to confront painful memories tied to that chapter of her life.

Returning to her professor’s secluded home also means facing Henry Spalding—the ex whose heart she broke and whose image she publicly destroyed. Yet time has changed them both: Faye is married, Henry is married with children, and logically, the past should be behind them. But as soon as they’re in the same room, undeniable chemistry resurfaces. A few drinks, a hotel room, shared vulnerability—and suddenly, Faye wakes to find herself kidnapped and taken to a remote mountain cabin.

Is Henry exacting revenge for the humiliation she caused him, or is something even darker at play? He insists he’s protecting her. He insists she’s safer locked away. But from what? And why? As Faye uncovers deeply buried secrets about their shared history, she begins to realize that nothing she believed about her past—or herself—is entirely true, and the danger surrounding her is far more complex than she imagined.

Overall: I loved the originality of this story. I even enjoyed the steamy scenes and found myself oddly rooting for these flawed, damaged characters and their intoxicating, toxic dynamic. They are far from healthy—but in a strange way, they fit each other perfectly. If you’re craving a fast-paced, steamy, psychologically sharp mystery that becomes smarter and bolder as it unfolds, this is absolutely worth adding to your TBR.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing this clever, twist-filled mystery’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Liana Gold]

Obsession, toxicity, unreliable narrator and sinister plot

This would be my third book by Jessica Knoll. Having recently read “Bright Young Women” and previously read “Luckiest Girl Aline”, I’m very fond of her work, particularly how she uses her own words to give a voice to the voiceless. I'm hoping for a memorable dark thriller but the reviews are a little on a lower side. Got me curious!




Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner Publisher, and the author Jessica Knoll for sending me this ARC.

Publication date: July 7, 2026

[emilybookedup]

leaving a rating off for now bc i’m still unsure what i feel/think of this one after finishing 🤔

this felt like a mix of a dark thriller and a dark romance… somewhat THE LAST HOUSEWIFE x VERITY vibes but without the cult aspect?!! idk! it’s so hard to explain. i love her past work and was definitely expecting more mystery/thriller than we got. it was more of a dark romance that should come with A LOT of trigger warnings (parts made me feel very icky tbh).

what i loved: the ending and the audiobook narration. Marin Ireland did a great job and helped me stay hooked to figure out how on earth this was going to end. i really liked the last chapter, and it’s one of those books that gives you a shock on the final page. most times those make for my favorite thrillers—i hate when everything is tied up in a lil bow.

all that said, i am just so unsure on this one! it felt like two books in one and i’m not sure which would have been more successful, but selfishly i wanted more thriller AND more leaning into the lake house/campus setting (which are two of my faves).

this comes out in July—thanks to the publisher and Libro FM for early ARCs / ALCs!

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The relationship portrayed in this book was painfully toxic. I love a book with some spice but this was a 2 1/2 year sexually abusive relationship that the FMC still fantasized about. Also, I just can’t with the Mary Magdalene and Jesus kink.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Elise · Rating 1 out of 5]

hot mess express. should have DNF but wanted to see if would get better. spoiler it didnt

[haleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

advance copy won in goodreads giveaway

“everyone wants erotic thrillers right now. everyone.”

a psychosexual thriller about a woman who has been consistently victimized by those who hold power over her. i thought it lost it in the middle and had turned into some generic booktok dark romance slop, but it came back around in the end. jessica knoll, i’m sorry i ever doubted that you would write anything other than a nuanced work on power & how the trends of popular culture uphold and revere subjugation.

i wish this was a bit longer to flesh out part 4, which was the most interesting part of this book, but i loved the full circle moment

side note: also to the other reviewers going “oh this is so spicy” “the spice in this is actually problematic”, i need you to engage more critically with what you’re reading

[Tatianna]

Baby's first physical arc from a major publishing house omgggg thank you Simon & Schuster 😭

[Jim Holscher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley And the publishers for the digital arc of this one.

This hurts! I am a huge fan of Bright Young Women, Jessica Knolls last work. This one did not hit the Mark at all for me.
Here we are following a writer who has a full marriage when an ex boyfriend shows up who really sparks things for her. That is before kidnapping her! There is a lot going on in this one and some of it was interesting. It all was lost, however, under a sludge of grossness. This really swerved heavily into porn. The multiple descriptions of hard core sexual acts left nothing to any readers imagination and was gratuitous to the point of revulsion. I guess we’re supposed to say “if men can write hard core porn it is refreshing when women do too”. Except it isn’t. It’s just as gross, demeaning, and objectifying as when creepy guys do it.
2 stars

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is hard to sit still with while reading. For most of it, I was fully locked in. The writing is sharp, addictive, and has that slippery quality where you can’t quite trust anything you’re being told. Jessica Knoll is a gifted writer—there’s no question there. The tension is real, the psychological layering is compelling, and the way she writes obsession feels unnervingly intimate.

But it is also deeply uncomfortable in places. The sexual content tied to coercion, assault, and fantasy blurs lines in a way that will not work for every reader. It pushes into erotic thriller territory, but not in a glossy or “fun thriller” way, more in a disorienting, uneasy, sometimes disturbing way.

And then there’s the ending. This is where I fully struggled. It leans heavily into ambiguity and a final page twisty reframing, but instead of feeling clever or mind blowing, it felt like it withheld too much. I wanted clarity. I wanted resolution. I wanted to know what was actually real versus what was constructed or unreliable and I didn’t get enough of that. I’m also not even sure I fully understand what happened so there’s that too.

So I ended up in a weird place with it:

* Completely absorbed while reading
* Uneasy at points
* Impressed by the writing
* Frustrated by the payoff

It’s compelling in a “I can’t look away” way, but not entirely satisfying in a “this clicked together” way.


Perfect for Readers Who Love

* Unreliable narrators and psychological distortion
* Dark, obsessive relationships that feel destabilizing
* Erotic thrillers that lean unsettling rather than glamorous
* Stories where memory, truth, and perception blur
* Fast, compulsive writing with a disorienting edge

[Victoria Tezangi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one sitting! Helpless by Jessica Knoll kept on the edge of my seat guessing everything, doubting everyone and wondering where things were going to go next. Throughout the book I couldn't predict the next page let alone the ending in what was a captivating and very sexy thriller.

Faye is a very successful actress, writer and director with a life that appears to be pretty perfect from the outside. She's an attractive woman with a fantastic career and an equally successfully husband. We see her return to her college town at the start of this book for the funeral of her beloved professor and while attending bumps into her ex Henry and we are thrown into a twisty and uncreditable journey. Faye and Henry have had no contact for a very long time after Faye wrote an award winning TV episode based on her relationship with Henry and his controlling behaviour. While at the funeral the pair are awkward around each other but Henry approaches Faye in what looks to be an attempt to move forward but it looks as though nothing is that simple and their story continues to unravel chapter by chapter in a story about revenge, love, and obsession.

Every single chapter in this book had me hooked. I didn't know what to expect page to page with new secrets being revealed and new plot lines beginning. The chemistry between Faye and Henry was next level! They were toxic and so unbelievable bad for each other but they gave this book a level of sexy I was not expecting at all. As characters I didn't really like anyone in this book which felt like the whole point. They were all so unlikeable and grey but I was obsessed with learning more about them and seeing where things were going to go. This was an erotic phycological thriller that had twists at every corner, no one you could trust and an ending that had me wanting even more.

[Leslie Ann (lalasbookishlife)]

What did I just read?! 😳😱😲🤔

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Jessica Knoll! I flew through Luckiest Girl Alive before the movie came out and loved both the book and the film. Bright Young Women is one of my all time favorite thrillers—it was absorbing, emotional, and completely gripping. So I couldn’t wait to delve into her latest novel, Helpless, and it did not disappoint.

Helpless follows Faye, now a successful Hollywood hyphenate writer-director-actress, who returns to the update New York college she attended over a decade ago after her favorite professor dies. She’s both dreading and anticipating crossing paths with the professor’s nephew Henry, her college boyfriend. Not only did things between Faye and Henry not end well, but she wrote an episode of a TV show she starred in about the demise of their relationship, which didn’t portray Henry in the best light. Both Faye and Henry are now married to other people, and Henry seems willing to leave the past behind—until he drugs and kidnaps Faye. His reasons for doing so aren’t what Faye first assumes, kicking off a power play between the two that harkens back to the dynamic at the core of their college relationship.

I don’t want to spoil too much but I will say that dynamic between them is sexually charged and layered. I flew through this book in a couple of days; I did not want to put it down! There are several big twists that kept things very exciting, but the heart of the book is really Faye working through her relationship with Henry: what her desire for him and their sexual dynamic says about her; whether she wants to stay in her marriage; and whether she truly still loves Henry or just how he makes her feel. If sexually explicit content isn’t your thing this might not be for you, but I love dark thrillers in general and Knoll’s writing specifically and I really enjoyed this one.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hottest day in 23 years and we had no power all day — KILL ME NOW IT WAS TORTURE. Just got power back at 11:14pm. Ughhhhhhh AC feels so goood.

#ad much love for my finished copy @dartofrog + @scribnerbooks #partner
& @simon.audio #partner for the ALC

Helpless
< @
Releases: July 7, 2026

Absolutely loved the little travel bag and the goodies inside - I read this book while smelling like a queen 💁🏼‍♀️ and that hairbrush is so adorable 🥰!!!💖

I don't know if I changed or Henry did, if we both did just enough that our edges stopped fitting together and instead poked and prodded.

What we had is in a junkyard, buried under several hundred tons of scrap metal and hazardous waste. I'll poison myself trying to find it.

I don't know why people call it an unburdening. Nothing about me feels lighter for saying this. I want to weep from the exhaustion of carrying something so huge and shameful, which now feels close to colossal for putting words to it.

When a beloved professor dies, Faye and Henry are forced to confront the lives they’ve built since their relationship ended more than a decade earlier. But cracks in those carefully curated facades leave an opening for them to walk right through. Though they chose different paths, each achieved the future they once believed they wanted together. But a chance reunion at the funeral alters everything they thought they knew about moving on.

Some connections never truly disappear. The spark they once shared wasn’t extinguished by time - it was simply buried beneath years of self-preservation. Seeing each other again brings those long-suppressed feelings roaring back, proving that what they thought was over was only waiting for the right moment to reignite. Their collision wasn’t unexpected; it was inevitable.

You’ll be completely hooked to this story by page 70.

I enjoyed this one! And if you’re like me and not into the smutty stuff - rest assured - it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. Though you will be cringing a few times, it’s brief and the story moves right along.


🎧: Also listened to the audio while following along and recommend it. Marin Ireland does a phenomenal job narrating this book. She’s easy to listen to and brings the story to life. She’s another one of my favorite narrators.


𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
Sitting on a stick of dynamite 🧨 😫
Personal trainer for your thumbs 🤣
His medal is in the mail 👏🏼👏🏼🤣
Oscar-winning pedos 💯
Let’s see what you look like when the Botox wears off 🤣🤣

I loved that I had absolutely no idea where this story was going or what was happening. The pacing was perfect and the secrets only reveal themselves at the perfect timing. It’s told in four parts and spreads out over the course of a weekend.

For an erotic thriller 4 stars! If you enjoy hostage thrillers with a mix of complicated relationships then you’ll love this one.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Jessica Knoll and Simon Audio for the ARC/ALC!

Twelve years after ending an all-consuming relationship with her college boyfriend, Henry, Faye has built the successful life she always wanted - she is a successful actress with a husband. When she attends the funeral of a beloved professor and sees Henry, old feelings quickly resurface. Things take a shocking turn when Henry kidnaps Faye and brings her to a remote mountain cabin. As their complicated past unfolds, long-buried secrets and a decades-old mystery emerge, forcing Faye to question everything she thought she knew.

I loved Jessica Knoll’s previous book, Bright Young Women, so I was excited to get into this too. Seeing so many big opinions on this story only intensified my interest. I spent the majority of the time I was listening disliking all the characters, to be honest. I couldn’t quite figure out Faye’s motivation, but the ending really made it make sense and brought things full circle. The mystery at the center of the story - who killed the professor - took a back seat to Faye and Henry’s complicated relationship. I didn’t dislike this book at all - the spice didn’t bother me - but I did feel like I had a little trouble connecting the dots at times. I wish part four was a little longer too. But otherwise, it kept me engaged the entire time - I wanted to know what was going to happen!

“Helpless” releases July 7, 2026. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[lauren h · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️

Firstly thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Having read and enjoyed both Bright Young Women and Luckiest Girl Alive, I went into this read with high expectations. Unfortunately it did not do it for me.

This book follows a very famous and accomplished Faye who is attending a funeral for her previous mentor/professor PT. At this funeral she is confronted with her old life/acquaintances and her ex-boyfriend Henry. She ends up being kidnapped by Henry and taken to his lake house where she is being blackmailed for having incriminating evidence on Henry.

I can’t go into more without heaaaavy spoilers. I was super intrigued by the concept and find Jessica Knoll writes incredibly crass characters that speak to the darkest parts of the mind. But truly there wasn’t a single enjoyable character in this. I believe it’s an attempt at writing “everyone sucks here” but it made it painful to read having zero care for what happens to anyone.

I also found it was more erotic thriller than traditional thriller and some of the content I would raise a trigger warning for (including SA fantasies) which was deeply uncomfortable.

Not for me but I would definitely consider reading more from the author given I enjoyed 2 other novels.


*my review is my own and in no way associated with any company/anyone else*

[Jindi (readingwithcaffeine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a disturbing read. If you’re a fan of dark and obsessive thrillers or if you’re looking for your next fix after binging Tell Me Lies… pick this one up. I actually felt a bit sick reading this lol, it’s an uncomfortable read but somehow I still couldn’t put it down? I just needed to know how it would all end.

In Helpless we follow Faye, a woman who seems to have it all, but after returning back to her college for the funeral of an old professor, she runs into her first love. Now this relationship was TOXIC AF. Although they’ve both moved on and married since, the connection between them is still undeniable and what starts as a civil conversation quickly spirals into something far more sinister. I was so frustrated by this book, but I struggled to put it down.. basically you’ll be hooked but you won’t feel great about it. 3.5 stars

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

setting: new York
rep: n/a

This is a complete departure from Knoll's previous book and I think a lot of people may take umbrage with that but I for one loved it. This one is for the Verity fans - it's a dark, erotic thriller with very messed up characters. I do think it's a tad let down by the marketing, which advertises a mind-blowing twist on the final page which led to me thinking there was a missing chapter, because I turned the final page and was stunned it was the end. it might have been more mind blowing if we had spent longer in part four; I wish there had been more time dedicated to Faye's time back in LA as the end might have felt twistier

[elyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m very on the fence about this one. I couldn’t put it down because it felt like watching a train wreck but at times I was so put off? I think partially I went in blind and the result was way different than I anticipated

[Cheryl Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by Jessica Knoll! I was thrilled to get it as an ARC. This was my first read by this author and I will go on search of her other books.

The book is about an actress/writer named Faye who goes back to her old college town to attend the funeral of her mentor.

Also at the funeral are old friends, enemies, and her ex boyfriend, Henry. Her and the ex broke up on bad terms and she even based an episode of the show she is in on the breakup. She is nervous about seeing the ex since she hasn’t seen him since then.

The ex comes to her hotel room after the funeral and things take off from there. This was a real page turner for me. There is a lot to unpack including past deceptions and relationships including what happened with the boyfriend. Is Henry who she remembers or has he turned into someone else? What really happened to her mentor and his wife many years ago?

After the hotel room, they wind up at her mentor’s lake house. There were a lot of twists and turns. Maybe one too many because I felt it became hard to believe. That being said, I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

[shannon (books by the glass) · Rating 3 out of 5]

jessica knoll is such a diverse writer - every one of her books feels like it’s written by someone else & I love that it evokes different emotions every time!

for fans for VERITY and TELL ME LIES, dark romance fans will eat up this one! henry and faye were in the most toxic relationship for the ages, relying on pain and roughness to express their love and lust for one another… but when faye is forced to return to her hometown for a funeral, she runs into henry and his cousin campbell, unsure of all of the emotions that will unearth 😳

and while there were a LOT of triggering toxic moments in this one (linked at the bottom of the review), the focus on the thriller aspects was a refreshing take. yes, the book is about toxic relationships and friendships but I’d argue that the whodunnit was way more interesting…

a bingeable read for me, but ultimately more than half of the scenes gave me the ick 😶 and that ambiguous ending? had me gagged (and not in the best way)

thank you to scribner for the advanced copy! out next week!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel

🚩 TW: suicide, death of parent, drowning, toxic relationship, sexual assault 🚩

[Sally &#x1f4da; · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faye is a successful actress/writer/director returning to her college town for a beloved former professor’s funeral. In doing so, she faces Henry, her ex-boyfriend she left behind and hasn’t spoken to since she left him and wrote an award-winning television episode about his controlling behavior in their relationship. As this story unfolds, it becomes clear that NOTHING is as straight-forward as it seems at first glance. Faye struggles to determine who she really is and what she really wants as she is forced back into Henry’s orbit.
This book is very well-written and a solid psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns. It is also an erotic thriller and the sexual dynamic of Faye and Henry’s relationship will not be for everyone. At times, their relationship made it difficult to figure out anyone’s motivations, but that may have been the intention. I think fans of Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter fans will enjoy “Helpless”!
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC!

[booksta_lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy. 2.5 rounded up.

This felt like it was two books, but together they didn’t work at all. This could have been a great thriller OR a dark romance. Combining the two ruined all the great elements this book had.
The reason I rounded up to 3 stars:
• love authors writing. She has a great way with words and setting the scene.
• while the very final twist was expected (there is another book with the same idea) I still loved it, because it is not overdone so still feels fresh.
• loved all of the thriller elements but because of the amount of open door scenes, every time I kept forgetting what are we doing here and why.
• I always respect authors who take a risk and try something different. This one is definitely the case.

Will I recommend this? Probably no. But I also don’t hate that I’ve spend 3 days reading this book.

[Birdie.Recommends · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard one for me to rate. As a thriller, this book felt fairly average — solid enough, but not especially surprising or standout within the genre.

Where it really got under my skin was in the portrayal of the sexual relationship between the two main characters. Those scenes were deeply uncomfortable and, at times, genuinely alarming. The writing evokes a strong visual and emotional response, and that discomfort felt very intentional. It’s also consistent with what I’ve appreciated about this author’s style in previous books.

While the plot itself didn’t fully wow me, the psychological intensity of those moments elevated the experience enough for me to round this up.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Knoll’s HELPLESS delivers an erotic thriller that is so visceral and intense you can’t put it down. The prose is so engaging it genuinely feels like she slipped narcotics into the pages.

But it’s also a total mind-bender that leaves you with plenty of questions by the end. As the story unfolds, you realize both of these main characters are objectively awful people… so are you supposed to be rooting for them to succeed or hoping they fail?

I completely understand the mixed reactions to this one. It’s messy, morally complicated, and not every question gets wrapped up in a neat little bow.

But… I kind of loved it?

3.75 ⭐️

[Jessica Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpless, by Jessica knoll, is a dark, erotic thriller with deeply flawed characters you’re not sure you want to root for. Her writing, as always, is captivating and gives you the exact twisted page turner you’re hoping to devour.

I do feel the ending was lacking, leaving me with wanting more from the final pages. All in all, a great one to grab and knock out on a cozy weekend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the publisher.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

I have absolutely loved her books in the past but I should have not just auto-requested, as this was not for me. Are erotic thrillers coming back, because this is the second one I've read. I'm not opposed to them. We'll see.

Faye goes back to her former college campus for the funeral of a professor and comes face to face with her old college boyfriend, Henry. She's now a married Hollywood writer and producer but it's a bit awkward that in her twenties, she wrote about Henry in a not too flattering way.

Complete chaos ensues. Secrets are spilled. Spicy scenes are included. I feel like I'm not opposed to the overall concept, but for me this got a little weird, with pretty much every single character a villain in their own way. I wanted someone or something to root for.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

[Jessica Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was that ending??

I love a toxic storyline with flawed characters so I was enjoying this thrill ride. Until the very last few pages when I questioned the entire story I just read. The twists were decent but the ending left me scratching my head.

I'm seeing this described as an "erotic thriller" and I'll say, yes there are some steamy scenes but nothing more than I've read in a smutty romance. So if you're staying away for fear of that, it's not nearly as erotic as some romances I've read.

[Kailey (kmc_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio, and I didn’t hate it? I was actually pretty entertained overall and this was a super quick listen it won’t be for everyone though, I’d give it around 3/3.5 stars

[whatkelseysreading]

lol wait what??

star rating to come, probably?

[Tiffani (tiffaniandherbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨

Jessica Knoll writes the most bingeable, unhinged, HOLY SHIT thrillers I swear