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Helpless
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Expected 7 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
8 days and 21:58:49
20 copies available
U.S. only
From the
New York Times
bestselling author of
Luckiest Girl Alive
and
Bright Young Women
comes the highly anticipated, heart-pounding thriller with twists you'll never see coming…
Faye Heron has it beauty, a glittering Hollywood career and a powerhouse marriage to her producer husband. Her life is the kind most people can only dream of.
When a beloved former college professor suddenly passes away, Faye is drawn back to campus, and back to Henry Spalding, the man she’s spent twelve years trying to forget.
Henry was her first love, her most intense love. Their love was the kind that consumed… and that Faye chose to walk away from. But she never forgot. Now, Henry is married man. A father. Their reunion should be nothing more than a polite nod to the past. Instead, it awakens something dangerous.
Henry is full of apologies for how they ended. But as Faye is pulled deeper into his orbit, she begins to wonder if she’s walking into something that she won’t be able to escape from this time.
What starts as an innocent chance to reconnect unravels into a sinister game of obsession and control, one that forces Faye to confront the truth about their past and uncover a sprawling, years-old mystery.
Because Henry isn’t just one of a kind. He’s the kind who doesn’t let go.
Faye Heron has it beauty, a glittering Hollywood career and a powerhouse marriage to her producer husband. Her life is the kind most people can only dream of.
When a beloved former college professor suddenly passes away, Faye is drawn back to campus, and back to Henry Spalding, the man she’s spent twelve years trying to forget.
Henry was her first love, her most intense love. Their love was the kind that consumed… and that Faye chose to walk away from. But she never forgot. Now, Henry is married man. A father. Their reunion should be nothing more than a polite nod to the past. Instead, it awakens something dangerous.
Henry is full of apologies for how they ended. But as Faye is pulled deeper into his orbit, she begins to wonder if she’s walking into something that she won’t be able to escape from this time.
What starts as an innocent chance to reconnect unravels into a sinister game of obsession and control, one that forces Faye to confront the truth about their past and uncover a sprawling, years-old mystery.
Because Henry isn’t just one of a kind. He’s the kind who doesn’t let go.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Jessica Knoll
8 books5,971 followersJessica 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
May 9, 2026
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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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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Want to Read
December 5, 2025This 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.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner Publisher, and the author Jessica Knoll for sending me this ARC.
Publication date: July 7, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Scribner Publisher, and the author Jessica Knoll for sending me this ARC.
Publication date: July 7, 2026
December 25, 2025
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.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
January 26, 2026
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
“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
March 27, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
hot mess express. should have DNF but wanted to see if would get better. spoiler it didnt
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
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
April 15, 2026
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
April 20, 2026
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.
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.
April 23, 2026
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.
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.
January 4, 2026
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!
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!
February 8, 2026
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.
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.
March 14, 2026
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.
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.
May 5, 2026
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.
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.
May 12, 2026
Not for everyone but anything Jessica Knoll writes will be very much for me! Toxic and exceptionally well written. Try to go in blind if you can!!!! I’m so glad I didn’t even peek at the synopsis.
January 4, 2026
I really enjoyed reading this book! If you enjoy a Thriller with a little eroticism then this is for you! It will be released in July of this year so keep an eye out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this new novel that is a story about love, dark obsessive love, one that a person thought was in the past, but as the quote goes the "The past isn't even dead. Its not even past", opening up wounds long thought forgotten, wounds she never even knew were there.
I had just started working in bookstore when books about toxic relationships and toxic families were starting to appear. I had no idea what these were, nor what the were talking about. My dating life had been small, my family were people I liked being around. So most of these books seemed strange to me. Not to my co-workers. Soon I was hearing stories about toxicity in their life that well, made me glad to be boring. Some of these stories have stayed with me, though thankfully none of them were as dark and scary as this book. A well-written book at that. Helpless by bestselling author Jessica Knoll is a story of bad love, bad people, bad families, and what we try to forget when we move on, and what we miss when everything seems to be going wrong.
Faye Heron and Henry Spalding were the it couple in their small college, the one people wanted to be, and the one that so much was expected of. Faye left Henry, breaking his heart heading west to escape her family, and in many ways Henry, for their relationship had a lot of things that people could not see. Faye married and together with her husband became a producing dynamo, creating a show that caught the world's attention, based a little bit on her life with Henry. The death of a loved professor brings Faye back to her college and back to Henry. Henry has married also, and taken over the family business. The more Henry is around Faye begins to feel that something is off. That she is forgetting something. Henry asks Faye over for drinks, and soon she awakens in his cabin, a captive to an increasingly emotional Henry. The more time Faye spends there, the more she realizes that much that she old as true was lies, and she has no idea who to trust anymore, except herself.
I usually don't do this, but all the trigger warnings are in the book. This is a book that will make most people wonder about life in a monastery for who wants to meet and or date some of these people. That said this is an interesting book, a story of love and obsession but told from a different point of view, and one that constantly changes as more and more of the past is revealed to the characters. Again this is a rough book, but one that I kept reading even as I was shaking my head and going, yeah that's not my thing. Knoll has a very good way in creating characters that one feels you could run into them at work, or at the coffee shop. You might want to run after a few minutes of conversation, but they seem very real. The story is bigger than what it seems, dealing with abuse in families, harassment in higher education, and really, really toxic people in a doom spiral of a relationship.
A book that I am sure will cause a few conversations. I can see people defending some actions, being irate at others, and upset by the whole book. I like when authors take risks, try new things, and even make stories that might divide their readers. A really strong title from an author who constantly amazes. I look forward to what Knoll has planned next.
I had just started working in bookstore when books about toxic relationships and toxic families were starting to appear. I had no idea what these were, nor what the were talking about. My dating life had been small, my family were people I liked being around. So most of these books seemed strange to me. Not to my co-workers. Soon I was hearing stories about toxicity in their life that well, made me glad to be boring. Some of these stories have stayed with me, though thankfully none of them were as dark and scary as this book. A well-written book at that. Helpless by bestselling author Jessica Knoll is a story of bad love, bad people, bad families, and what we try to forget when we move on, and what we miss when everything seems to be going wrong.
Faye Heron and Henry Spalding were the it couple in their small college, the one people wanted to be, and the one that so much was expected of. Faye left Henry, breaking his heart heading west to escape her family, and in many ways Henry, for their relationship had a lot of things that people could not see. Faye married and together with her husband became a producing dynamo, creating a show that caught the world's attention, based a little bit on her life with Henry. The death of a loved professor brings Faye back to her college and back to Henry. Henry has married also, and taken over the family business. The more Henry is around Faye begins to feel that something is off. That she is forgetting something. Henry asks Faye over for drinks, and soon she awakens in his cabin, a captive to an increasingly emotional Henry. The more time Faye spends there, the more she realizes that much that she old as true was lies, and she has no idea who to trust anymore, except herself.
I usually don't do this, but all the trigger warnings are in the book. This is a book that will make most people wonder about life in a monastery for who wants to meet and or date some of these people. That said this is an interesting book, a story of love and obsession but told from a different point of view, and one that constantly changes as more and more of the past is revealed to the characters. Again this is a rough book, but one that I kept reading even as I was shaking my head and going, yeah that's not my thing. Knoll has a very good way in creating characters that one feels you could run into them at work, or at the coffee shop. You might want to run after a few minutes of conversation, but they seem very real. The story is bigger than what it seems, dealing with abuse in families, harassment in higher education, and really, really toxic people in a doom spiral of a relationship.
A book that I am sure will cause a few conversations. I can see people defending some actions, being irate at others, and upset by the whole book. I like when authors take risks, try new things, and even make stories that might divide their readers. A really strong title from an author who constantly amazes. I look forward to what Knoll has planned next.
April 29, 2026
Jessica Knoll's latest follows Faye Heron and Henry Spalding, former college lovers who haven't seen each other in twelve years. Faye is now half of a Hollywood power couple. Henry is a married father running the family business. When a beloved college professor dies and brings them both back to campus for the funeral, old feelings resurface fast and then Henry drugs and kidnaps her. Faye wakes up in a remote mountain cabin with no idea if Henry brought her there to punish her, rekindle something, or both. What follows is a week of captivity, escalating demands, and a sprawling mystery that promises to rewrite everything Faye thought she knew about their past.
I'm conflicted on this one.
The premise is fantastic. A psychological thriller built on a toxic love story, a kidnapping, and a mystery stretching back over a decade? I was immediately in. And the first half flew by. I was turning pages, I was invested, I wanted to know where this was all heading. Knoll knows how to set a hook and the early momentum had me convinced this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read.
Then it just... lagged. Somewhere around the middle, the pacing completely stalled and the book shifted from taut psychological thriller into deep, drawn-out introspection about Faye and Henry's relationship. And look, I understand that their history is the backbone of the story. But we spent way too much time sitting in it. For a mystery thriller, I needed more mystery and less extended therapy session with two people I actively didn't like. Faye and Henry are toxic together. They're toxic apart. They're just not people I wanted to spend that much unstructured time with.
I also really did not love the addition of the Campbell storyline — the new screenplay, the whole thing with the student. It felt so random and out of left field. The way it all played out gave me the ick and honestly just pulled me further out of a story I was already struggling to stay connected to. It felt like it belonged in a completely different book.
By the end, it almost felt like two different books stitched together. The first half is a propulsive mystery thriller and the second half is literary fiction about a dysfunctional relationship. Both of those could work on their own, but together they fight each other. I think this could have really benefited from tighter editing, or honestly from being split into two separate projects that each got the space to breathe on their own terms.
It's not a bad book. I want to be clear about that. The writing is strong, the premise is genuinely great.. But I'll be honest, I finished this because I needed to know what happened, not because I was having fun getting there. And that's a very different kind of reading experience.
3 stars. If you love Knoll's earlier work or don't mind a slow burn that's heavier on character study than plot momentum, you might enjoy this more than I did. But if you're going in expecting a thriller that stays a thriller, temper those expectations.
Helpless comes out July 7, 2026. Huge thank you to Scibner for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
I'm conflicted on this one.
The premise is fantastic. A psychological thriller built on a toxic love story, a kidnapping, and a mystery stretching back over a decade? I was immediately in. And the first half flew by. I was turning pages, I was invested, I wanted to know where this was all heading. Knoll knows how to set a hook and the early momentum had me convinced this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read.
Then it just... lagged. Somewhere around the middle, the pacing completely stalled and the book shifted from taut psychological thriller into deep, drawn-out introspection about Faye and Henry's relationship. And look, I understand that their history is the backbone of the story. But we spent way too much time sitting in it. For a mystery thriller, I needed more mystery and less extended therapy session with two people I actively didn't like. Faye and Henry are toxic together. They're toxic apart. They're just not people I wanted to spend that much unstructured time with.
I also really did not love the addition of the Campbell storyline — the new screenplay, the whole thing with the student. It felt so random and out of left field. The way it all played out gave me the ick and honestly just pulled me further out of a story I was already struggling to stay connected to. It felt like it belonged in a completely different book.
By the end, it almost felt like two different books stitched together. The first half is a propulsive mystery thriller and the second half is literary fiction about a dysfunctional relationship. Both of those could work on their own, but together they fight each other. I think this could have really benefited from tighter editing, or honestly from being split into two separate projects that each got the space to breathe on their own terms.
It's not a bad book. I want to be clear about that. The writing is strong, the premise is genuinely great.. But I'll be honest, I finished this because I needed to know what happened, not because I was having fun getting there. And that's a very different kind of reading experience.
3 stars. If you love Knoll's earlier work or don't mind a slow burn that's heavier on character study than plot momentum, you might enjoy this more than I did. But if you're going in expecting a thriller that stays a thriller, temper those expectations.
Helpless comes out July 7, 2026. Huge thank you to Scibner for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Jessica Knoll, Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a complimentary e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ooft this is going to be a tough one. I picked up this book purely based off the strength of Jessica Knoll's last work, 'Bright Young Women,' which I read a year or so ago and loved. I'm not the biggest fan of mystery/thrillers normally but that book felt like so much more then it's genre tag and was a powerful and brave work. So, naturally I was anticipating the author's next work and unfortunately in this case, the book just wasn't for me.
Helpless is an erotic thriller about a woman in show-business caught up in a dangerous game when she ends up meeting her ex-lover again, years after the two split up. There is a lot of focus on the psychology of their relationship which was of the sado-masochistic variety, and I did find this interesting but unfortunately I ended up not loving the plot twists that happened. Everyone was saying how you had to wait for the end for the final big plot twist which changed everything, but I can't say I was too surprised by the final twist and it didn't save the rest of the book for me. There is some gorgeous writing in this book though, even if it didn't always quite land for me but I do really appreciate the way she writes her characters and the psychology. Aside from the character of PT however, I felt like every other character in this book was fairly two-dimensional and I didn't really feel much for any of them.
Overall, sadly this book just wasn't my thing and it ended up being more of a standard psychological thriller with some twists that made the book feel a bit silly the further in it got. I found the protagonist interesting but wasn't invested enough in the plot or the "romance" with her ex, so never really got behind their relationship. The endless talk of how horny Faye was for him also got quite tiring, particularly when it would keep happening at inopportune times, like when she literally kidnapped by him and imprisoned. Perhaps I'm missing something here as I can see some other people really loved this one, but nothing really shocked me about this book and I mostly just kept going to see what the ending twist was that it promised. I'd still try Jessica Knoll's work again, but I definitely should have realised from the premise of this book, that it would not be one for me.
Ooft this is going to be a tough one. I picked up this book purely based off the strength of Jessica Knoll's last work, 'Bright Young Women,' which I read a year or so ago and loved. I'm not the biggest fan of mystery/thrillers normally but that book felt like so much more then it's genre tag and was a powerful and brave work. So, naturally I was anticipating the author's next work and unfortunately in this case, the book just wasn't for me.
Helpless is an erotic thriller about a woman in show-business caught up in a dangerous game when she ends up meeting her ex-lover again, years after the two split up. There is a lot of focus on the psychology of their relationship which was of the sado-masochistic variety, and I did find this interesting but unfortunately I ended up not loving the plot twists that happened. Everyone was saying how you had to wait for the end for the final big plot twist which changed everything, but I can't say I was too surprised by the final twist and it didn't save the rest of the book for me. There is some gorgeous writing in this book though, even if it didn't always quite land for me but I do really appreciate the way she writes her characters and the psychology. Aside from the character of PT however, I felt like every other character in this book was fairly two-dimensional and I didn't really feel much for any of them.
Overall, sadly this book just wasn't my thing and it ended up being more of a standard psychological thriller with some twists that made the book feel a bit silly the further in it got. I found the protagonist interesting but wasn't invested enough in the plot or the "romance" with her ex, so never really got behind their relationship. The endless talk of how horny Faye was for him also got quite tiring, particularly when it would keep happening at inopportune times, like when she literally kidnapped by him and imprisoned. Perhaps I'm missing something here as I can see some other people really loved this one, but nothing really shocked me about this book and I mostly just kept going to see what the ending twist was that it promised. I'd still try Jessica Knoll's work again, but I definitely should have realised from the premise of this book, that it would not be one for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There are two distinctive elements to Helpless. Both are taste-dependent, they ultimately merge, but you’ll need to like both for this one to blow you away.
This is my first read of Knoll and I was quite impressed with the quality of her writing. That’s never in question throughout. The two distinctive and almost separate story elements here—and they seem so distinctive it’s almost like you slip into a different novel when the prose switches from one to the other—they are the central mystery of the novel and the sexual interchange between its two main characters.
Both are interesting on their own, but I particularly found the central mystery of Helpless really compelling. It was deftly plotted by Knoll and often made me wish this was more a straight mystery thriller.
The other huge part of Helpless, and I realize it’s a vital part, I found much less interesting. Sure, the sexual relationship between the two main characters was written well, but I found it slowed down the pace of the novel to the point that it drug. The mental and emotional elements of the characters’ backstories that created the dynamic was unique, but I found myself in multiple spots wishing we could just get back to the mystery. I realize this is entirely a taste-based thing, and that many readers will revel in the steamy parts (and they were quite steamy), so I can appreciate the competence with which it was written and realize that part of Helpless just probably wasn’t for me.
The other element where I found Helpless a bit disappointing was on the back end when these two distinct elements came together for the denouement. I’m not sure I bought it plotwise or characterwise. It felt forced for a plot that was as compelling as it was to that point.
Bottom line, there are a lot of elements to like about this book, foremost the craft of Knoll herself. I’m very interested in reading her earlier work and I’ll certainly try her again, hopefully sooner rather than later. Helpless is a solid effort, even with the dragging sexual energy. It’s in-your-face in a way that keeps you reading.
Recommended for mystery readers, particularly those who like a heavy sexual element tossed into the intrigue. Knoll can certainly write a story that keeps the pulse racing.
Thank you to Scribner for providing an uncorrected DRC via NetGalley.
This is my first read of Knoll and I was quite impressed with the quality of her writing. That’s never in question throughout. The two distinctive and almost separate story elements here—and they seem so distinctive it’s almost like you slip into a different novel when the prose switches from one to the other—they are the central mystery of the novel and the sexual interchange between its two main characters.
Both are interesting on their own, but I particularly found the central mystery of Helpless really compelling. It was deftly plotted by Knoll and often made me wish this was more a straight mystery thriller.
The other huge part of Helpless, and I realize it’s a vital part, I found much less interesting. Sure, the sexual relationship between the two main characters was written well, but I found it slowed down the pace of the novel to the point that it drug. The mental and emotional elements of the characters’ backstories that created the dynamic was unique, but I found myself in multiple spots wishing we could just get back to the mystery. I realize this is entirely a taste-based thing, and that many readers will revel in the steamy parts (and they were quite steamy), so I can appreciate the competence with which it was written and realize that part of Helpless just probably wasn’t for me.
The other element where I found Helpless a bit disappointing was on the back end when these two distinct elements came together for the denouement. I’m not sure I bought it plotwise or characterwise. It felt forced for a plot that was as compelling as it was to that point.
Bottom line, there are a lot of elements to like about this book, foremost the craft of Knoll herself. I’m very interested in reading her earlier work and I’ll certainly try her again, hopefully sooner rather than later. Helpless is a solid effort, even with the dragging sexual energy. It’s in-your-face in a way that keeps you reading.
Recommended for mystery readers, particularly those who like a heavy sexual element tossed into the intrigue. Knoll can certainly write a story that keeps the pulse racing.
Thank you to Scribner for providing an uncorrected DRC via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First, thank you to Scribner for an advanced copy of “Helpless,” which pubs this upcoming July 7th!
Jessica Knoll is once again a master class in mood. The moodiness of the writing evokes a combination of Emma Cline (especially “The Guest”) and Karen Elizabeth Russell’s “My Dark Vanessa.” In particular when it comes to the latter, we have a very toxic, taboo, and deeply unsettling relationship between the protagonist, Faye, and her ex-boyfriend Henry. You find yourself almost wanting to jump into the page and extricate her from the dysfunction, but find you can’t look away from the impending crash you know (you hope!) is coming. I can see the reviews for this book being polarized due to the nature of the relationship itself.
Also, no one does feminine rage like Jessica Knoll - I love that the women characters she writes have dualities, and I think Faye is very much in that category. Brave but messy with non-linear growth trajectories, snarky but smart. They dominate their own narratives in a way that challenges traditional expectations of how women “should” behave, all while allowing them the grace of imperfection. It almost challenges the male characters to step into a dynamic where they’re forced to wrestle for control, only to find themselves falling through the carefully placed manhole cover that was in front of them all along.
The final third of the book feels like it breaks the fourth wall, especially when the protagonist recognizes and labels her own story as an “erotic thriller,” of which this is probably the first of its kind that I’ve read! I love a good genre-bender and admittedly I didn’t see this kind of hybrid coming! This is by far Jessica Knoll’s spiciest book yet.
I haven’t read anything quite like this, it’s both intoxicating and toxic and I stayed up WAY past my bedtime on several occasions.
I’ve read all of Knoll’s work, and so here’s my updated ranking: Bright Young Women > Luckiest Girl Alive > Helpless > The Favorite Sister
Last, I want to acknowledge that this story referenced the devastating Palisades fire, and, coincidentally, I finished this book on its anniversary. My heart goes out to those impacted and rebuilding.
Jessica Knoll is once again a master class in mood. The moodiness of the writing evokes a combination of Emma Cline (especially “The Guest”) and Karen Elizabeth Russell’s “My Dark Vanessa.” In particular when it comes to the latter, we have a very toxic, taboo, and deeply unsettling relationship between the protagonist, Faye, and her ex-boyfriend Henry. You find yourself almost wanting to jump into the page and extricate her from the dysfunction, but find you can’t look away from the impending crash you know (you hope!) is coming. I can see the reviews for this book being polarized due to the nature of the relationship itself.
Also, no one does feminine rage like Jessica Knoll - I love that the women characters she writes have dualities, and I think Faye is very much in that category. Brave but messy with non-linear growth trajectories, snarky but smart. They dominate their own narratives in a way that challenges traditional expectations of how women “should” behave, all while allowing them the grace of imperfection. It almost challenges the male characters to step into a dynamic where they’re forced to wrestle for control, only to find themselves falling through the carefully placed manhole cover that was in front of them all along.
The final third of the book feels like it breaks the fourth wall, especially when the protagonist recognizes and labels her own story as an “erotic thriller,” of which this is probably the first of its kind that I’ve read! I love a good genre-bender and admittedly I didn’t see this kind of hybrid coming! This is by far Jessica Knoll’s spiciest book yet.
I haven’t read anything quite like this, it’s both intoxicating and toxic and I stayed up WAY past my bedtime on several occasions.
I’ve read all of Knoll’s work, and so here’s my updated ranking: Bright Young Women > Luckiest Girl Alive > Helpless > The Favorite Sister
Last, I want to acknowledge that this story referenced the devastating Palisades fire, and, coincidentally, I finished this book on its anniversary. My heart goes out to those impacted and rebuilding.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I will follow Jessica Knoll anywhere, including to a creepy remote cabin at the edge of an ominous lake in an isolated town where I will be stranded with alluring, dark, damaged, and dangerous characters. And I did. And I loved it!
Nobody writes complicated female protagonists like her, and it's why I find myself continually coming back to her and why I always will. This book is not Bright Young Women, and I'm glad about that because she already wrote that book! If I were to compare it to one of her previous books, it felt like somewhat of a return to Luckiest Girl Alive--I saw some similarities between Ani and Faye. But mostly, it stood on its own and I was completely swept up in the dynamic between Henry and Faye. I felt uncomfortably immersed in their relationship, which I loved. I also thought it was really interesting to see a very strong, successful, FMC like Faye be made so weak and vulnerable by Henry. It seemed to go against everything she purported herself to be--but it also made sense in this context. This book made me really think about toxic relationships and power dynamics, and the way we judge & misunderstand the women who end up in them.
I felt like I did understand Faye and her motivations, particularly when you learn her backstory and relationship with her husband, and I also felt like this book offers a commentary on all of the ways women seek validation and what the lack of it makes them feel like they deserve or are worthy of. There was a particularly poignant passage where Faye is observing a young, aspiring writer, with all the confidence in the world in her own success, and she (Faye) realizes that perhaps that woman had a mother who loved her. It was so well executed and I find myself still thinking about it.
This book raises more questions than answers (particularly that ending). I'm still sort of working this whole story out in my brain a bit and deciding how I feel, but there's no doubt that it was a 5-star read- also, her writing!! It's so gorgeous yet seemingly effortless, how does she do it?
This will certainly start some heated discussions & I'm excited to read all the takes on this fiery new book from one of my faves of all time.
Nobody writes complicated female protagonists like her, and it's why I find myself continually coming back to her and why I always will. This book is not Bright Young Women, and I'm glad about that because she already wrote that book! If I were to compare it to one of her previous books, it felt like somewhat of a return to Luckiest Girl Alive--I saw some similarities between Ani and Faye. But mostly, it stood on its own and I was completely swept up in the dynamic between Henry and Faye. I felt uncomfortably immersed in their relationship, which I loved. I also thought it was really interesting to see a very strong, successful, FMC like Faye be made so weak and vulnerable by Henry. It seemed to go against everything she purported herself to be--but it also made sense in this context. This book made me really think about toxic relationships and power dynamics, and the way we judge & misunderstand the women who end up in them.
I felt like I did understand Faye and her motivations, particularly when you learn her backstory and relationship with her husband, and I also felt like this book offers a commentary on all of the ways women seek validation and what the lack of it makes them feel like they deserve or are worthy of. There was a particularly poignant passage where Faye is observing a young, aspiring writer, with all the confidence in the world in her own success, and she (Faye) realizes that perhaps that woman had a mother who loved her. It was so well executed and I find myself still thinking about it.
This book raises more questions than answers (particularly that ending). I'm still sort of working this whole story out in my brain a bit and deciding how I feel, but there's no doubt that it was a 5-star read- also, her writing!! It's so gorgeous yet seemingly effortless, how does she do it?
This will certainly start some heated discussions & I'm excited to read all the takes on this fiery new book from one of my faves of all time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I mean, wow. Helpless has all the makings of a satisfying thriller. It hooks readers immediately. It is at the same time mysterious, smart, and sexy. (I was like, woah, steamy, Jessica!) It ramps up our curiosity, makes us question the reality that Faye is presenting us with, the circumstances surrounding Faye’s past, and the power of storytelling. Who are we without the stories we tell about ourselves? These stories, past and present, shape our lives and perspectives in powerful ways, but what if we’re misremembering, or what if we’re plain wrong? What if our perspective is off, skewed by memory or deniability? What if we accepted something we were told without question? And what if all of that was shattered? Outside of what happens to Faye in a remote cabin in the Adirondacks, Helpless made me think about my own life. What have I been telling myself? And have I been truthful? Or have I been spinning a yarn (see what I did there?) to fit a narrative that makes me feel comfortable? And what if I stepped outside of that comfort?
Good literature makes you think. Helpless is all at once twisty, shocking, and insightful. Jessica Knoll packs a punch, takes us on an unforgettable journey, and wraps everything up with an unbelievably satisfying ending. I am so excited for this book to be in the world, for readers to get their hands on it. If you want a good thriller—Jessica’s got you. If you want something provocative—Jessica’s got you. If you’re looking for something more than a little sexy, like maybe you’ll blush and wonder if your four year old can tell what you’re reading (he can’t, he’s four, he’s singing “Am I a man or am I a muppet?” along with Jason Segel on his Tonies box), and maybe you’ll wonder if you should wait to read it until after he’s in bed (you’re just being silly now)—Jessica’s got you. If you want a smart, twisty book that makes you think not just about the character’s plight, but about your life and the stories you tell yourself—Jessica’s got you.
Seriously, pre-order this book. You’re going to want to read it as soon as it comes out.
Full review on Substack: https://mariehendry.substack.com/p/re...
Good literature makes you think. Helpless is all at once twisty, shocking, and insightful. Jessica Knoll packs a punch, takes us on an unforgettable journey, and wraps everything up with an unbelievably satisfying ending. I am so excited for this book to be in the world, for readers to get their hands on it. If you want a good thriller—Jessica’s got you. If you want something provocative—Jessica’s got you. If you’re looking for something more than a little sexy, like maybe you’ll blush and wonder if your four year old can tell what you’re reading (he can’t, he’s four, he’s singing “Am I a man or am I a muppet?” along with Jason Segel on his Tonies box), and maybe you’ll wonder if you should wait to read it until after he’s in bed (you’re just being silly now)—Jessica’s got you. If you want a smart, twisty book that makes you think not just about the character’s plight, but about your life and the stories you tell yourself—Jessica’s got you.
Seriously, pre-order this book. You’re going to want to read it as soon as it comes out.
Full review on Substack: https://mariehendry.substack.com/p/re...
January 14, 2026
📚🔥 BOOK REVIEW 🔥📚
Title: Helpless
Author: Jessica Knoll
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Topics: Power and control, coercive relationships, memory and self‑deception, consent and autonomy, obsession
Publication Date: 07/07/26
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Format: Advanced Release Copy (ARC)
Thank you to @NetGalley, Scribner, and Jessica Knoll for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this, but I’m left feeling conflicted.
The story follows Faye, now a successful Hollywood powerhouse, who returns to her old college campus for a professor’s funeral — only to collide with Henry, the ex she’s never fully outrun. What begins as an awkward reunion spirals quickly: Henry drugs her, kidnaps her, and drags her to a remote mountain cabin where the past refuses to stay buried.
Knoll does not hold back. Helpless is a dark, twisty, deeply uncomfortable descent into obsession, power, and the kind of love that feels more like a trap than a choice. There are moments where the tension is genuinely gripping, and the dynamic between Faye and Henry is intentionally messy, claustrophobic, and emotionally charged.
That said, the book didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven, especially in the middle, and some of the darker elements were so extreme that they pulled me out of the story rather than deeper into it. I appreciated what Knoll was trying to explore — memory, control, and the stories we rewrite to survive — but I sometimes struggled to stay connected to the characters through all the chaos.
This is not a comfortable read, and readers should expect heavy themes around consent, coercion, and obsession. The “indelicate appetites” mentioned in the synopsis lead to some very dark, unsettling dynamics that may be too much for some. I don’t mind a dark book, but I found it hard to stay invested in Faye and Henry’s connection as the week unfolded.
Still, the final reveal is sharp, and Knoll’s writing remains compelling. Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers that push boundaries will find plenty to unpack here. For me, it was a solid read with standout moments — just not quite the knockout I hoped for.
Title: Helpless
Author: Jessica Knoll
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Topics: Power and control, coercive relationships, memory and self‑deception, consent and autonomy, obsession
Publication Date: 07/07/26
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Format: Advanced Release Copy (ARC)
Thank you to @NetGalley, Scribner, and Jessica Knoll for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this, but I’m left feeling conflicted.
The story follows Faye, now a successful Hollywood powerhouse, who returns to her old college campus for a professor’s funeral — only to collide with Henry, the ex she’s never fully outrun. What begins as an awkward reunion spirals quickly: Henry drugs her, kidnaps her, and drags her to a remote mountain cabin where the past refuses to stay buried.
Knoll does not hold back. Helpless is a dark, twisty, deeply uncomfortable descent into obsession, power, and the kind of love that feels more like a trap than a choice. There are moments where the tension is genuinely gripping, and the dynamic between Faye and Henry is intentionally messy, claustrophobic, and emotionally charged.
That said, the book didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven, especially in the middle, and some of the darker elements were so extreme that they pulled me out of the story rather than deeper into it. I appreciated what Knoll was trying to explore — memory, control, and the stories we rewrite to survive — but I sometimes struggled to stay connected to the characters through all the chaos.
This is not a comfortable read, and readers should expect heavy themes around consent, coercion, and obsession. The “indelicate appetites” mentioned in the synopsis lead to some very dark, unsettling dynamics that may be too much for some. I don’t mind a dark book, but I found it hard to stay invested in Faye and Henry’s connection as the week unfolded.
Still, the final reveal is sharp, and Knoll’s writing remains compelling. Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers that push boundaries will find plenty to unpack here. For me, it was a solid read with standout moments — just not quite the knockout I hoped for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have loved Jessica Knoll ever since I read Luckiest Girl Alive. I have read every single book she has put out and I love that she surprises me with each story she writes. She has such a vast range, and I am once again blown away by her talent. I truly went into this book thinking it’d be one thing, and then it multiplied into soo much more!
I know some people will have a hard time reading the toxic and at times definitely abusive relationship between Faye and Henry, but I think it truly shows the dynamic of a codependent toxic relationship. While Faye’s trauma from her past is brought to the surface within their relationship, I think she was also just trying to find a way to understand it while also claiming some control annd power over it. We’ve all read Fifty Shades of Gray and Helpless is NOT that, it did feel like a more realistic consenting sexual dominating relationship. I am not a smut reader and usually steer clear, but I will say that even though they talk a lot about what their sex life was like, this book was not filled with cheesy uncomfortable sex scenes. The few that are there, don’t drag on forever and I never felt like I needed to skip ahead a bit like I usually do with overly graphic sexual scenes. I’m not going to lie, these characters were constantly giving me whiplash and I never knew who I was rooting for lol
Now the second plot of this book was the deaths and affairs and all around messy small community intricacies. I love when we slowly get to watch all the characters lives fall apart and make a mess of their cover ups. I was not expecting the murder mystery to be weaved through this book and I was pleasantly surprised and devoured it!
My only complaint was that I wish the ending and the fallout had been written more thoroughly. I kind of felt like I was left wanting more. Either way I HIGHLY recommend Helpless to truly anyone that loves a fun, high stakes read! 10/10 loved yet another of Jessica Knoll’s captivating books.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this one!
I know some people will have a hard time reading the toxic and at times definitely abusive relationship between Faye and Henry, but I think it truly shows the dynamic of a codependent toxic relationship. While Faye’s trauma from her past is brought to the surface within their relationship, I think she was also just trying to find a way to understand it while also claiming some control annd power over it. We’ve all read Fifty Shades of Gray and Helpless is NOT that, it did feel like a more realistic consenting sexual dominating relationship. I am not a smut reader and usually steer clear, but I will say that even though they talk a lot about what their sex life was like, this book was not filled with cheesy uncomfortable sex scenes. The few that are there, don’t drag on forever and I never felt like I needed to skip ahead a bit like I usually do with overly graphic sexual scenes. I’m not going to lie, these characters were constantly giving me whiplash and I never knew who I was rooting for lol
Now the second plot of this book was the deaths and affairs and all around messy small community intricacies. I love when we slowly get to watch all the characters lives fall apart and make a mess of their cover ups. I was not expecting the murder mystery to be weaved through this book and I was pleasantly surprised and devoured it!
My only complaint was that I wish the ending and the fallout had been written more thoroughly. I kind of felt like I was left wanting more. Either way I HIGHLY recommend Helpless to truly anyone that loves a fun, high stakes read! 10/10 loved yet another of Jessica Knoll’s captivating books.
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Helpless by Jessica Knoll.
I’m honestly still sitting with this one.
At its core, Helpless follows former college lovers Faye and Henry, who reunite years later at a professor’s funeral, only for old wounds, buried truths, and a deeply unsettling mystery to surface. What begins as nostalgia quickly spirals into something darker, stranger, and increasingly difficult to define.
I truly have no idea how to categorize this book—and I suspect that may be intentional. Calling it a thriller doesn’t feel quite right, but neither does romance, mystery, or psychological drama. There is a mystery to solve (one I failed miserably at), but the experience of reading it felt more like unraveling trauma, obsession, memory, and desire all tangled together.
What surprised me most was how completely unlike Jessica Knoll’s previous work this felt. One thing Knoll does exceptionally well is disappear into the perspective of her protagonists. She doesn’t write with a singular “Jessica Knoll voice” that overshadows the story; instead, each character feels like they are telling their story. Helpless feels entirely its own thing.
By the end, I found myself asking: Did that happen? Did I interpret this correctly? Was that ending meant to reframe everything? I genuinely don’t know—and maybe that ambiguity is the point. The final pages left me unsettled more than satisfied.
Oddly enough, even the cover feels reflective of my reading experience. I’m someone who often looks for symbolism in cover art, and this one left me just as perplexed as the story itself: two matches, but no literal fire in the narrative; a red shape that looks almost flame-like—or maybe like a tongue? Smoke that feels like it should mean something, though I couldn’t quite decipher it. Maybe there’s symbolism I missed, or maybe confusion and interpretation are part of the experience of Helpless itself.
This won’t be for everyone, and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it—but if you enjoy genre-bending stories that leave you thinking (and questioning what you just read), this one may be worth picking up.
I’m honestly still sitting with this one.
At its core, Helpless follows former college lovers Faye and Henry, who reunite years later at a professor’s funeral, only for old wounds, buried truths, and a deeply unsettling mystery to surface. What begins as nostalgia quickly spirals into something darker, stranger, and increasingly difficult to define.
I truly have no idea how to categorize this book—and I suspect that may be intentional. Calling it a thriller doesn’t feel quite right, but neither does romance, mystery, or psychological drama. There is a mystery to solve (one I failed miserably at), but the experience of reading it felt more like unraveling trauma, obsession, memory, and desire all tangled together.
What surprised me most was how completely unlike Jessica Knoll’s previous work this felt. One thing Knoll does exceptionally well is disappear into the perspective of her protagonists. She doesn’t write with a singular “Jessica Knoll voice” that overshadows the story; instead, each character feels like they are telling their story. Helpless feels entirely its own thing.
By the end, I found myself asking: Did that happen? Did I interpret this correctly? Was that ending meant to reframe everything? I genuinely don’t know—and maybe that ambiguity is the point. The final pages left me unsettled more than satisfied.
Oddly enough, even the cover feels reflective of my reading experience. I’m someone who often looks for symbolism in cover art, and this one left me just as perplexed as the story itself: two matches, but no literal fire in the narrative; a red shape that looks almost flame-like—or maybe like a tongue? Smoke that feels like it should mean something, though I couldn’t quite decipher it. Maybe there’s symbolism I missed, or maybe confusion and interpretation are part of the experience of Helpless itself.
This won’t be for everyone, and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it—but if you enjoy genre-bending stories that leave you thinking (and questioning what you just read), this one may be worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
^^^ perfect description of how i'm feeling after finishing this one.
the non-spoiler review: i thought this was going to be a psychological thriller, and while it certainly had those elements, i would classify this as an erotic thriller first and foremost. there are on-page descriptions of sexual assault and several explicit sex scenes (fine! just not what i expected here). it definitely is a jessica knoll novel – the FMC is a woman who are at least a little psychologically fucked up, definitely an unreliable narrator, and has a lot of rage driving her actions.
hiding the rest of my commentary for spoilers!
*thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the ARC!*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Summary: This psychological thriller centers on a former college couple, Faye and Henry. They’ve since gone their separate ways but are brought back together on campus after their former professor passes away. Faye can’t deny her feelings for Henry remain and agrees to a drink at the hotel with him. After waking up in a remote mountain cabin with Henry as her captor, Faye realizes what she thought she knew for years isn’t the truth after all.
What I liked: First and foremost, this novel has a WILD twist at the end that left me questioning everything, going back to reread parts, and combing Goodreads and Reddit for related conversations. I’ll leave it at that to avoid inadvertent spoilers.
I also loved the main character. Knoll excels at creating unreliable, complicated female MCs with an edge. They are tough to like, but I usually do because she does an amazing job of giving us a full picture of the MC: their past, experiences, struggles, motivators — information we need to be able to empathize with, and maybe even root for, them. Faye is shallow and ruthlessly ambitious, but she’s also clever, funny, and a fighter. I was invested in her escape and well-being — until the end. That’s all I say.
What didn’t work for me: In some parts, there’s too much plot. The novel contains a few interesting twists throughout, but each reveals a lot of information that becomes confusing to keep straight.
I will also call out that this is an erotic psychological thriller with explicit, graphic scenes featuring domination. They didn’t bother me, but some reviewers of this book were put off or found them triggering.
TL;DR: I’ve been a huge fan of Knoll’s work since her wildly popular debut novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, and this one didn’t disappoint. Be warned this isn’t a book you can read quickly; you need to spend time with the characters and pay attention to the many plot points to avoid getting lost.
Summary: This psychological thriller centers on a former college couple, Faye and Henry. They’ve since gone their separate ways but are brought back together on campus after their former professor passes away. Faye can’t deny her feelings for Henry remain and agrees to a drink at the hotel with him. After waking up in a remote mountain cabin with Henry as her captor, Faye realizes what she thought she knew for years isn’t the truth after all.
What I liked: First and foremost, this novel has a WILD twist at the end that left me questioning everything, going back to reread parts, and combing Goodreads and Reddit for related conversations. I’ll leave it at that to avoid inadvertent spoilers.
I also loved the main character. Knoll excels at creating unreliable, complicated female MCs with an edge. They are tough to like, but I usually do because she does an amazing job of giving us a full picture of the MC: their past, experiences, struggles, motivators — information we need to be able to empathize with, and maybe even root for, them. Faye is shallow and ruthlessly ambitious, but she’s also clever, funny, and a fighter. I was invested in her escape and well-being — until the end. That’s all I say.
What didn’t work for me: In some parts, there’s too much plot. The novel contains a few interesting twists throughout, but each reveals a lot of information that becomes confusing to keep straight.
I will also call out that this is an erotic psychological thriller with explicit, graphic scenes featuring domination. They didn’t bother me, but some reviewers of this book were put off or found them triggering.
TL;DR: I’ve been a huge fan of Knoll’s work since her wildly popular debut novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, and this one didn’t disappoint. Be warned this isn’t a book you can read quickly; you need to spend time with the characters and pay attention to the many plot points to avoid getting lost.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another likely NY Times best selling novel by Jessica Knoll! Her new novel, Helpless, breaks the limits of being in just one genre and crosses boundaries from thriller and mystery to romance and erotica. This novel will appease the masses from all sides of the library categories!
Following the death of her mentor, PT, Hollywood hot shot Faye has returned home to mourn his loss. The anticipation of seeing a previous love, Henry, keeps her on edge for more reasons than the first half of the book can shed light on. But what if PT’s sudden death wasn’t an accident? What secrets, lies, and betrayals await the end of this story?
This story will have the reader rooting for the fairytale ending that isn’t your average fairytale. The thriller genre readers can rest assured that this isn’t a sleazy smut and has real mystery and turbulence along the way; while the romance readers can enjoy the suspense outside of the bedroom that amps up the fun between the sheets. Seems like a perfect hit!
I love Jessica Knoll’s previous stories and the ease of reading her novels. Her characters always have a very relatable/real air to them that pulls the reader in. She blurs the lines between right and wrong leaving the audience to sympathize that following your heart will always be right.
Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC!
Why not 5 stars? There was a recurring floridity to the writing that I anticipate being mentioned in reviews once, “Helpless”, releases. I found it cumbersome and pretentious, reducing the fluidity of the authors words. I also struggled with the ending- instead wanting the loose ends tied up in pretty little bows. I found the supporting characters to have very little depth to have such a pivotal role in the story, and that deterred me from rating this one 5 stars. I absolutely love the book and will recommend it to all audiences; I also can’t wait to see it on the NYT best sellers list next year!
Following the death of her mentor, PT, Hollywood hot shot Faye has returned home to mourn his loss. The anticipation of seeing a previous love, Henry, keeps her on edge for more reasons than the first half of the book can shed light on. But what if PT’s sudden death wasn’t an accident? What secrets, lies, and betrayals await the end of this story?
This story will have the reader rooting for the fairytale ending that isn’t your average fairytale. The thriller genre readers can rest assured that this isn’t a sleazy smut and has real mystery and turbulence along the way; while the romance readers can enjoy the suspense outside of the bedroom that amps up the fun between the sheets. Seems like a perfect hit!
I love Jessica Knoll’s previous stories and the ease of reading her novels. Her characters always have a very relatable/real air to them that pulls the reader in. She blurs the lines between right and wrong leaving the audience to sympathize that following your heart will always be right.
Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC!
Why not 5 stars? There was a recurring floridity to the writing that I anticipate being mentioned in reviews once, “Helpless”, releases. I found it cumbersome and pretentious, reducing the fluidity of the authors words. I also struggled with the ending- instead wanting the loose ends tied up in pretty little bows. I found the supporting characters to have very little depth to have such a pivotal role in the story, and that deterred me from rating this one 5 stars. I absolutely love the book and will recommend it to all audiences; I also can’t wait to see it on the NYT best sellers list next year!
March 21, 2026
ARC Review - 4.5/5*
The story explores the darkness of a toxic relationship where under-developed needs of young FMC are borderline between abuse and BDSM needs. Neither of the partners, while being still in college, don't know how to pick up conversation about what they desire and how to adapt their wants, therefore their lack of communication created tension and abuse in their relationship. It's all ripped apart from them due to the circumstances and there is never an actual end to their story.
So when our FMC arrives on her professor's funeral 12 years later, she is being put back into the same place she was before her escape to Los Angeles. Despite creating a new life in a big city, making her successful career and carrying out "happy marriage" status, she's being pulled back into the mindset of her young, naïve self. She meets her ex-boyfriend, who slows pulls her into a twisted, thrilling story of what happened to their beloved professor.
The book features a lot of dark and morally questionable plots, therefore I don't think it's a read for everyone, but I love a heavy tension and taboo conversations. I think the author pictured very well how much a human can go against a human to achieve their own goals; it shows morally grey choices a person can make, while also still assumingly in love. Was it love? Or was it a reigniting of their toxic puppy love? Were they ever in love or was Henry and Faye pulled towards each other as nobody else could've given them the twisted desires they both needed to feel full?
I loved the way Jessica Knoll describes human emotions in such a direct, sometimes sarcastic way. I personally don't enjoy adding branded names or apps into the books as it may cause the book to not age well, but hopefully it won't happen with this.
The only con, which I'd take 0.5* away for is the ending -
The story explores the darkness of a toxic relationship where under-developed needs of young FMC are borderline between abuse and BDSM needs. Neither of the partners, while being still in college, don't know how to pick up conversation about what they desire and how to adapt their wants, therefore their lack of communication created tension and abuse in their relationship. It's all ripped apart from them due to the circumstances and there is never an actual end to their story.
So when our FMC arrives on her professor's funeral 12 years later, she is being put back into the same place she was before her escape to Los Angeles. Despite creating a new life in a big city, making her successful career and carrying out "happy marriage" status, she's being pulled back into the mindset of her young, naïve self. She meets her ex-boyfriend, who slows pulls her into a twisted, thrilling story of what happened to their beloved professor.
The book features a lot of dark and morally questionable plots, therefore I don't think it's a read for everyone, but I love a heavy tension and taboo conversations. I think the author pictured very well how much a human can go against a human to achieve their own goals; it shows morally grey choices a person can make, while also still assumingly in love. Was it love? Or was it a reigniting of their toxic puppy love? Were they ever in love or was Henry and Faye pulled towards each other as nobody else could've given them the twisted desires they both needed to feel full?
I loved the way Jessica Knoll describes human emotions in such a direct, sometimes sarcastic way. I personally don't enjoy adding branded names or apps into the books as it may cause the book to not age well, but hopefully it won't happen with this.
The only con, which I'd take 0.5* away for is the ending -
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