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Helpless
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.
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.
500 pages, Library Binding
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Jessica Knoll
8 books6,336 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 2,188 reviews
December 6, 2025
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:
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July 27, 2026
“A humiliated man is sometimes the last thing a woman sees.”
Jessica Knoll, where have you been all my life?!
This is one of those psychological thrillers that slowly tightens its grip until you realise you’re completely trapped in its web. I kept thinking I knew where the story was headed… and I was wrong. Every. Single. Time.
Faye is such a fascinating protagonist. She’s complicated, flawed, fiercely intelligent, and never quite as predictable as she first appears. Her relationship with Henry is equal parts intoxicating and terrifying, and the way Knoll explores obsession, manipulation, memory, and power had me questioning everything I thought I knew.
What I loved most was that this isn’t a thriller built on cheap twists or shock value. The tension simmers from the very first page, and the constant feeling that something isn’t quite right had me flying through the chapters. By the time the final reveal hit, I genuinely had to sit there for a minute and process what I’d just read.
Jessica Knoll has a way of writing morally grey characters that feel incredibly real. No one is entirely innocent, no one is entirely guilty, and that’s what makes the story so compelling.
If you’re after a thriller that’s more cerebral than action packed, one that plays with perspective, keeps you guessing, and lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
I don’t think anyone is going to see that ending coming.
I Highly Recommend.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for my early readers copy.
Available Now!
Jessica Knoll, where have you been all my life?!
This is one of those psychological thrillers that slowly tightens its grip until you realise you’re completely trapped in its web. I kept thinking I knew where the story was headed… and I was wrong. Every. Single. Time.
Faye is such a fascinating protagonist. She’s complicated, flawed, fiercely intelligent, and never quite as predictable as she first appears. Her relationship with Henry is equal parts intoxicating and terrifying, and the way Knoll explores obsession, manipulation, memory, and power had me questioning everything I thought I knew.
What I loved most was that this isn’t a thriller built on cheap twists or shock value. The tension simmers from the very first page, and the constant feeling that something isn’t quite right had me flying through the chapters. By the time the final reveal hit, I genuinely had to sit there for a minute and process what I’d just read.
Jessica Knoll has a way of writing morally grey characters that feel incredibly real. No one is entirely innocent, no one is entirely guilty, and that’s what makes the story so compelling.
If you’re after a thriller that’s more cerebral than action packed, one that plays with perspective, keeps you guessing, and lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
I don’t think anyone is going to see that ending coming.
I Highly Recommend.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for my early readers copy.
Available Now!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Definitely not what I expected. I was surprised this story came out of Knoll. It almost felt like it wasn’t written by her.
REVIEW TO FOLLOW
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
REVIEW TO FOLLOW
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
July 17, 2026
Liked everything, apart from her very peculiar sexual nature.
July 14, 2026
Oooohhhh wow LOL this book was not what I expected but I kind of enjoyed it? This story feels much more like a toxic dark romance instead of a thriller, and I just found the dynamic between Faye and Henry to be absolutely fascinating. They were like a train wreck I couldn't look away from, and they had me flipping the pages like crazy. Neither of their characters are particularly likeable, but it honestly just made them more interesting and fun to follow.
This book is everything I wanted from A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing, because like that book, this follows the drama of a messy toxic couple and feels more like an erotic dark romance than a thriller, but it's so fun?
Genuinely don't know who I'd recommend this to, but this book had that bingeable writing quality I've enjoyed in thrillers from Colleen Hoover and Vi Keeland, it has that kind of vibe.
Here's the Summerween reading vlog where I read this one and a few others: https://youtu.be/1H__MpK05V4
This book is everything I wanted from A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing, because like that book, this follows the drama of a messy toxic couple and feels more like an erotic dark romance than a thriller, but it's so fun?
Genuinely don't know who I'd recommend this to, but this book had that bingeable writing quality I've enjoyed in thrillers from Colleen Hoover and Vi Keeland, it has that kind of vibe.
Here's the Summerween reading vlog where I read this one and a few others: https://youtu.be/1H__MpK05V4
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
hot mess express. should have DNF but wanted to see if would get better. spoiler it didnt
July 30, 2026
Struggling with how to rate this one. On one hand, Knoll is a stellar writer. Her writing draws me in and captivates. However, on the other hand, this book is way, way too spicy for me. Too 50 Shades, too explicit, too much. I know, it was pretty much the point. Women are too much, go too far, women need to sit down and be demure and shut up. But it was just over the top for me where I was uncomfortable reading the book.
Faye Heron broke up with Henry Spalding twelve years ago. She is now a famous Hollywood screenwriter with her equally famous husband. Faye finds out that her beloved writing professor has died, and she's invited back to speak at his service. She sees Henry again and is lured back into his sphere and the toxic, sadistic relationship they once shared.
I honestly find this type of relationship to be unpalatable and very, very difficult to read about. Like I mentioned above, I basically get what the author was trying to communicate with this book, but it got so very lost for me among the violence and humiliation. There was also a mystery element to the plot, which also got lost and ended up being almost silly in comparison to the rest of the story.
This type of book is perfect for the right reader, but that person was sadly not me. Which is unfortunate because I still recommend Bright Young Women to everyone who will listen and my expectations for this book were way too high after that one.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Faye Heron broke up with Henry Spalding twelve years ago. She is now a famous Hollywood screenwriter with her equally famous husband. Faye finds out that her beloved writing professor has died, and she's invited back to speak at his service. She sees Henry again and is lured back into his sphere and the toxic, sadistic relationship they once shared.
I honestly find this type of relationship to be unpalatable and very, very difficult to read about. Like I mentioned above, I basically get what the author was trying to communicate with this book, but it got so very lost for me among the violence and humiliation. There was also a mystery element to the plot, which also got lost and ended up being almost silly in comparison to the rest of the story.
This type of book is perfect for the right reader, but that person was sadly not me. Which is unfortunate because I still recommend Bright Young Women to everyone who will listen and my expectations for this book were way too high after that one.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
June 26, 2026
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
Did Not Finish
July 5, 2026nope - keep your "50 shades" filth... so disappointing
July 17, 2026
How can this be the same author that wrote bright young women.😐😢
July 7, 2026
I won this ARC through Goodreads. So thank you Goodreads for pulling my name on this one. 4.5 stars
Honestly, I absolutely loved this book and with that being said I’m so confused the ending! I have so many unanswered questions!! I need a follow up a book two or maybe just Cliff notes. After I finished I had to go back and reread parts to see if I had missed something! One fourth of the way through this book i won’t lie I was like Faye is insane!!!! What is going on? Does she not remember what just happened? Why she’s there who brought her there? But then the next breathe was holy heck thats hot!!! This is my first erotica thriller is it wrong that I like it so much? It kept me on my toes and still has me questioning things. If life wasn’t so crazy at the moment, I definitely could’ve finished this in one sitting. This book is out July 7th 2026 and I highly suggest you get yourself a copy and cozy blanket and something you enjoying drinking!!!
Honestly, I absolutely loved this book and with that being said I’m so confused the ending! I have so many unanswered questions!! I need a follow up a book two or maybe just Cliff notes. After I finished I had to go back and reread parts to see if I had missed something! One fourth of the way through this book i won’t lie I was like Faye is insane!!!! What is going on? Does she not remember what just happened? Why she’s there who brought her there? But then the next breathe was holy heck thats hot!!! This is my first erotica thriller is it wrong that I like it so much? It kept me on my toes and still has me questioning things. If life wasn’t so crazy at the moment, I definitely could’ve finished this in one sitting. This book is out July 7th 2026 and I highly suggest you get yourself a copy and cozy blanket and something you enjoying drinking!!!
July 10, 2026
This book made me angry. 2 stars is generous. I should’ve DNF’ed. The ending was praised as being mind bending. It was not. I wanted to throw my book across the room after finishing.
Read
June 7, 2026leaving 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!
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!
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.
August 1, 2026
Like one step above a Colleen Hoover book (derogatory)
August 30, 2026
I have sat on this review for a few days trying to figure out how best to articulate my feelings on this book. The ratings are low for a reason. Readers are either going to like it or they’re not. I don’t believe there’s going to be much middle ground. I personally couldn’t put it down, so I’m not quite sure what that says about me.😬
Faye and Henry dated back in college before going their separate ways. They’re reunited many years later when someone close to them passes away. Faye is nervous seeing her ex-boyfriend again, but when they finally do cross paths, everything appears fine. Until Faye finds herself drugged and kidnapped and locked away at a cabin. Apparently, Henry is still salty about their breakup. Running alongside the kidnapped plot is also a bit of a murder mystery.
This is definitely not a PG-rated novel. Keep that in mind if you decide to pick this one up. The mystery itself runs secondary to Faye and Henry’s extremely unhealthy relationship. And that ending… it kind of pissed me off, but then I was kind of impressed with it. Totally didn’t see it coming from a mile away.
This is definitely gonna be a personal preference on whether or not you’re gonna like this one.
Faye and Henry dated back in college before going their separate ways. They’re reunited many years later when someone close to them passes away. Faye is nervous seeing her ex-boyfriend again, but when they finally do cross paths, everything appears fine. Until Faye finds herself drugged and kidnapped and locked away at a cabin. Apparently, Henry is still salty about their breakup. Running alongside the kidnapped plot is also a bit of a murder mystery.
This is definitely not a PG-rated novel. Keep that in mind if you decide to pick this one up. The mystery itself runs secondary to Faye and Henry’s extremely unhealthy relationship. And that ending… it kind of pissed me off, but then I was kind of impressed with it. Totally didn’t see it coming from a mile away.
This is definitely gonna be a personal preference on whether or not you’re gonna like this one.
Did Not Finish
July 18, 2026DNF - not clicking with writing, storyline, characters. Writing feels very choppy and awkward. Not for me…
October 26, 2026
I put this on hold so long ago I completely forgot I even had it on hold by the time my turn at the library came around. And from looking at the awful rating this has when I went to log it as Currently Reading, maybe I shouldn’t have had to wait at all because no one else liked it anyway LOL. So here’s the deal – I think Jessica Knoll is the freaking bees knees at this point. I have loved all her stuff. Buuuuuut I also like the darkness and the uncomfy type of reads so I understand why others who don't would lowball the crap out of all her stuff.
The story here is about Faye who is returning to “the colleges” from which she matriculated for the funeral of a beloved former professor. She also knows she’s going to have to face her ex – who not only was she in a coercive control relationship with, but who also (unbeknownst to him) was going to help shoot her rising star straight to the A-list when she became famous writing a VERY “Girls” type of Adam/Hannah first season television program about their relationship. Oh and also he’s going to drug and kidnap her.
So as I said, this one won't be for everyone, but the twists and turns kept coming and coming making me knock this out in one afternoon. Knoll is clearly not for everyone, but she sure as shootin’ is for me!
The story here is about Faye who is returning to “the colleges” from which she matriculated for the funeral of a beloved former professor. She also knows she’s going to have to face her ex – who not only was she in a coercive control relationship with, but who also (unbeknownst to him) was going to help shoot her rising star straight to the A-list when she became famous writing a VERY “Girls” type of Adam/Hannah first season television program about their relationship. Oh and also he’s going to drug and kidnap her.
So as I said, this one won't be for everyone, but the twists and turns kept coming and coming making me knock this out in one afternoon. Knoll is clearly not for everyone, but she sure as shootin’ is for me!
August 18, 2026
Ms. Jessica Knoll, I keep falling for your work. Just when I believe you have shown me the most despicable kind of human, you write another book. Oh, I fall for them. In fact, against all my better judgment, I find myself descending into evil with them.
Faye Heron, a successful Hollywood producer, returns to her alma mater for the funeral of a beloved mentor. But beyond the smiles and warm hugs, some people want to do Faye harm, and they will stop at nothing to get their revenge.
This three-star rating is due to the unsatisfying ending, and despite the twists, I cannot say that I enjoyed my reading journey. Faye certainly had the ego that matches a life lived in Hollywood, and I would have preferred not to be spending any time in there. It does, however, speak to why she gets herself in such trouble. What I believe will always stick out to me is Faye's weird reference to being aroused by Mary Magdalene washing Jesus's feet and needing to take "care of business." Weird, I must say!
So it was a middle-of-the-road kind of read for me; not sure it ranks high on my recommendations list.
Publication Date 07/07/26
Goodreads Review 18/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | Scribner for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Faye Heron, a successful Hollywood producer, returns to her alma mater for the funeral of a beloved mentor. But beyond the smiles and warm hugs, some people want to do Faye harm, and they will stop at nothing to get their revenge.
This three-star rating is due to the unsatisfying ending, and despite the twists, I cannot say that I enjoyed my reading journey. Faye certainly had the ego that matches a life lived in Hollywood, and I would have preferred not to be spending any time in there. It does, however, speak to why she gets herself in such trouble. What I believe will always stick out to me is Faye's weird reference to being aroused by Mary Magdalene washing Jesus's feet and needing to take "care of business." Weird, I must say!
So it was a middle-of-the-road kind of read for me; not sure it ranks high on my recommendations list.
Publication Date 07/07/26
Goodreads Review 18/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | Scribner for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 7, 2026
✰ 1.5 stars ✰
It might have been a two-star rating, if not for the ending that completely negated any possible chance of any redeeming qualities to save it from the dumpster fire it already was. I could've been forgiving to 34yo Faye's horny self rekindling the fire with her old flame. 🔥🥢
But what bothered me was that for all that was being built towards the lies, the schemes, the secrets, for it to be torn apart - shattered in a way that clouded fantasy and reality without even a satisfying punch - it didn't just infuriate me; it annoyed me at how it felt like a cheap shot of disregard for all the time spent on the plot. 😒
“I want to feel so wanted I have no choice, though of course this is everything I choose.”
And I wasn't even disgusted by how many times Faye's pelvis throbbed every time it even came remotely within touching distance of Henry's. And I was even on board to see how she was wiggle and wriggle her way out of this Helpless state she was in, where I was actually digging the mystery! 😩
It didn't help that none of the characters were likeable and underdeveloped. Faye was a class act of questionable fantasies and sexual cravings that made her not even an appealing Hollywood writer. 😮💨 I also couldn't tell what the plot wanted to be: an erotic thriller, which it was not, or your average run-of-the-mill murder mystery, which, also, it was not.
“I think what makes something great is when it’s not for everyone.”
Well, when you put it that way, it certainly saves itself from disgrace now, doesn't it? 😅 Even if it wasn't even said in reference to Faye's rather erotic fantasies of subjugation and pleasure that made me cringe at how she was only ever thinking with her nether regions rather than how f-ed up her situation was. For it was a decent enough setup, I was curious to see it unfold. 😔
The final course of action was not inept; it was just downright lazy, a disservice with wasted potential. As much as there was no effort to even give names and presence to the supporting cast, I felt as if the author dodged a bullet of reasonable explanations by just upending it entirely in a way that left me more than just disgruntled; it left me utterly underwhelmed and disappointed at myself for picking such a disappointing read. 😑
“It was like you got off on being helpless.”
It might have been a two-star rating, if not for the ending that completely negated any possible chance of any redeeming qualities to save it from the dumpster fire it already was. I could've been forgiving to 34yo Faye's horny self rekindling the fire with her old flame. 🔥🥢
But what bothered me was that for all that was being built towards the lies, the schemes, the secrets, for it to be torn apart - shattered in a way that clouded fantasy and reality without even a satisfying punch - it didn't just infuriate me; it annoyed me at how it felt like a cheap shot of disregard for all the time spent on the plot. 😒
“I want to feel so wanted I have no choice, though of course this is everything I choose.”
And I wasn't even disgusted by how many times Faye's pelvis throbbed every time it even came remotely within touching distance of Henry's. And I was even on board to see how she was wiggle and wriggle her way out of this Helpless state she was in, where I was actually digging the mystery! 😩
It didn't help that none of the characters were likeable and underdeveloped. Faye was a class act of questionable fantasies and sexual cravings that made her not even an appealing Hollywood writer. 😮💨 I also couldn't tell what the plot wanted to be: an erotic thriller, which it was not, or your average run-of-the-mill murder mystery, which, also, it was not.
“I think what makes something great is when it’s not for everyone.”
Well, when you put it that way, it certainly saves itself from disgrace now, doesn't it? 😅 Even if it wasn't even said in reference to Faye's rather erotic fantasies of subjugation and pleasure that made me cringe at how she was only ever thinking with her nether regions rather than how f-ed up her situation was. For it was a decent enough setup, I was curious to see it unfold. 😔
The final course of action was not inept; it was just downright lazy, a disservice with wasted potential. As much as there was no effort to even give names and presence to the supporting cast, I felt as if the author dodged a bullet of reasonable explanations by just upending it entirely in a way that left me more than just disgruntled; it left me utterly underwhelmed and disappointed at myself for picking such a disappointing read. 😑
July 12, 2026
Helpless had me completely hooked from the start. The tension, the obsession, the mystery, the twists—I flew through this book because I absolutely had to know what was going on. Jessica Knoll knows how to keep readers questioning everything and everyone.
And then came that ending.
This is one of those books where the ambiguity is the point. The story ultimately becomes less about solving the mystery and more about questioning the reliability of the story itself. Did that really happen? Did any of it happen the way we were told? I finished the last page and immediately wanted to discuss theories with someone.
That said…I am respectfully demanding an epilogue. 😂
Give me opening night of the movie adaptation. Give me an award show acceptance speech. Give me a few sly Easter eggs hidden in the background. Give me something that offers a tiny bit of closure about Henry and maybe a breadcrumb or two toward solving the mystery. Not enough to ruin the ambiguity—just enough to satisfy the part of my brain that’s still trying to connect all the dots.
A wild, addictive, mind-bending read that will leave you thinking long after you finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And then came that ending.
This is one of those books where the ambiguity is the point. The story ultimately becomes less about solving the mystery and more about questioning the reliability of the story itself. Did that really happen? Did any of it happen the way we were told? I finished the last page and immediately wanted to discuss theories with someone.
That said…I am respectfully demanding an epilogue. 😂
Give me opening night of the movie adaptation. Give me an award show acceptance speech. Give me a few sly Easter eggs hidden in the background. Give me something that offers a tiny bit of closure about Henry and maybe a breadcrumb or two toward solving the mystery. Not enough to ruin the ambiguity—just enough to satisfy the part of my brain that’s still trying to connect all the dots.
A wild, addictive, mind-bending read that will leave you thinking long after you finish.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
HELPLESS is a psychosexual thriller about a woman who’s spent her life being victimized by people in positions of power. It starts very strong and intriguing but it ventures into dark romance territory rather than thriller, but it pulled itself together by the end. This book felt similar to The Last Housewife and My Dark Vanessa, specifically the erotic tension. I appreciate that Jessica Knoll took a risk with this book, and I think that readers will either love or hate it, but sadly I am right down the middle. I appreciated the pivot for Knoll, but it wasn't a favorite of mine.
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
June 20, 2026
I don't really know where to begin after finishing this book. I was hooked from the get-go and found it difficult to put down, but the ending was so insanely confusing that I still don't understand what happened. I'm all for an open-ended, not quite tidy ending, and I feel like that was what Knoll was attempting to do here, but it didn't fully land for me. But, like I said, the rest of the story was sooo good!
October 26, 2026
Ok, the main problem I had with this is that Helpless is not the book I signed up for. Somewhere near the end the main character (a writer) makes reference to wanting to create a kind of “elevated” 50 Shades. Is that what this was supposed to be? I never read 50 Shades so someone else will have to comment on that.
But here’s the thing, not only did I never read 50 Shades, I have no interest in reading a supposedly “elevated” version either. The summary of Helpless makes the book seem like a psychological thriller, and it does in some ways try to do that, but ultimately it all seems like window dressing for what is really a story about kink. Again, nothing wrong with that, but that’s not the story I thought I was signing up for.
And I’m sorry, the last page did not provide a twist worth waiting for, but rather provided the reason for my final eye roll of disgust with how let down I felt by the whole thing.
But here’s the thing, not only did I never read 50 Shades, I have no interest in reading a supposedly “elevated” version either. The summary of Helpless makes the book seem like a psychological thriller, and it does in some ways try to do that, but ultimately it all seems like window dressing for what is really a story about kink. Again, nothing wrong with that, but that’s not the story I thought I was signing up for.
And I’m sorry, the last page did not provide a twist worth waiting for, but rather provided the reason for my final eye roll of disgust with how let down I felt by the whole thing.
July 10, 2026
not good as a thriller or dark romance, cringey
July 14, 2026
lame ass ending. “Lol gotcha it was a movie all along.” Bored now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2026
Closer to 2.5. The last like six pages just totally took a whole star off this.
July 14, 2026
This book went so many different directions and I was into it. It kept me on my toes. You know what else I was really into? Yep, so freakin hot.
January 25, 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
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