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Helpless
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
8 days and 04:59:00
50 copies available
U.S. only
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.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Jessica Knoll
9 books6,028 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 319 reviews
June 11, 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:
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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
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
hot mess express. should have DNF but wanted to see if would get better. spoiler it didnt
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
Currently Reading
June 4, 2026Baby's first physical arc from a major publishing house omgggg thank you Simon & Schuster 😭
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 4, 2026
I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one sitting! Helpless by Jessica Knoll kept on the edge of my seat guessing everything, doubting everyone and wondering where things were going to go next. Throughout the book I couldn't predict the next page let alone the ending in what was a captivating and very sexy thriller.
Faye is a very successful actress, writer and director with a life that appears to be pretty perfect from the outside. She's an attractive woman with a fantastic career and an equally successfully husband. We see her return to her college town at the start of this book for the funeral of her beloved professor and while attending bumps into her ex Henry and we are thrown into a twisty and uncreditable journey. Faye and Henry have had no contact for a very long time after Faye wrote an award winning TV episode based on her relationship with Henry and his controlling behaviour. While at the funeral the pair are awkward around each other but Henry approaches Faye in what looks to be an attempt to move forward but it looks as though nothing is that simple and their story continues to unravel chapter by chapter in a story about revenge, love, and obsession.
Every single chapter in this book had me hooked. I didn't know what to expect page to page with new secrets being revealed and new plot lines beginning. The chemistry between Faye and Henry was next level! They were toxic and so unbelievable bad for each other but they gave this book a level of sexy I was not expecting at all. As characters I didn't really like anyone in this book which felt like the whole point. They were all so unlikeable and grey but I was obsessed with learning more about them and seeing where things were going to go. This was an erotic phycological thriller that had twists at every corner, no one you could trust and an ending that had me wanting even more.
Faye is a very successful actress, writer and director with a life that appears to be pretty perfect from the outside. She's an attractive woman with a fantastic career and an equally successfully husband. We see her return to her college town at the start of this book for the funeral of her beloved professor and while attending bumps into her ex Henry and we are thrown into a twisty and uncreditable journey. Faye and Henry have had no contact for a very long time after Faye wrote an award winning TV episode based on her relationship with Henry and his controlling behaviour. While at the funeral the pair are awkward around each other but Henry approaches Faye in what looks to be an attempt to move forward but it looks as though nothing is that simple and their story continues to unravel chapter by chapter in a story about revenge, love, and obsession.
Every single chapter in this book had me hooked. I didn't know what to expect page to page with new secrets being revealed and new plot lines beginning. The chemistry between Faye and Henry was next level! They were toxic and so unbelievable bad for each other but they gave this book a level of sexy I was not expecting at all. As characters I didn't really like anyone in this book which felt like the whole point. They were all so unlikeable and grey but I was obsessed with learning more about them and seeing where things were going to go. This was an erotic phycological thriller that had twists at every corner, no one you could trust and an ending that had me wanting even more.
June 15, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, Jessica Knoll and Simon Audio for the ARC/ALC!
Twelve years after ending an all-consuming relationship with her college boyfriend, Henry, Faye has built the successful life she always wanted - she is a successful actress with a husband. When she attends the funeral of a beloved professor and sees Henry, old feelings quickly resurface. Things take a shocking turn when Henry kidnaps Faye and brings her to a remote mountain cabin. As their complicated past unfolds, long-buried secrets and a decades-old mystery emerge, forcing Faye to question everything she thought she knew.
I loved Jessica Knoll’s previous book, Bright Young Women, so I was excited to get into this too. Seeing so many big opinions on this story only intensified my interest. I spent the majority of the time I was listening disliking all the characters, to be honest. I couldn’t quite figure out Faye’s motivation, but the ending really made it make sense and brought things full circle. The mystery at the center of the story - who killed the professor - took a back seat to Faye and Henry’s complicated relationship. I didn’t dislike this book at all - the spice didn’t bother me - but I did feel like I had a little trouble connecting the dots at times. I wish part four was a little longer too. But otherwise, it kept me engaged the entire time - I wanted to know what was going to happen!
“Helpless” releases July 7, 2026. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
Twelve years after ending an all-consuming relationship with her college boyfriend, Henry, Faye has built the successful life she always wanted - she is a successful actress with a husband. When she attends the funeral of a beloved professor and sees Henry, old feelings quickly resurface. Things take a shocking turn when Henry kidnaps Faye and brings her to a remote mountain cabin. As their complicated past unfolds, long-buried secrets and a decades-old mystery emerge, forcing Faye to question everything she thought she knew.
I loved Jessica Knoll’s previous book, Bright Young Women, so I was excited to get into this too. Seeing so many big opinions on this story only intensified my interest. I spent the majority of the time I was listening disliking all the characters, to be honest. I couldn’t quite figure out Faye’s motivation, but the ending really made it make sense and brought things full circle. The mystery at the center of the story - who killed the professor - took a back seat to Faye and Henry’s complicated relationship. I didn’t dislike this book at all - the spice didn’t bother me - but I did feel like I had a little trouble connecting the dots at times. I wish part four was a little longer too. But otherwise, it kept me engaged the entire time - I wanted to know what was going to happen!
“Helpless” releases July 7, 2026. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
June 10, 2026
1⭐️
Firstly thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Having read and enjoyed both Bright Young Women and Luckiest Girl Alive, I went into this read with high expectations. Unfortunately it did not do it for me.
This book follows a very famous and accomplished Faye who is attending a funeral for her previous mentor/professor PT. At this funeral she is confronted with her old life/acquaintances and her ex-boyfriend Henry. She ends up being kidnapped by Henry and taken to his lake house where she is being blackmailed for having incriminating evidence on Henry.
I can’t go into more without heaaaavy spoilers. I was super intrigued by the concept and find Jessica Knoll writes incredibly crass characters that speak to the darkest parts of the mind. But truly there wasn’t a single enjoyable character in this. I believe it’s an attempt at writing “everyone sucks here” but it made it painful to read having zero care for what happens to anyone.
I also found it was more erotic thriller than traditional thriller and some of the content I would raise a trigger warning for (including SA fantasies) which was deeply uncomfortable.
Not for me but I would definitely consider reading more from the author given I enjoyed 2 other novels.
*my review is my own and in no way associated with any company/anyone else*
Firstly thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Having read and enjoyed both Bright Young Women and Luckiest Girl Alive, I went into this read with high expectations. Unfortunately it did not do it for me.
This book follows a very famous and accomplished Faye who is attending a funeral for her previous mentor/professor PT. At this funeral she is confronted with her old life/acquaintances and her ex-boyfriend Henry. She ends up being kidnapped by Henry and taken to his lake house where she is being blackmailed for having incriminating evidence on Henry.
I can’t go into more without heaaaavy spoilers. I was super intrigued by the concept and find Jessica Knoll writes incredibly crass characters that speak to the darkest parts of the mind. But truly there wasn’t a single enjoyable character in this. I believe it’s an attempt at writing “everyone sucks here” but it made it painful to read having zero care for what happens to anyone.
I also found it was more erotic thriller than traditional thriller and some of the content I would raise a trigger warning for (including SA fantasies) which was deeply uncomfortable.
Not for me but I would definitely consider reading more from the author given I enjoyed 2 other novels.
*my review is my own and in no way associated with any company/anyone else*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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 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 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 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!
June 1, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy. 2.5 rounded up.
This felt like it was two books, but together they didn’t work at all. This could have been a great thriller OR a dark romance. Combining the two ruined all the great elements this book had.
The reason I rounded up to 3 stars:
• love authors writing. She has a great way with words and setting the scene.
• while the very final twist was expected (there is another book with the same idea) I still loved it, because it is not overdone so still feels fresh.
• loved all of the thriller elements but because of the amount of open door scenes, every time I kept forgetting what are we doing here and why.
• I always respect authors who take a risk and try something different. This one is definitely the case.
Will I recommend this? Probably no. But I also don’t hate that I’ve spend 3 days reading this book.
This felt like it was two books, but together they didn’t work at all. This could have been a great thriller OR a dark romance. Combining the two ruined all the great elements this book had.
The reason I rounded up to 3 stars:
• love authors writing. She has a great way with words and setting the scene.
• while the very final twist was expected (there is another book with the same idea) I still loved it, because it is not overdone so still feels fresh.
• loved all of the thriller elements but because of the amount of open door scenes, every time I kept forgetting what are we doing here and why.
• I always respect authors who take a risk and try something different. This one is definitely the case.
Will I recommend this? Probably no. But I also don’t hate that I’ve spend 3 days reading this book.
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.
Read
June 20, 2026What did I just read?! 😳😱😲🤔
June 22, 2026
I listened to this on audio, and I didn’t hate it? I was actually pretty entertained overall and this was a super quick listen it won’t be for everyone though, I’d give it around 3/3.5 stars
June 10, 2026
5⭐️ “I think what makes something great is when it’s not for everyone.” HELPLESS won’t be for everyone but anything that @jessicaknollauthor writes will very much be for me.
This story is TOXIC and if you’ve never read a dark romance and/or you have a lot of opinions about what other people do behind closed doors, I’d probably recommend skipping it. The characters are complex and far from likable and the ending might leave you more than a little frustrated. That said, I think calling it great is an understatement.
HELPLESS follows Faye, a successful writer/actor who returns to her small college town after the death of her beloved professor and mentor. There, she’s reunited with her college boyfriend and things take a dark turn…
“A humiliated man is sometimes the last thing a woman sees.”
I almost always go into books totally blind and not reading the synopsis of HELPLESS was such a fantastic choice (for me!). I won’t say much more about the plot but there are plenty of triggers to be mindful of, so feel free to shoot me a message!
The author has said she was inspired by the book (and film adaptation) of IN THE CUT which I remember watching at a very early age (might explain some things). Described as an erotic thriller, HELPLESS is definitely not a romance but it’s edgy and bold and at times, gave me some very mild Joe Goldberg vibes.
The plot is compulsively readable but the writing is truly exceptional. I wish I had an ounce of Jessica Knoll’s talent because then I’d be able to articulate just how obsessed I am with everything she has to say.
🎧I read this months ago (and have thought of little else since) but the audiobook is narrated by none other than Marin Ireland. While I love her work, I prefer to read JK’s words with my eyes so I can soak up every single line.
🥳PUB DAY: July 7th!
Thanks to @scribnerbooks for the early copy!
This story is TOXIC and if you’ve never read a dark romance and/or you have a lot of opinions about what other people do behind closed doors, I’d probably recommend skipping it. The characters are complex and far from likable and the ending might leave you more than a little frustrated. That said, I think calling it great is an understatement.
HELPLESS follows Faye, a successful writer/actor who returns to her small college town after the death of her beloved professor and mentor. There, she’s reunited with her college boyfriend and things take a dark turn…
“A humiliated man is sometimes the last thing a woman sees.”
I almost always go into books totally blind and not reading the synopsis of HELPLESS was such a fantastic choice (for me!). I won’t say much more about the plot but there are plenty of triggers to be mindful of, so feel free to shoot me a message!
The author has said she was inspired by the book (and film adaptation) of IN THE CUT which I remember watching at a very early age (might explain some things). Described as an erotic thriller, HELPLESS is definitely not a romance but it’s edgy and bold and at times, gave me some very mild Joe Goldberg vibes.
The plot is compulsively readable but the writing is truly exceptional. I wish I had an ounce of Jessica Knoll’s talent because then I’d be able to articulate just how obsessed I am with everything she has to say.
🎧I read this months ago (and have thought of little else since) but the audiobook is narrated by none other than Marin Ireland. While I love her work, I prefer to read JK’s words with my eyes so I can soak up every single line.
🥳PUB DAY: July 7th!
Thanks to @scribnerbooks for the early copy!
March 23, 2026
I went into this expecting a thriller and it definitely delivered on that front. The story pulls you into a complicated past between Faye and Henry, where nothing feels simple and the tension slowly builds as their history unravels.
This leans heavily into a toxic and intense dynamic that won’t work for every reader, but it did keep me curious about where things were headed. Some moments were gripping and unsettling especially as the truth started to surface.
That said, the pacing felt uneven at times and I didn’t fully connect with the characters the way I wanted to, which made it harder to stay completely invested.
Overall, it’s a bold and intriguing read with a darker edge, but not one that fully hit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This leans heavily into a toxic and intense dynamic that won’t work for every reader, but it did keep me curious about where things were headed. Some moments were gripping and unsettling especially as the truth started to surface.
That said, the pacing felt uneven at times and I didn’t fully connect with the characters the way I wanted to, which made it harder to stay completely invested.
Overall, it’s a bold and intriguing read with a darker edge, but not one that fully hit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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
Jessica Knoll pulled out all the stops with this one! Helpless is unlike anything we’ve yet to see from Knoll and this departure from her previous novels proves that when it comes to suspense, she can do it all.
Helpless has the tantalizing thriller elements we’ve come to expect from Knoll, but this story ebbs more into dark, erotic romance with a healthy dash of mystery as well. It follows Hollywood producer/screenwriter Faye Heron as she returns to her college campus to pay respects to her recently deceased professor and mentor. There, she runs into her ex boyfriend Henry Spalding and old feelings arise. Faye and Henry grab a nightcap after the funeral, sinking back into old habits, until Henry makes a move that will alter the course of their lives forever.
I could not get over the prose in this novel! Jessica Knoll’s writing has always enthralled me but there were so many passages in this book that left me speechless. This is Knoll at the top of her game! Not only is she able to craft an enticing narrative but these characters are some of the most psychologically complex I’ve ever read. Faye and Henry’s dynamic is a malleable, nuanced thing. You can never quite tell who has a leg up on who or where their desires truly lie. All I kept thinking was how much these two people deserve each other despite the fact that they’re clearly each other’s Achilles heal.
I really loved the decision that Knoll made to keep characters unnamed who did not have access to Faye and Henry’s joint orbit. This included Faye’s husband, Henry’s wife and children, and Faye’s agent in LA. The bubble that Faye and Henry reside in is impenetrable and the obsession between them overrides everything else. The fact that important people in their lives are not given names on the page drives this fact home in a subtle yet obvious way.
In my opinion, the final few chapters are what really make this book soar. There are a couple rapid fire twists that had me reassessing everything we’d previously been told. The last page in particular had me combing back through my highlights to gauge my exact thoughts. It’s been a long time since I was so shook by an ending and this one really paid off! I can’t wait for the discourse once this book is out in the world because it’s the type of ending that is sure to evoke strong opinions.
Jessica Knoll continues to exhibit why she is one of my favorite authors. Her written voice is sharp and she is always down to take exciting risks with her work. I’m going to need everyone to pick this book up so that we can all collectively scream about the ending together!
Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Helpless has the tantalizing thriller elements we’ve come to expect from Knoll, but this story ebbs more into dark, erotic romance with a healthy dash of mystery as well. It follows Hollywood producer/screenwriter Faye Heron as she returns to her college campus to pay respects to her recently deceased professor and mentor. There, she runs into her ex boyfriend Henry Spalding and old feelings arise. Faye and Henry grab a nightcap after the funeral, sinking back into old habits, until Henry makes a move that will alter the course of their lives forever.
I could not get over the prose in this novel! Jessica Knoll’s writing has always enthralled me but there were so many passages in this book that left me speechless. This is Knoll at the top of her game! Not only is she able to craft an enticing narrative but these characters are some of the most psychologically complex I’ve ever read. Faye and Henry’s dynamic is a malleable, nuanced thing. You can never quite tell who has a leg up on who or where their desires truly lie. All I kept thinking was how much these two people deserve each other despite the fact that they’re clearly each other’s Achilles heal.
I really loved the decision that Knoll made to keep characters unnamed who did not have access to Faye and Henry’s joint orbit. This included Faye’s husband, Henry’s wife and children, and Faye’s agent in LA. The bubble that Faye and Henry reside in is impenetrable and the obsession between them overrides everything else. The fact that important people in their lives are not given names on the page drives this fact home in a subtle yet obvious way.
In my opinion, the final few chapters are what really make this book soar. There are a couple rapid fire twists that had me reassessing everything we’d previously been told. The last page in particular had me combing back through my highlights to gauge my exact thoughts. It’s been a long time since I was so shook by an ending and this one really paid off! I can’t wait for the discourse once this book is out in the world because it’s the type of ending that is sure to evoke strong opinions.
Jessica Knoll continues to exhibit why she is one of my favorite authors. Her written voice is sharp and she is always down to take exciting risks with her work. I’m going to need everyone to pick this book up so that we can all collectively scream about the ending together!
Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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.
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