The Burn Zone: A Memoir

by Renee Linnell

After seven years of faithfully following her spiritual teacher, Renee Linnell finally realized she was in a cult and had been severely brainwashed. But how did that happen to someone like her? She had graduated magna cum laude with a double degree. She had traveled to nearly fifty countries alone before she turned thirty-five. She was a surf model and a professional Argentine tango dancer. She had started five different companies and had an MBA from NYU. How could someone like her end up brainwashed and in a cult?
The Burn Zone is an exploration of how we give up our power―how what started out as a need to heal from the loss of her parents and to understand the big questions in life could leave a young woman fighting for her sanity and her sense of self. In the years following her departure from the cult, Linnell struggled to reclaim herself, to stand in her truth, and to rebuild her life. And eventually, after battling depression and isolation, she found a way to come out the other side stronger than ever. Part inspirational story, part cautionary tale, this is a memoir for spiritual seekers and those who feel lost in a world that makes them feel less than perfect.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2018

Reviews

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Renee Linnell finds a spiritual adviser and becomes an ardent follower for over seven years. She finally realizes she’s been brainwashed and is in a cult…Renee is not someone you’d expect to fall for anyone’s lines. She’s well-educated and well-traveled, and she can hardly believe what’s happened herself.

In The Burn Zone, Renee explores the trials that affected her judgment, including the loss of her parents. She also shares what life was like for her after leaving the cult, which was not an easy time for her. She battles depression and is extremely isolated because she has cut off so many people of support.

When Renee turns it around, she becomes quite the inspiration. She learns that her experiences can make her stronger and more connected to others than she ever was before.

I cheered Renee on from the start. She finds purpose in her life right before the reader’s eyes, and what’s more relatable than that? I was captivated by the story and emotional at different points due to the author’s brutal honesty and vulnerability. Overall, I found The Burn Zone an impressive and memorable memoir, one that will stick with me.

Thanks to the publicity team at FSB Associates for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all have had that feeling of being needed, wanted... the search for something more. Being accepted and loved.. who doesn't want it? How high of a price would you pay for it.. and would you even know that you were paying that price?

I always find cult life extremely fascinating. I think the most fascinating is how people get pulled into this "culture". You don't even realize it's happening. The slow isolation. Creepy! While I've certainly had my share of manipulation in relationships, I don't think I could ever truly fathom the intensity this type of brain washing can do to a person.

Linnell does an outstanding job in sharing this intense story. It's not just about the journey that she went on with this cult. Even reading some parts, I was like "WHY GIRL, WHY?" and I should shake the book thinking it would help. (spoiler alert, it doesn't). What's fantastic about this story is her journey back out. How she took these experiences, that still "haunt" her, and found herself again. You certainly can't take the past away from you.. it becomes a part of your being - the journey itself brings you to a different part that maybe was necessary. Not many people can get out. Linnell makes you understand that you can. It's not easy, but it CAN be done.

I'm not one into spirituality or believing in "the universe" doing for you - so although this cult was within this parameter and was out of my normal scope, I could still relate to the story of trying to feel important in any world... of needed to feel important. It's also a story of letting you know that you do NOT need to be perfect to be the best.

Thank you to FSB Associates for this copy. <3

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Burn Zone" is a memoir by Renee Linnell, a smart woman who ends up in a cult. Cults have always been fascinating to me. Whenever I read about them, I always wonder about whether or not I would be able to recognize what I was walking into and getting away from it or would I be sucked in? Linnell's story shows just how easily it can happen. This was a fascinating memoir that was scary and absorbing but luckily, ends up well.

We all want to be accepted and needed. Both of those things are such basic human desires. Linnell had an incredibly difficult childhood and young adulthood and was looking for a path to being accepted and loved. She thinks she finds the path to that in a meditation group. The leader and her co-leader start out giving Linnell whats she thinks she needs but as she gets deeper into the group, the leaders get more controlling. I thought the author did a really good job of capturing the push and pull of wanting to totally belong while not being sure of this path.

The writing of the book was good. It's nicely paced and you're rooting for Linnell along the way. She was a great person to follow through a situation like this. One thing that tripped me up was the timeline of the book jumps back and forth between different points in Linnell's life. At some points, it wasn't clear what time the book was talking about, which was a little confusing. Overall, this was a great memoir!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up from the library because I saw "Buddhist cult" on the back and was like, "that exists?!" I found this memoir absolutely fascinating. I think the way it switches between her time in the cult and her childhood experiences kept things interesting and was done in a way that it felt like the two stories informed each other.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fascinating memoir about being drawn into a cult, Renee Linnell offers a raw, captivating portrait of the years she spent in being brainwashed and her eventual healing from the experience. The Burn Zone is compulsively readable.

The author (with the help of therapy) shows herself to be quite self-aware as she links her childhood with an unbalanced, alcoholic mother to the the decisions she makes later on. She describes her first experience with Lakshmi, the woman who would become her Spiritual Teacher in this Buddhist-adjacent cult, as life-altering. Step by step she reveals how these groups slowly convince members to cut themselves off from the outside world and conform to impossible standards. In her case, the author provided years of full-time, unpaid labor, eventually became involved in an emotionally-abusive sexual relationship, and denied all the things that made her who she was.

Reading her account is incredibly compelling, and the forgiveness that she eventually comes to (for herself and for those who hurt her) is breathtaking. Having little familiarity with Eastern Religion, a lot of the spiritual practices were strange to me, but it becomes clear how and why the author bought into everything. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone curious about this world. I was sent a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books now from people who found themselves in cults and escaping from this lifestyle. This type of lifestyle still puzzles but intrigues me as well. I have to say that this book is probably in my top three on cult life. It felt like Renee did not hold anything back. Like the other books it seems that the people who find themselves "sucked" into the cult life are at a vulnerable time in their life. This is when the leader and follows latch onto new people like "leeches".

When Renee did break away from this life, she did have a nice outlook . Plus, I did notice a change in her personality. It was like when she was in the cult she was not given a voice and she had lost her zest for life. However, when she broke free, she had found her voice as well as a clear voice.

I loved Renee's response to when people ask her what her belief is. She replies "When you are walking toward fear and hate and judgment and condemnation and isolation, you are walking in the wrong direction. When you walk toward faith and love and community and acceptance and kindness and compassion, you are on the right path."

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

#FirstLine ~ All my life I had been searching.

This book is so good. I was simply fascinated the whole way through. I could not stop reading. I love memoirs that pull you in because they are gritty and raw. I know all of us have searched for the right path, searched for comfort and searched for belonging. Honest and real Linnell shares her story in order for all of us to learn from her missteps. We can all afford to embrace our imperfections, flaws and learn what self-love really means!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and quick read about the author's journey to find God and the years she spent following a guru in a cult. I've always had a sort of fascination with cults and other similar religious groups. I'm not really sure why, but I find stories about them and stories from followers who have left to be extremely interesting.

I found the author, Renee Linnell's story very interesting, from her time as a child to that first seminar she attended with a friend. Every time I read stories like these, one always wonders how someone seemingly "normal" ends up in a cult and the author does a great job not only telling her story, but making the situation understandable to readers.

Thank you to the publisher, She Writes Press, for sending me an ARC of this book.

[Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first time in a long time that I’ve hate finished a book. I was so mad about how bad this book was, I was determined to not quit and let it win. Can I rate it negative stars? Give me some stars back for the time and brain cells taken up by this hot garbage.

I love a good cult story, but this turned out to be just a story of a privileged wealthy white woman who, at the end, seems to still be one of those self-obsessed people you find on social media posting about wellness and sovereignty and conspirituality. The premise is fascinating, and the core story is what kept me in the first half of it. But the writing is terrible and sophomoric. She is not a sympathetic character; despite the fact that I fully wanted to root for her in all of her humanness, she still came across as out of touch and suffering from some serious main character syndrome. A Buddhist monk, huh? Sure. I wish her well out there in the world, but I’ll definitely avoid any further works by or about her.

[Lovely Loveday · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burn Zone is a heartfelt read that will take you on an emotional roller coaster as Linnell shares personal stories in her journey of the human spirit. A must-read for anyone who has put their spiritual growth into the hands of another. Linnell has written an honest and real book that is sure to stay with you and open your eyes to the world around you. She shares that it is ok to love yourself and self-love is sometimes the best cure. Sometimes the smallest change effects you the most. After Linnell loses a sense of herself she shares what it was like to rebuild brick by brick. A wonderful story of triumph and ones determination to gain back the power of control over your own life. The Burn Zone is a remarkable read that is sure to pull at your heartstrings. A story that will stay with you long after reading. 

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast and crazy peek inside the Author' s quest to find God and the years she followed her guru into a cult. Soul baring and soul searching, full of ups and downs. Through it, the Author persevered and shares her story.

Copy provided by Publisher and NetGalley

[Rather.be.reading1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis of this book I was hooked and I knew I had to read it!! I am fascinated with cults and memoirs so I devoured this one! I definitely learned a lot from this book. Definitely recommend. The only downside (which probably has nothing to do with the author or book itself) was the type font was really small and I had to zoom in on every page just to read it.

[Amy Christine Lesher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book by the publisher for a review.

If you've ever watched a program on cults and wondered how someone could get caught in one this book is a great place to start. Linnell joined a cult when she was in her 30s and reading her story gives the reader an understanding.

Linnell also discusses her depression. It is one of the truest descriptions I've read and if you're curious about what a loved one is going through her passages are worth reading just to help understand a loved one's pain.

[Paul Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted at pluckyreader.com


If you’re anything like me, you find the psychology of cults very interesting. I cannot tell you the amount of hours I have devoted to reading about Heaven’s Gate, Scientology, Children of God, and Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Growing up, I had friends who were in a cult and I think that probably sparked the fascination I have with them today.

One thing I’ve never really considered, though, is how somebody gets lured into a cult. I mean, I’ve never really thought about it. And I’ve never really thought about the types of people who find themselves in cults.

I had to stop and evaluate these things before I read The Burn Zone: a Memoir by Renee Linnell. I had to figure out my own preconceptions about cult life before I read this memoir. I felt it would help me focus my reading. What I realized is if you were to ask me what kind of person falls into a cult, I’d tell you somebody who was weak, stupid, or both.

But ten seconds with Linnell’s memoir taught me otherwise.

After seven years of faithfully following her spiritual teacher, Renee Linnell finally realized she was in a cult and had been severely brainwashed. But how did that happen to someone like her? She had graduated magna cum laude with a double degree. She had traveled to nearly fifty countries alone before she turned thirty-five. She was a surf model and a professional Argentine tango dancer. She had started five different companies and had an MBA from NYU. How could someone like her end up brainwashed and in a cult?

The Burn Zone is an exploration of how we give up our power―how what started out as a need to heal from the loss of her parents and to understand the big questions in life could leave a young woman fighting for her sanity and her sense of self. In the years following her departure from the cult, Linnell struggled to reclaim herself, to stand in her truth, and to rebuild her life. And eventually, after battling depression and isolation, she found a way to come out the other side stronger than ever. Part inspirational story, part cautionary tale, this is a memoir for spiritual seekers and those who feel lost in a world that makes them feel less than perfect.

When I was contacted about reading and reviewing this book, I jumped at the opportunity. This rang all of my bells. I was so ready for this book. I waited in anticipation for its arrival to my mailbox.

When I opened it and began reading, I realized I was not ready at all. I was not ready for how real and raw Linnell was going to be. I was not ready for the amount of heartache that was going to be in this book. I was not prepared for Linnell’s skill as a writer, either. What I’m telling you is there was no way to prepare me for what was in this book.

Dr. Maya Angelou once said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

If Dr. Angelou is any judge (and she is) then I cannot imagine Linnell’s agony as she wrote this story. Recently the hosts of my favorite podcast announced they were writing a memoir. They mentioned how painful it was to dig up old wounds and to explore them again. My main takeaway from this book and Linnell as a writer is how incredibly strong and brilliant she is.

In most book reviews, I tell you about the plot of the book. I tell you about characters and plot devices. But The Burn Zone is a memoir, and therefore not my story to tell. Instead, I will talk about the journey this book took me on. And what a journey it was.

The Burn Zone spoke directly to my heart. Linnell is open about the pain and struggles of her past that are so familiar to me, they could very well have been my own problems. From the preface through the entire book, Linnell comments on the human condition and our overwhelming need to be accepted and to have a purpose.

She opens with a Chinese folktale that was so beautiful, I stopped reading to share it with my friends. I had never heard this tale before and I had to share it immediately. It was all about finding acceptance. This little tale set the tone for the entire book. Her preface ends with a call to action, just to make sure she drives her point home.

Embrace your skeletons in the closet. Pull them out and paint them pink. Celebrate them. Your skeletons are probably the most interesting part about you. Your difference is your destiny.

As a narrative, The Burn Zone is presented in a very interesting way. The story is woven in a broken timeline. It alternates between telling the story of how Linnell was lured into the cult, and stories from the time before. I love this style of narrative in fiction and nonfiction. I'm attracted to a non-linear timeline. Every time one of the vignettes ended, I wanted to know more about what I'd just read, but I was also intrigued by the new story that came next. It kept me turning page after page to read everything she had written.

The writing of this book is fantastic. It's so visual and descriptive; I really felt as if I were there, experiencing everything through my own eyes. From descriptions of beautiful, blue, dolphin-filled waters to pink-purple deserts, I was transported across the world with Linnell. I found myself--on more than one occasion--envious of Linnell's life. I was never able to travel like she had. I was never afforded the same amazing opportunities of surfing and dancing and life. If she were to write a travel memoir of just the places she'd visited, I'd swallow it whole.

Reading her experiences in the cult, however, was a much different experience. I felt my heart ache. I more than once told her to stop what she was doing. I wrote in the margins notes about the ways that brain washers function. It was all too real. It was a slow fade and, as a third-party observer easy to track. But I spent my time in this book, trying to put myself in her shoes. I tried to understand how this could happen to somebody so brilliant and strong. Not because I thought I was different, but because I know I'm exactly the same.

All anybody wants in this life is to belong. All anybody wants is to be accepted and valued. And in times when I hurt the most, and I can think of a few, it would have been just as easy for my to slip away and lose myself to somebody else's identity, just to feel accepted and welcome. I wonder if my narrative would have been much different if I were in her shoes.

I began to realize my story had worth.

This truly is--as the jacket copy states--a story of empowerment and a cautionary tale. This is an important story. This is a strong story. This is a story of how easy it is to lose yourself entirely in an attempt to find yourself. But more importantly, this is Renee Linnell's story. This is the story of one woman who lived through hell and came out on the other side, broken down and rebuilt by flames.

The Burn Zone: a Memoir is an incredible, heavy, wonderful book. It is as much commentary on the human condition as it is a personal, heartbreaking story. I highly recommend it to anybody interested in psychology, survivor stories, and stories of strong, empowered women. It goes on sale everywhere October 9. Pre-order your copy now!

Plucky's rating?
5/5 stars

Yours,
The Plucky Reader

About the Author:
Renee Linnell is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and cofounded five companies and has an Executive Masters in Business Administration from New York University. Currently she is working on starting a publishing company to give people from diverse walks of life an opportunity to tell their stories. She divides her time between Colorado and Southern California.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This raw and gritty memoir grabbed me from page one and never let me go! The author did a great job of writing about how she ended up in a cult and about how her life was after she left. Really interesting and detailed. Highly recommend!

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only time I will go out of my way from my steady diet of fiction to imbibe a nice biography or memoir is if I respect the subject or they have a unique story to tell. THE BURN ZONE falls into the latter category. I had never heard of Renee Linnell prior to being sent this book for review. There was really no reason for me to have known her as we run in different circles. What caught my eye was the premise of an intelligent, successful woman losing her will and sense of self when she is taken in by a cult.

I'm a sucker for good quotes, and THE BURN ZONE is chock full of them. It is clear that Renee has spent a lot of time focusing on her life and the decisions she has made. Only a person with that level of self-awareness could have come up with dozens of inspirational quotes that run parallel to the action of her life that she is describing within these pages. Things open up with a brief but meaningful dedication to the weird boy/girl inside all of us --- the one who never fit in, the one who knows we were born to set the world on fire.

That last bit came from a quote by Saint Catherine of Siena. The primary message that readers are to take away from this book is that your difference is your destiny. For someone who shunned the entire idea of self to embrace the cult that had taken control of every aspect of her life, this piece of advice is everything. When Renee realizes that she needs something else in her life, her friend invites her to come to a meditation class. Upon entering, she is immediately captivated by the instructor, a striking woman named Lakshmi. What especially gets her attention --- and ends up being a perfect “tell” --- is seeing Lakshmi step into the room and take the stage in an expensive pair of high heels.

During one meditation session, Renee has a transcendent, powerful experience. When she timidly asks what just happened to her, Lakshmi tells her that she was in the burn zone. The feeling is so powerful that it keeps her coming back for more. THE BURN ZONE moves around at times, highlighting events from Renee’s life. She describes her childhood living on a boat in the Bahamas with her parents and brother. Having also resided in Boston, she recalls the challenge her school teachers in Fort Lauderdale had cutting through her unique Bahamian-Boston accent.

Renee’s carefree beginning of life is soon marred by significant loss. She has to deal with the death of her grandparents, uncle, aunt and cousin all before the age of 15. Clearly, as intelligent and successful as Renee was, she had a lot of baggage that gives readers some idea as to how she was easily duped while trying to fill a hole in her life and psyche. She enrolls in Lakshmi's University of Mysticism and, at that time, thinks it is the most significant decision she has ever made.

Renee talks about her young adulthood as being filled with wanderlust that found her always traveling the globe. An early career as a bikini model allowed her to regularly visit exotic locales. What a difference the teachings of the University of Mysticism is when they stress stringent adherence to Buddhist teachings that includes giving up material possessions, money and participation in any activity that does not directly improve one’s inner self and well-being. Needless to say, sleeping around and living like a wild vagabond traversing the globe is frowned upon by her new life instructors.

Renee makes a big mistake when she allows herself to be courted by Vishnu, Lakshmi's right-hand man who is a key member of her faculty and also her own lover. She falls blindly into a strange, obsessive and often one-sided physical relationship with Vishnu. Things begin to spiral out of control, particularly when Lakshmi singles out Renee as a failure and instructs the other students to shun her. When she begins to stand up for herself and figure out what the University of Mysticism is really all about, Vishnu fires her.

Not wanting to give anything else away, let me just say that Renee's comeback, reclamation and finally accepting herself for what she is provides for quite an engaging read. She has an easy, believable writing style that makes you think she is talking directly to you in a private conversation. I would like to think that the one thing Renee took from her involvement with Buddhism was living life like a Bodhisattva. No, I'm not referring to the Steely Dan song, but rather a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings. Well, THE BURN ZONE definitely spoke to me, and the self-help benefits should do wonders for anyone else who gives this book a try.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Stefanie Dettmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Renee Linnell through an interview she did on Inspire Nation (on Youtube). I loved how she spoke, what she had to say and her story intrigued me. I've been fascinated by the question what draws people to join cults for a long time and I guess this book made me unterstand a couple of things. This story is so immersive, but oh, it is painful to read. At times I wished I could have grabbed Renee and smack her across the head to make her see what she was doing, how she was living this bad dream and although she wanted to wake up so badly.

And then at one point it hit me: I guess I have been living in my own cult for half my life.

Aren't we all part of our very own cult, part of the circumstances we created, and we can't get out, because we can't see what's wrong? Aren't we all soulsick, as Renee described it? When we get older we've seen our fair share of dreams getting crushed, encountered the inability to act and erected save zones around us to prevent us from failure and judgement. We start searching for that special something to help us out of our misery. We want to wake up out of the false dreams we maneuvered ourselves into and we easily fall prey to solutions that seem to be an easy way out. It's gurus, drugs, therapies, extensive shopping, overworking or whatever. Instead of pursuing our dreams we experience ourselves to be weak and incapable. We do not even try, because we're sure we'll fail. We seek reassurance on the outside, in other people or possessions, instead of finding it buried in us, when we finally start to act.

I was really baffled by the fact how much Renee's path - on a psyhcological level - resembled mine. Although I had a completely different upbringing and have never been part of a cult. If you're a sensitive person it is always easy to question yourself and you abilities, no matter how bright or talented you might be, no matter if you're on the introvert or extravert spectrum.

To me Renee had all the right talents: she was outgoing, had a great sense of business, excelled at sports, impressed people. But I guess this doesn't count when you're sick on the inside. It hurt me badly to witness her go from being this promising young woman to the hopeless heteronomous person she became. It is so easy to attach little value to our unique talents. But it is the reason for most our suffering: us not being ourselves, thinking us worthless.

Renee Linnells book shows how every challenge and every dark night of the soul can be overcome by starting to listen to yourself, asking yourself important questions like: "What happened? What is wrong with you? How can I help you? What can we do about it? What would you like to do?" And the do it no matter how ashamed it makes you feel.

We can master any challenge and come out stronger on the other side, when we're not afraid to feel bad at times. Life doesn't present us with challenges we cannot master. Accepting, letting go and growing strong by being yourself is the message this book spreads and it is a powerful one. Because, in the end, who are we trying to impress? And why? It doesn't matter if everybody loves us if we don't love ourselves. Self-love isn't selfish it is something must practice in order to come clean with our struggles and to embrace the world we live in fearlessly.

I salute you, Renee, you brave and beautiful woman.

[Woody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw the author do a portion of her reading on a TV broadcast of her reading East West Bookstore here in Seattle. I was impressed. She was interesting, articulate and she certainly had an intriguing back story. Then I saw her book on sale at EW Bookstore, which is next to a drug store I often visit. I bought it and read it.

It's certainly a page-turner, and definitely a cautionary tale about cults. It was also agonizing to read about her repeatedly ignoring her own intuition, judgement and intelligence. She gave in to paying the University of Mysticism exorbitant sums of money, and becoming as she wrote "a slave and a concubine." I found myself saying out loud as I read it: GET OUT! LEAVE NOW!! TRUST YOUR INTUITION!!!

The author was seeking "enlightenment," so she put up with all the abuse: sexual, emotional, verbal and more. But the real enlightenment is listening to and trusting your intuition, believing in yourself, using your brain and being a kind, considerate, caring person.

I also hope that the author now has better judgement in her choice of men. Going after "powerful," boastful, macho men often leads to short-term relationships with self-absorbed abusive pricks. She should know. In fact, she could write another book about this topic.

Finally, I wish that she had gone after the cult in her book so that it does not continue to prey on people and ruin their lives. I don't think she should have forgiven them. They abused her in multiple, cruel ways and they will continue to abuse others if not apprehended.

[Max]

The beginning was strong and stood out but the closer it got to the end, the more it felt like any inspirational blog post. Funky!! It started like a good memoir and ended like a bad one. She describes becoming extremely infatuated with a woman, even naming herself in passing a few times as in love with her, but doesn’t own that her feelings for this woman “count” in the way she owns her (seemingly much less intense, by her account) investment in various men. Interesting how her self-concept as outpouring love was apparently never contradicted by the constant judgements about other women’s bodies throughout the book. She mentions at the end an editor put the book together out of her diary. I kinda wonder if maybe she was writing the diary more earnestly to start and more for the purpose of a book towards the end? The feel changed a lot for me. It’s not this way to start but by the end she comes across like the kind of exited cult member who builds her own low key cult. Didn’t really appreciate discussion of forgiveness for the men and woman who sadistically fucked with her for years, and I hate the idea that for suffering to be made sense of, it has to be necessary and an essential part of your path, and she gets big into this, too. Made me feel weird to read someone seeming to have so much insight and then ending with feel-good cliches instead of making good on her own lines of thinking

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, soul-Baring tale of triumph—unforgettable. urgently and utterly human.
The Burn Zone by Linnell is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s a visceral journey into the mind of a brilliant, accomplished woman who—like so many others—found herself swept into the seductive grip of a cult. What makes this memoir so powerful isn’t just the story itself, but the way Linnell tells it: with unflinching honesty, emotional clarity, and a kind of spiritual bravery that leaves you breathless.
This isn’t just a cautionary tale—it’s a mirror held up to our assumptions. We often imagine cult victims as lost or unstable, but Linnell shatters that stereotype. Her story reminds us that even the most intelligent, grounded individuals can be vulnerable to manipulation, especially when seeking meaning, connection, or healing. It’s a sobering truth she delivers with grace and grit.
The writing is raw, cathartic, and utterly addictive. I couldn’t put it down. Every page pulses with emotion, insight, and the kind of hard-won wisdom that only comes from surviving something soul-shaking.
I’m finishing the sequel now, and I am on another unforgettable ride. The Burn Zone is a must-read for anyone who values truth, resilience, and the power of reclaiming your voice, and who is capable of understanding that we are all vulnerable, no matter what our background.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a touching memoir from Renee Linnell. Renee seemed to have everything that we consider to be successful. But after the death of her parents and god mother she felt lost and alone. She went on a quest for answers to life’s questions and didn’t really find them until one day she took a meditation class and felt at peace. What follows is Renee becoming part of a cult for several years.

I will be the first to admit that when I read about cult members I want to know what would make them follow someone that seems so clearly wacko. But there is so much more to cults and this book really makes you think about them. Renee is at her lowest and wanting love and acceptance and she finds it. What is heartbreaking is watching her as she progresses in the cult what you just want to grab her and shake her to wake her up.

This is a wonderful story of lose and recovery. I was so happy that Renee could heal from everything she went through and share her story for others to enjoy and grow too. At times it is hard to read but in the end is was a fantastic journey. This is definitely one book you need to read. It is going on my keep shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Rebecca Reimers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching memoir about a woman who is lost in life, searching for the one answer to help her feel grounded and whole. At age thirty-something, she puts all her trust in a charismatic cult leader. The book is about her difficult childhood, her years of searching for something meaningful, her devotion to the cult and ultimately how she finds herself.

The preface is the most powerful part of the book, with the message that everyone believe in their own specialness and value it.

I rated this at a 3 because I wanted a deeper understanding of how author comes to terms with her co-dependence. (I would give it a 3.5 if that was possible.)

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

As someone who primarily reads fantasy and science fiction, I thought I would enjoy this book but I wasn't sure if this memoir was going to be a page-turner, stay-up-all-night kind of book. I was wrong.

At about page 100, I got sucked in. I ended up reading the rest of the book in one sitting (minus a nap break). It was addicting. It was heartbreaking. It was inspiring. I found the way Renee told her story was easy to follow and her writing kept me entranced.

Full, non-spoiler review here.

[Lizbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Liddell's memoir is emotional and thoughtful. An amazing journey of self discovery and reinvention.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Renee Linnell tells all in her riveting experience 7 years of being in a cult. Struggling with the death of her parents, seeking stability, meaning in life--You're taken along for the journey. Great book.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIVETING TALE!

Wow! What a fascinating ride! The author knows human psyche well from her surreal encounters. If you’re looking for an exciting real-life adventure, this one’s for you.

[Kari Heggen (checkedoutbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

This was one of my book club reads for the month. I was very intrigued about the fact that it's a memoir about a cult!! I had a hard time putting the book down because I needed to know what insane thing the woman would do next in order to achieve "enlightenment". I'm a huge huge cynic when it comes to spirituality and enlightenment or any of that so I had a hard time understanding how exactly she got so swept away to the point she did without realizing how effed up it all was. I also had a hard time with the fact that she casually mentions her wealth but ya girl isn't just wealthy she is absolutely loaded. I don't know many people who can give their new bf $500,000 off-hand to become invested in their business or can work for free for 5 years without any issue. I wondered if the fact that she was so lost "spiritually" was because she never had to earn anything but got to roam the country and other countries surfing, dancing and doing whatever she pleased for decades and just needed to learn to grow up.

TW: verbal and emotional abuse

[Elaine Federico · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend wrote this book and I thoroughly enjoyed being on the journey with her. She’s now working on the sequel and I can’t wait!

[Amber Sherlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A subject that I am truly fascinated in, written about in an intelligent and bold manner. Perfect. Absorbing and at times scary!

[Kelly McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A psychologically acute consideration of the ways people can be manipulated and brainwashed by cults, and an unflinching look at the bravery it takes to find yourself again. I loved Renee's story.