What do you think?
Rate this book
It's Not a Cult
Mona Awad's Bunny meets Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in Lauren Danhof's captivating debut, in which a daughter races to save her mother from a dangerous cult before it's too late.
Glinda Glass is truly trying her best. After dropping out of her graduate school program, she moves back to her childhood home with her mom—who has not only joined a cult, the Starlight Pioneer Society, but has also become enraptured by its charismatic and menacing leader, Arlon. When she’s not trying to get her twin sister Dorothy to finally speak to her or keep her younger sister West out of trouble, Glinda spends her days working in the Drench-the-Wench dunking booth at the local Renaissance fair with her only friend and co-worker Troy, who may or may not be falling in love with her.
Once Glinda learns that the cult will be turning her family’s home into their commune, she suspects there’s more to Arlon than meets the eye and decides to take matters into her own hands—even if that means infiltrating the cult herself. There, she realizes things are far more sinister than she could have ever imagined and that she must get her mom out from under the spell of Arlon by any means necessary. But Glinda can’t do it on her own; in order to save her mother, she’ll have to come to terms with her own history of trauma and grief and repair her relationships with her sisters and Troy.
Glinda always has the best intentions, even if her emotionally clumsy efforts to fix things constantly end in disaster. With the fate of her family on the line, will this time be different?
Glinda Glass is truly trying her best. After dropping out of her graduate school program, she moves back to her childhood home with her mom—who has not only joined a cult, the Starlight Pioneer Society, but has also become enraptured by its charismatic and menacing leader, Arlon. When she’s not trying to get her twin sister Dorothy to finally speak to her or keep her younger sister West out of trouble, Glinda spends her days working in the Drench-the-Wench dunking booth at the local Renaissance fair with her only friend and co-worker Troy, who may or may not be falling in love with her.
Once Glinda learns that the cult will be turning her family’s home into their commune, she suspects there’s more to Arlon than meets the eye and decides to take matters into her own hands—even if that means infiltrating the cult herself. There, she realizes things are far more sinister than she could have ever imagined and that she must get her mom out from under the spell of Arlon by any means necessary. But Glinda can’t do it on her own; in order to save her mother, she’ll have to come to terms with her own history of trauma and grief and repair her relationships with her sisters and Troy.
Glinda always has the best intentions, even if her emotionally clumsy efforts to fix things constantly end in disaster. With the fate of her family on the line, will this time be different?
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2023
17 people are currently reading
5084 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
January 23, 2023
I read this book and I loved this book and I have no idea why anyone would ever (ever, ever, ever) compare this to Bunny.
Bunny is weird and surreal and edgy and perfect – for the right reader.
This is also pretty darn close to perfect. It’s also funny, quirky, and sometimes heartbreaking. I loved Glinda and her entire damaged family. I adored Troy and his cousin. And I wanted to punch Arlon in his smug cult leader face.
The situations that Glinda gets herself in are definitely amusing and sometimes horrifying, but everything that happens cements that she’s a good person who just messes up sometimes – kind of like us all.
The cult seems a little silly at first, but as you learn more about it you realize that people like this definitely exist.
This was a fast and extremely entertaining read and I would happily read more and more!
• ARC via Publisher
Bunny is weird and surreal and edgy and perfect – for the right reader.
This is also pretty darn close to perfect. It’s also funny, quirky, and sometimes heartbreaking. I loved Glinda and her entire damaged family. I adored Troy and his cousin. And I wanted to punch Arlon in his smug cult leader face.
The situations that Glinda gets herself in are definitely amusing and sometimes horrifying, but everything that happens cements that she’s a good person who just messes up sometimes – kind of like us all.
The cult seems a little silly at first, but as you learn more about it you realize that people like this definitely exist.
This was a fast and extremely entertaining read and I would happily read more and more!
• ARC via Publisher
August 10, 2023
This was a very odd book. Essentially the main character is trying to rescue her mother from an increasingly sinister cult. The main character was EXTREMELY unlikeable. Like, she was a real B. And yet somehow I found the story compelling enough to continue reading. Towards the end it becomes almost thriller-ish with an action-filled climax.
The hardest part of this book for me was how awful the main character was. It was hard to root for her. Other characters would tell her what a self centred B she was and I got the sense we were meant to feel outraged on her behalf? But in fact I was like... um yeah, they're right?
Somehow her personal issues were meant to make it understandable for her to treat other people like absolute garbage and I just couldn't find any sympathy for her.
The story was interesting and different though. Just an odd reading experience overall.
The hardest part of this book for me was how awful the main character was. It was hard to root for her. Other characters would tell her what a self centred B she was and I got the sense we were meant to feel outraged on her behalf? But in fact I was like... um yeah, they're right?
Somehow her personal issues were meant to make it understandable for her to treat other people like absolute garbage and I just couldn't find any sympathy for her.
The story was interesting and different though. Just an odd reading experience overall.
February 5, 2023
3 ⭐️
thankyou Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this one early.
I wanted this one because someone said it's in the same vain as Finlay Donovan and I've realized that's definitely the vibe I wanted but with reading, I agree to an extent.
I really liked the writing but the characters were very oddly written. I did think it was a solid story though.
thankyou Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this one early.
I wanted this one because someone said it's in the same vain as Finlay Donovan and I've realized that's definitely the vibe I wanted but with reading, I agree to an extent.
I really liked the writing but the characters were very oddly written. I did think it was a solid story though.
February 24, 2023
Oh, but it is a cult!
I've seen this book described as quirky, and it certainly was!
Glinda is trying to keep her family together and save her mom from succumbing to a full blown cult.
I found Glinda insufferable. Her hastened reactions to things are just annoying at times. As were most of the characters.
I still enjoyed the book, something different to typical thriller that i tend to gravitate to. It's a pretty fun story with some action. I would have liked to know more on the cult's background and Arlon's past.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
I've seen this book described as quirky, and it certainly was!
Glinda is trying to keep her family together and save her mom from succumbing to a full blown cult.
I found Glinda insufferable. Her hastened reactions to things are just annoying at times. As were most of the characters.
I still enjoyed the book, something different to typical thriller that i tend to gravitate to. It's a pretty fun story with some action. I would have liked to know more on the cult's background and Arlon's past.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
April 26, 2023
Perhaps it really wasn't "my" kinda book, but it was still enjoyable! I read it in half a day and it was just okay in my opinion! It had some funny dry-humor bits -- but it was a bit too "family trauma/homelife" for me but it was VERY relatable since my own mother is very gullible to pyramid schemes like It Works! and Mary Kay and those are pretty much just like cults so I definitely thought of my mother while reading this! (2.8/5 stars) (⭐️⭐️.8 / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
July 24, 2024
3.5 stars
I haven't been this infuriated with a book for a while.
1, I hated the names of these people.
2, why would being an obnoxious teen mean your entire family hated you forever? Like, urggghhh!
3, Glinda was a spoilt brat! No, they were all spoiled brats!
4, every reveal toyed with me as to who pissed me off more
There was something seriously wrong with the Glass Family in this book. I'm kinda glad I didn't read this book physically because it would've been thrown against the wall every few pages
I haven't been this infuriated with a book for a while.
1, I hated the names of these people.
2, why would being an obnoxious teen mean your entire family hated you forever? Like, urggghhh!
3, Glinda was a spoilt brat! No, they were all spoiled brats!
4, every reveal toyed with me as to who pissed me off more
There was something seriously wrong with the Glass Family in this book. I'm kinda glad I didn't read this book physically because it would've been thrown against the wall every few pages
February 5, 2024
Finishing a cult book in a day just feels right. It was incredibly interesting, if at times, frustrating.
August 27, 2023
I was in love with the first chapter, and so excited because THIS book was going to get me out of my reading slump. Nothing went right from that point on.
No one in Glinda's family knows how to talk to each other or communicate. Texts are not returned or not believed or not even sent. Any statement, no matter how innocuous, is met with distrust. Most important things are just not communicated at all. Glinda, our main character, is a college-educated 25 year old who behaves like she's 16. She has done some atrocious things to her family and when dealing with other people returns every thank you with a snarl, every kindness with venom. It is explained that Glinda has gone through some things, but guess what, a lot of women have gone through those things and we didn't turn into monsters against every single person in our lives.
But Glinda and her family are the ones we're supposed to root for, because there is also a villain. I guess the only way to differentiate him from the completely problematic family of Glinda's is to make him a horrific comic book level caricature of a villain. He's only missing a mustache to twirl.
Could Glinda not have had one element of goodness that we could root for? I was continuously horrified every time she opened her mouth. I'm not even mad at the author, I'm more frustrated that no one around her in the process pointed out that a reader needs something to hold on to, to hope for. This was just doom and gloom and hopelessness until the last chapter when everything is wrapped up in a tidy bow and a magic wand was waved over everyone to make them nice and good and happy people. The end.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I never would have finished this one if not for NetGalley.
No one in Glinda's family knows how to talk to each other or communicate. Texts are not returned or not believed or not even sent. Any statement, no matter how innocuous, is met with distrust. Most important things are just not communicated at all. Glinda, our main character, is a college-educated 25 year old who behaves like she's 16. She has done some atrocious things to her family and when dealing with other people returns every thank you with a snarl, every kindness with venom. It is explained that Glinda has gone through some things, but guess what, a lot of women have gone through those things and we didn't turn into monsters against every single person in our lives.
But Glinda and her family are the ones we're supposed to root for, because there is also a villain. I guess the only way to differentiate him from the completely problematic family of Glinda's is to make him a horrific comic book level caricature of a villain. He's only missing a mustache to twirl.
Could Glinda not have had one element of goodness that we could root for? I was continuously horrified every time she opened her mouth. I'm not even mad at the author, I'm more frustrated that no one around her in the process pointed out that a reader needs something to hold on to, to hope for. This was just doom and gloom and hopelessness until the last chapter when everything is wrapped up in a tidy bow and a magic wand was waved over everyone to make them nice and good and happy people. The end.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I never would have finished this one if not for NetGalley.
December 13, 2023
Always a gamble picking up a random book at the library. It was a good concept but it didn’t deliver the way I wanted it to
July 13, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Available August 22, 2023.
4 stars
This is such a bizarre little book about love, family and loss.
It’s Not A Cult goes from a very strange lighthearted and funny to high stakes and serious consequences. There’s a ren faire, bigfoot and a cult – what could go wrong?
Glinda finds herself out of work and back living at home where her recently widowed mother has embroiled herself in a cult. She has to convince her estranged family that her mother needs help but no one believes her due to her history and unfortunate actions in the past.
I really enjoyed the humour in this book – even when things got dark there was a lightheartedness to it that broke the tension. The characters were great and interactions between them felt real and honest.
Also, why did “you’re my bigfoot” hit so hard???
Available August 22, 2023.
4 stars
This is such a bizarre little book about love, family and loss.
It’s Not A Cult goes from a very strange lighthearted and funny to high stakes and serious consequences. There’s a ren faire, bigfoot and a cult – what could go wrong?
Glinda finds herself out of work and back living at home where her recently widowed mother has embroiled herself in a cult. She has to convince her estranged family that her mother needs help but no one believes her due to her history and unfortunate actions in the past.
I really enjoyed the humour in this book – even when things got dark there was a lightheartedness to it that broke the tension. The characters were great and interactions between them felt real and honest.
Also, why did “you’re my bigfoot” hit so hard???
August 20, 2023
It’s Not a Cult by Lauren Danhof. Thanks to @alcovepress #partner for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glinda is doing the best she can with her mom, who has joined a cult, and her job at the drench-a-wench tent. When she learns the cult is taking over her family home, she takes matters into her own hands.
I loved this book for the family drama and the quirkiness. You have never met a character like Glinda, or the other cast of interesting individuals you’ll be introduced to. While there are some heavy topics involved: grief, drug addiction, sibling rivalry, the story is hilarious all the way through. I loved this one and wish I had more.
“Why did one think I was strong enough? To tell my sisters, to bear our collective broken heart?! I wasn’t even strong enough to bear my own.”
It’s Not a Cult comes out 8/22.
Glinda is doing the best she can with her mom, who has joined a cult, and her job at the drench-a-wench tent. When she learns the cult is taking over her family home, she takes matters into her own hands.
I loved this book for the family drama and the quirkiness. You have never met a character like Glinda, or the other cast of interesting individuals you’ll be introduced to. While there are some heavy topics involved: grief, drug addiction, sibling rivalry, the story is hilarious all the way through. I loved this one and wish I had more.
“Why did one think I was strong enough? To tell my sisters, to bear our collective broken heart?! I wasn’t even strong enough to bear my own.”
It’s Not a Cult comes out 8/22.
August 23, 2023
I love consuming media about cults it’s always so fascinating to me so just the title was enough to pique my interest.
Off the bat I enjoyed the story though the main character did sometimes get on my nerves, my only true gripe with this storyline was that sometimes I couldn’t predict where the author was taking it. Overall an enjoyable read
Off the bat I enjoyed the story though the main character did sometimes get on my nerves, my only true gripe with this storyline was that sometimes I couldn’t predict where the author was taking it. Overall an enjoyable read
February 16, 2023
I wanted to like this so much but I just couldn't keep going anymore. I DNF'd at ~50%. I just found the main character Glinda very annoying. I could not get past what she did to her sister Dorothy. The way she behaves is very immature and I could not read her saying "I'll take care of it" one more time. She's very rude and makes very poor decisions and is then shocked no one supports her. Even her family doesn't seem to like her, like at all. I do not care to find out how the story ended and it was a struggle to get myself to pick this back up. I'm giving it a two because I'm sure others would enjoy this, it is just not for me.
September 1, 2023
I just finished It’s not a cult by Lauren Danhof and here are my thoughts!
Glinda Glass makes a mess of her life no matter what she does. After the death of her father things got worse. Her twin sister leaves her and is refusing to speak to her, she dropped out of school and now her mother is part of a cult…. The leader, Arlon, has his fingers so deep in her mother that they are now getting married.
She can’t even find solace at work…. She is the wench who gets dunked into a tank… The only saving grace is Troy, her partner at the tank. Soon she learns her mother is allowing all of the followers to move into their home and her mother is acting weirder and weirder by the day. Soon a man comes to the house and dies under suspicious circumstances and the only person who may be able to do anything about it, is her estranged sister who doesn’t believe a word she says. As Glinda faces her demons and races to save her mother she learns she has to trust someone but will that someone be lying to her as well?
I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started reading. Glinda kinda set my teeth on edge and I am not a fan of unreliable narrators on the whole but I soon warmed up to her. The more I learned, the more I understood why she is the way she is. Grief does weird things to a person and Glinda didn’t have it easy. I can see why her sister left her too. She definitely has issues.
The cult is insane!!! I couldn’t believe the stuff that dude was getting up to. He wasn’t even a very clever cult leader but I had to admit, he didn’t need to be. He was getting it done.
Loved the characters' names and why they were named from the wizard of oz��� too epic. I have to say I love the cult trope and this one wasn’t just general fiction, it was funny as well. I loved that! Really made for an entertaining read. The whole book was told from Glinda’s POV and I really enjoyed getting to know her. I also kinda loved her job. Working at a renaissance faire… How cool is that! She got to yell insults at people too. The author of this book rocked my entire world with this book. I can’t praise it enough.
5 stars. Thank you @netgalley and @alcovepress for my gifted copy
Glinda Glass makes a mess of her life no matter what she does. After the death of her father things got worse. Her twin sister leaves her and is refusing to speak to her, she dropped out of school and now her mother is part of a cult…. The leader, Arlon, has his fingers so deep in her mother that they are now getting married.
She can’t even find solace at work…. She is the wench who gets dunked into a tank… The only saving grace is Troy, her partner at the tank. Soon she learns her mother is allowing all of the followers to move into their home and her mother is acting weirder and weirder by the day. Soon a man comes to the house and dies under suspicious circumstances and the only person who may be able to do anything about it, is her estranged sister who doesn’t believe a word she says. As Glinda faces her demons and races to save her mother she learns she has to trust someone but will that someone be lying to her as well?
I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started reading. Glinda kinda set my teeth on edge and I am not a fan of unreliable narrators on the whole but I soon warmed up to her. The more I learned, the more I understood why she is the way she is. Grief does weird things to a person and Glinda didn’t have it easy. I can see why her sister left her too. She definitely has issues.
The cult is insane!!! I couldn’t believe the stuff that dude was getting up to. He wasn’t even a very clever cult leader but I had to admit, he didn’t need to be. He was getting it done.
Loved the characters' names and why they were named from the wizard of oz��� too epic. I have to say I love the cult trope and this one wasn’t just general fiction, it was funny as well. I loved that! Really made for an entertaining read. The whole book was told from Glinda’s POV and I really enjoyed getting to know her. I also kinda loved her job. Working at a renaissance faire… How cool is that! She got to yell insults at people too. The author of this book rocked my entire world with this book. I can’t praise it enough.
5 stars. Thank you @netgalley and @alcovepress for my gifted copy
August 28, 2023
This was funny and entertaining. I loved Glinda's sarcasm and the nerdiness, but she's definitely a piece of work. There's lots of angst and past trauma and impulsive, dumb decisions. Nevertheless I was hooked and finished the book in 2 sittings.
The writing style is fluent and the pacing was great.
I can recommend this one to anyone who likes a light cult-thriller.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing style is fluent and the pacing was great.
I can recommend this one to anyone who likes a light cult-thriller.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2023
This had a little bit of everything in it. It was funny and quirky, twisty and turny, with some high family drama and really emotionally draining characters. I thought MY family put the fun in dysfunctional, but these guys take the cake. However, it was so captivating to be in their presence and watch their story unfold and I finished this in no time at all.
January 23, 2023
Thank you to Alcove Press for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
“It’s Not a Cult” will be published on August 22nd 2023.
This is the second book this year I’ve read with a cult-theme – the previous one I read was very much a thriller whereas this was more, hm, down to earth, I guess? I quite enjoyed this story actually.
Our main character, Glinda, is flawed in a very believable way and her determination to get her mother out of this cult made for an interesting read. I think what I enjoyed most was that it felt real. It felt like something that could happen and, maybe most importantly, the reactions from the characters were convincing and realistic.
“It’s Not a Cult” will be published on August 22nd 2023.
This is the second book this year I’ve read with a cult-theme – the previous one I read was very much a thriller whereas this was more, hm, down to earth, I guess? I quite enjoyed this story actually.
Our main character, Glinda, is flawed in a very believable way and her determination to get her mother out of this cult made for an interesting read. I think what I enjoyed most was that it felt real. It felt like something that could happen and, maybe most importantly, the reactions from the characters were convincing and realistic.
January 22, 2023
I was able to read this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley.
I loved the characters, the angst of 17 year old West was incredibly believable and the fun spirit of Troy was captivating. I would have liked more descriptions of what the characters looked like, but then again it left it completely up to the imagination, which was kind of nice. The conflicts between the sisters and their worry I over their mom joining the cult was very well written, and had me on the edge of my seat.
The story was interesting enough, but I think I would have liked more back story to how the cult had started. And what each member had gone through to be a member.
I loved the characters, the angst of 17 year old West was incredibly believable and the fun spirit of Troy was captivating. I would have liked more descriptions of what the characters looked like, but then again it left it completely up to the imagination, which was kind of nice. The conflicts between the sisters and their worry I over their mom joining the cult was very well written, and had me on the edge of my seat.
The story was interesting enough, but I think I would have liked more back story to how the cult had started. And what each member had gone through to be a member.
April 18, 2023
Thanks to Alcove Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, this is probably somewhere closer to a 2.5? I... did want to like this book. I really did. But it was such a mediocre clusterfuck, in terms of plot and characterization. I'm generally an advocate for unlikeable characters, and I saw what this book was trying to do with the protag, but the writing just felt off the mark and unsteady. The protag was unlikeable, in a way that was incredibly unenjoyable, and while I saw the emotional arc that she was meant to go on regarding her ways of absolving herself of blame and never seeing herself as the bad guy, it just.... didn't hit the landing for me.
I think I wanted this book to be more surreal and more funny as a result. The comp for it was Mona Awad's work, so maybe I went in with high expectations, but the style of writing felt out of sync with the absurdities of the plot. It's a book that has good bones— I just felt that the meat of the book didn't live up to those bones.
First of all, this is probably somewhere closer to a 2.5? I... did want to like this book. I really did. But it was such a mediocre clusterfuck, in terms of plot and characterization. I'm generally an advocate for unlikeable characters, and I saw what this book was trying to do with the protag, but the writing just felt off the mark and unsteady. The protag was unlikeable, in a way that was incredibly unenjoyable, and while I saw the emotional arc that she was meant to go on regarding her ways of absolving herself of blame and never seeing herself as the bad guy, it just.... didn't hit the landing for me.
I think I wanted this book to be more surreal and more funny as a result. The comp for it was Mona Awad's work, so maybe I went in with high expectations, but the style of writing felt out of sync with the absurdities of the plot. It's a book that has good bones— I just felt that the meat of the book didn't live up to those bones.
November 10, 2023
I had a really tough time with the tone of this one. The daughters were all allegedly in their 20s, but acted like they were about 15. The tone was lighthearted, but then someone would be horribly murdered (a fact the characters could be terrified by or ignore as the scene dictated). The daughters were named Glinda, Dorothy, and West ("as in Wicked Witch of the...") for no real reason (the story also says it's specifically because of Wicked, so why no Elfie...?). It tries to be a cozy family drama with a strange cult involved, but then oh no wait it's an action packed thriller.
I think this book clings to the "quirky" description because "tonally inconsistent" and "no idea what it wants to be" sounds bad in marketing material.
I think this book clings to the "quirky" description because "tonally inconsistent" and "no idea what it wants to be" sounds bad in marketing material.
Read
April 27, 2023It’s Not a Cult by Lauren Danhof could be set in any town in Texas that has its own Renaissance Fair as well as a local cult. Glinda Glass, a recent graduate school dropout, has moved in with her mother and younger sister, West. Her twin sister, Dorothy, has not spoken to her in quite some time. So now she works as a wench at the Renaissance Fair dunk tank. In her spare time, Glinda is trying to get her mom away from the cult.
Her mom keeps saying, “It’s not a cult.” It is definitely a cult with a greedy, sleazy false prophet. The leader reminds me of one of my family members. We don’t talk much because I’m afraid he’s going to sell me a seat on the mothership in exchange for my soul and/or financial information.
Instead of leaving the Starlight Pioneer Society, Mrs. Glass has agreed to marry the leader, Arlon Blight. Glinda is desperate to find a way to break the spell that Arlon has cast over her mom. She is hoping that she and Dorothy can reconcile and then save their mother.
However, nothing goes according to plan when the Starlight Pioneers literally move into the Glass household. Arlon is a wretched human being but he seems to be winning the war for Mrs. Glass’s soul.
Glinda is the underdog who needs to get her life together. She has so many talents but lacks confidence. West is an interesting character. She reminds me of a slightly nicer version of Wednesday Addams. West is a survivor and isn’t going to let the cult take over her life without a fight.
Glinda gets her friend,Troy, to drive to Dorothy’s house which is several hours away. West really isn’t supposed to be going. However, she hides in the car because she doesn’t want to miss anything or to be stuck with the cult members living at the Glass home.
Will they save their mother from the cult? Will Dorothy and Glinda ever have a relationship again? How will Glinda gain the confidence to be a lady instead of a dunk tank wench? To find the answers, please read It’s Not a Cult.
If you are fascinated by cults but don’t want to join one, then you will enjoy It’s Not a Cult. If your cult has banned books on cults, then it is time to get out of there so you can assert your independence. Then you can get your own library card and check out all of the banned books.
I received this ebook from NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own. Obviously.
Her mom keeps saying, “It’s not a cult.” It is definitely a cult with a greedy, sleazy false prophet. The leader reminds me of one of my family members. We don’t talk much because I’m afraid he’s going to sell me a seat on the mothership in exchange for my soul and/or financial information.
Instead of leaving the Starlight Pioneer Society, Mrs. Glass has agreed to marry the leader, Arlon Blight. Glinda is desperate to find a way to break the spell that Arlon has cast over her mom. She is hoping that she and Dorothy can reconcile and then save their mother.
However, nothing goes according to plan when the Starlight Pioneers literally move into the Glass household. Arlon is a wretched human being but he seems to be winning the war for Mrs. Glass’s soul.
Glinda is the underdog who needs to get her life together. She has so many talents but lacks confidence. West is an interesting character. She reminds me of a slightly nicer version of Wednesday Addams. West is a survivor and isn’t going to let the cult take over her life without a fight.
Glinda gets her friend,Troy, to drive to Dorothy’s house which is several hours away. West really isn’t supposed to be going. However, she hides in the car because she doesn’t want to miss anything or to be stuck with the cult members living at the Glass home.
Will they save their mother from the cult? Will Dorothy and Glinda ever have a relationship again? How will Glinda gain the confidence to be a lady instead of a dunk tank wench? To find the answers, please read It’s Not a Cult.
If you are fascinated by cults but don’t want to join one, then you will enjoy It’s Not a Cult. If your cult has banned books on cults, then it is time to get out of there so you can assert your independence. Then you can get your own library card and check out all of the banned books.
I received this ebook from NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own. Obviously.
July 23, 2023
ARC REVIEW
It's not a Cult
by Lauren Danhoff
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up to 4/ 5
Publishing date: 8/22/23
Glinda is working at a Renaissance fair, her father has died, she is living in her childhood home, and her mother is in a cult. ( Even though her mother insists it's NOT a cult, but it totally is)...What else could possibly go wrong? Perhaps the fact that her mother has announced she is going to marry Arlon, the NON cult leader, and move the entire cult community into her home....which is also where Glinda and her 17 years old sister live.....wait...WHAT?!
To make matters worse, Dorthy, Glindas twin hasn't talked to her in over a year and a half. When Glinda's mother refuses to accept that Arlon is anything more than genuince, Glinda decides to head to Oklahoma to talk to her sister in person.
Will Glinda be able to reconcile with her sister and stop her mother from destroying their lives and losing everything their father left behind?
Review:
I enjoyed it! The cult aspect was super fun. If you like cult-ish stuff, this was def a book you should add to your TBR.
I will admit, I got a little bored about halfway through. I felt like the Glinda/Dorothy and James drama was a bit long and could have been wrapped up a teeeeeny bit faster.
There was a small slice of romance added into the story that I personally could have done without. I don't feel like it added anything to the story but it did give the plot a bit of variety.
Overall, decent read! Again, if cults interest you, give it a go next month when it is released. It shows you how easily people can fall into that world.
Thanks as always to @netgalley
And @alcovepress for the chance to read this one early!
It's not a Cult
by Lauren Danhoff
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up to 4/ 5
Publishing date: 8/22/23
Glinda is working at a Renaissance fair, her father has died, she is living in her childhood home, and her mother is in a cult. ( Even though her mother insists it's NOT a cult, but it totally is)...What else could possibly go wrong? Perhaps the fact that her mother has announced she is going to marry Arlon, the NON cult leader, and move the entire cult community into her home....which is also where Glinda and her 17 years old sister live.....wait...WHAT?!
To make matters worse, Dorthy, Glindas twin hasn't talked to her in over a year and a half. When Glinda's mother refuses to accept that Arlon is anything more than genuince, Glinda decides to head to Oklahoma to talk to her sister in person.
Will Glinda be able to reconcile with her sister and stop her mother from destroying their lives and losing everything their father left behind?
Review:
I enjoyed it! The cult aspect was super fun. If you like cult-ish stuff, this was def a book you should add to your TBR.
I will admit, I got a little bored about halfway through. I felt like the Glinda/Dorothy and James drama was a bit long and could have been wrapped up a teeeeeny bit faster.
There was a small slice of romance added into the story that I personally could have done without. I don't feel like it added anything to the story but it did give the plot a bit of variety.
Overall, decent read! Again, if cults interest you, give it a go next month when it is released. It shows you how easily people can fall into that world.
Thanks as always to @netgalley
And @alcovepress for the chance to read this one early!
June 6, 2023
I absolutely adored this book. While quirky and full of humor, It’s Not a Cult also addresses what it is like to deal with real life traumatic experiences, grief, and family fractures.
Glinda Glass is not okay. Her mom has joined a cult following her father’s death, she’s working at a medieval faire in a wench drenching booth, and her sister has run off in search of bigfoot after a huge fight. When her mom announces she is marrying the cult leader and the cult members are moving in, Glinda decides it is time to put an end to the crazy.
What I loved most about this book is that each and every character is viscerally human. They have the flaws that we all have. There is shame, fear of confrontation, fear of being forgiven and loved in spire if our flaws and mistakes - these characters are far from perfect, yet by the end of the book, they all feel like family.
It’s Not a Cult is a book about family, forgiveness, and that it’s okay to not be okay. Highly recommended for anyone who has experienced family drama or had to save someone from a cult (personally, been there, done that).
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Lauren Danhof for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Glinda Glass is not okay. Her mom has joined a cult following her father’s death, she’s working at a medieval faire in a wench drenching booth, and her sister has run off in search of bigfoot after a huge fight. When her mom announces she is marrying the cult leader and the cult members are moving in, Glinda decides it is time to put an end to the crazy.
What I loved most about this book is that each and every character is viscerally human. They have the flaws that we all have. There is shame, fear of confrontation, fear of being forgiven and loved in spire if our flaws and mistakes - these characters are far from perfect, yet by the end of the book, they all feel like family.
It’s Not a Cult is a book about family, forgiveness, and that it’s okay to not be okay. Highly recommended for anyone who has experienced family drama or had to save someone from a cult (personally, been there, done that).
Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, and Lauren Danhof for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2023
3.5/5. Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the advanced copy of this book! This was WILD and a true page turner that barely slows down for a second. I really wish there was a bit more ebb and flow though, because as exciting as this was, it was incredibly high energy with characters fighting and not listening to each other constantly the entire way through. It’s both fun and frustrating, which also applies to the main character, Glinda. It’s certainly the point that she’s complicated and truly terrible (and it’s also fully explained due to her trauma), but it’s still exhausting to live the story through her eyes. I also was hoping for a bit more lore and history about the cult itself.
I still consider this a good book overall because it’s completely fascinating and full of drama. It’s nowhere near boring, and that itself makes for a good read. If anything, I think this story would make an excellent movie!
I still consider this a good book overall because it’s completely fascinating and full of drama. It’s nowhere near boring, and that itself makes for a good read. If anything, I think this story would make an excellent movie!
January 27, 2023
I loved this book! Glinda is a wonderfully mouthy disaster magnet trying to bring her family back together even as she keeps driving them away. I found myself rooting for her and wishing I could slap my hand over her mouth at the same time. I love the way the author blends madcap antics with heartfelt family drama, and there are definitely scenes from this book that will be living rent free in my head forever (the bonfire! the rowboat! Glinda driving the van!) There are so many wild and fun and heartbreaking and wonderful moments that it's hard to even sum up how it feels to read this book, but if you like reading about cults, cryptids, road trips, Ren Faires, love, grief, and trying to make a life out of all of the above, then you should totally read this book!
January 30, 2023
Glinda is a bit of a mess but she's a mess we can understand, she's a rape survivor and a recovering addict, she's grieving, she's trying her best but there's a lot of strain in her family relationships and she's being entirely blamed for it in a way that isn't entirely fair. Her only apparent ally appears to be her coworker/friend whom she isn't that nice to even though he is an adorable himbo seeming energy drink guzzling golden retriever energy having sweetie. She's a mess and she's ill equipped to but she has to extricate her mother and her home from the claws of a cult leader and mend relationships with her family.
It all sounds very bleak doesn't it? While there is sadness in this book the general tone isn't sad and it's really a thoroughly enjoyable and often funny read with compelling and if sometimes genuinely infuriating characters.
I found myself relating with Glinda a lot on how her intentions are almost always misinterpreted by her family, I don't know if it's because the author intended her to be read as neurodivergent (it's said that she had at least at some point a prescription for Adderall but ADHD people are more likely to forget to take their than to get addicted to it so I assume that if neurodivergence is implied it's not ADHD or there is a misunderstanding of the effect of Adderall on ADHD brains) or if it was just a side product of the strain addiction and grief can put on relationships but I liked that.
I received an eARC of this book from Alcove Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It all sounds very bleak doesn't it? While there is sadness in this book the general tone isn't sad and it's really a thoroughly enjoyable and often funny read with compelling and if sometimes genuinely infuriating characters.
I found myself relating with Glinda a lot on how her intentions are almost always misinterpreted by her family, I don't know if it's because the author intended her to be read as neurodivergent (it's said that she had at least at some point a prescription for Adderall but ADHD people are more likely to forget to take their than to get addicted to it so I assume that if neurodivergence is implied it's not ADHD or there is a misunderstanding of the effect of Adderall on ADHD brains) or if it was just a side product of the strain addiction and grief can put on relationships but I liked that.
I received an eARC of this book from Alcove Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2023
"It's Not a Cult" is a twisty, quick trip down the rabbit hole of craziness, and I LOVED it! Lauren Danhof's debut novel is one you will not want to miss. This is a story about a mom who has come love a man that heads up a "not" cult at the dismay of her daughters (all named by Wizard of Oz characters, how fun!) Glinda Rainbow Glass is the main character, and the multiple story lines all lead deeper and deeper into chaos. A thriller, a mystery, a coming of age, and a modern tale of people with selfish motives and how they manipulate the world around them.
I will read more by this author as I enjoyed the quick pace and cross between laughter and real sadness at the situation as it unfolded.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Danhof, and Alcove Press for an early reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I will read more by this author as I enjoyed the quick pace and cross between laughter and real sadness at the situation as it unfolded.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lauren Danhof, and Alcove Press for an early reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2025
Great story! Loved it! Very entertaining.
At first, the relationship the main character had with her family was very frustrating. They had problems that everyone got angry about but ignored. This made me want to quit reading but I pushed on.
The story developed well. There was drama, comedy, action, & a little bit of romance. It was easy to see the manipulation by the bad guy & tense as I approached the ending. The author was good about wrapping up the storylines for all of the characters.
I could see this book as a movie.
At first, the relationship the main character had with her family was very frustrating. They had problems that everyone got angry about but ignored. This made me want to quit reading but I pushed on.
The story developed well. There was drama, comedy, action, & a little bit of romance. It was easy to see the manipulation by the bad guy & tense as I approached the ending. The author was good about wrapping up the storylines for all of the characters.
I could see this book as a movie.
July 15, 2023
A fun and thrilling read. The main character, Glinda, was infuriating but also relatable. the side characters were fully developed and the romance plot was just perfectly sprinkled in. This book has it all from humor, to action, to romance, to found family. Such an enjoyable read!
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an early copy. This novel is out August 22nd.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an early copy. This novel is out August 22nd.
January 9, 2024
While I did not love the main character - she was a little sassy and made it hard to like her - I still found myself invested in this book and finding out what was going on with her mom and her new "cult" . I'm a sucker for a good cult story, and this one was ok. It moved fast, and it was hard for me to wrap my head around some pieces.
A decent plot and story overall.
A decent plot and story overall.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews