I found this an engaging mystery with a few intriguing twists. I did find it difficult to warm up to protagonist Alex, however. The one question that kept haunting me was why did she take a high profile job if she was trying to hide? There were a few gaps in logic throughout the book as well, but overall it was a quick and interesting read. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Golden Spoon so knew I'd like this one as well! Copywriter Alex applies for a job writing an advice column after star, Francis is brutally murdered. Alex is hiding scars on her wrist and has become somewhat agoraphobic so taking on this job will be tough but she's anxious and determined to do well. But boss, Howard is also a legend and there's something "off" about him as she smells whiskey on his breath at work and he suddenly "forgets" his wedding ring. Rumors abound and Alex is determined to do well as Francis was revered and she is thrilled to be out in the world again, working for her "hero" no less! Lots of great action, mishaps, and mistaken identities all make this book a fast-paced thrill ride that I loved!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

first off all I love books set in new York I makes me so so so happy this book was exceptional id def recommend . I love book where the character building is there 100 percent. I felt like I was literally there

I was a fan of Maxwell's debut The Golden Spoon despite some of the flaws pointed out by many. Maxwell was a master of painting mood and clever characters as well as writing an entertaining, provoking mystery to follow along as the reader. Unfortunately, this sequel fell a bit flat for me. It is evident that Maxwell took to heart and attempted to correct many critiques given in the writing of her first book, but she did so at the expense of what she got right to begin with. I Need You to Read This lacked, for me personally, a lot of the mood and clever characters that her debut had-while the mystery was more tight and the writing more solid, I was bummed that what drew me to her as an author to begin with was lacking.
The mystery was still fun to follow and I will definitely give her another chance as an author, but her next book could make or break me as a loyal reader.

WOW - this one was a bit of a slow burn at the start but trust me when I say this one takes you for a trip!! This is my first read from Maxwell and I finished this quick-paced thriller in a single sitting! Yes, some of the twists were a bit predictable but that didn't make it any less entertaining. This would be an excellent book club pick - thanks for the ARC!

This was such a thrilling read. I loved the twists and turns, and had an ache in my chest I love feeling when I’m unsettled by a thriller. While there were certain aspects of the plot that I deduced, much of it was very unexpected and made me feel like I was sitting at the edge of my seat! I adored the found family aspect of this novel as well, and Alex slowly learning to trust again was beautifully written. There was so much to love about this thriller. Just so so well done!

This was a fun one! I wasn't sure I was going to like it, took me a bit to get into it at first but once I did I was hooked. Really picked up in the second half, and didn't let up until it was over.

I have been a fan of author Jess’s Maxwell for awhile. Her whodunnit stories are immersive and usually have stories within stories. I Need You to Read This is no different.
The story revolves around an up and coming newspaper columnist who is trying to figure out the death of the former columnist and her idol.
I loved the character developments in this story and how they shaped the mysteries without the book.
I recommend this book to readers who like a good mystery and a suspenseful book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
3.5 stars! This entertaining quick read checks all the boxes for an easy to devour thriller novel. While there's nothing mind blowing about the plot or characters, the book serves its purpose and kept me entertained and pages turning.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

I've really enjoyed reading this thriller and found myself looking forward to getting back to it each evening. Alex is a young woman living in New York and working as a copywriter. She is very careful to stick to her schedule and doesn't socialize much. Eight months earlier her hero, Francis Keen, was brutally murdered in her beach house. When the paper Francis worked for as an advice columnist decides to hire her replacement, Alex is quick to apply.

After securing the job and beginning work she discovers that life at the newspaper is not as it appears and she is terrified by the threatening notes she begins receiving. Is Alex being stalked by the same person who murdered her predecessor, and is she in danger as well?

I'm unfortunately able to see plot twists coming a mile away, but this one did have me a bit fooled. Character development is well done and I was able to care about the main characters and their stories. I highly recommend this one!

After the long-running advice guru behind the famous Dear Constance column is murdered, newcomer Alex Marks gets the chance at her dream job. Young, inexperienced, and in desperate need of a fresh start after a tough past, Alex is floored when her application to be the new Dear Constance is accepted. No sooner had she joined the paper, however, that she begins receiving threatening messages.

This book was a slow read, but I ended up liking it. Ms. Maxwell really stuck the ending for me in this story.

As you go further into the story the action really ramps up and it gets easier to put the pieces together. In the beginning, you really want the characters to feel more well-rounded as your perception of them seems superficial for (at least) the first half of the book. However, I understand why the author chose to do this, and you will too upon the conclusion.

The characters, setting, and story all hit the mark for me. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery/noir/armature sleuth novels, but be warned about the slow beginnings! This book is worth finishing - don't give up on it.

When Alex Marks leaves her old life behind to start anew in New York City, she finds comfort in the anonymity of big city living. Aside from her acquaintance with a few diner "regulars," she has done well in keeping to herself. When popular advice columnist Francis Keen, who just happens to be Alex's lifelong role model, turns up murdered, Alex finds an unexpected opportunity in becoming her predecessor. She soon finds that with her newfound dream job comes the loss of her much needed anonyminity, and the people she is hiding from may be closer than she thinks. With the murderer still at large and a past she will do anything to keep consealed, Alex needs to piece together what really happened to Francis before history repeats itself.

Okay, I really liked this book. I found the characters to be so lovable. Jessa's writing style allows for zero slumps or dull, dragging moments. Even during "low action" scenes, she keeps the reader engaged without relying on unnecessary fluff and filler. As an experienced thriller/mystery reader, I was able to predict the basics of the plot. However, because it was so well written, I didn't mind at all. I'd gladly reread this one in the future!

A big thank you to Jessa and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review of I Need You To Read This by Jessa Maxwell. #INeedYouToReadThis #JessaMaxwell #NetGalley

This one was okay. I found it a bit dry. The main character clearly has a mysterious history, and we are reminded of that very frequently. It was a bit heavy-have at times. I did really enjoy the setting of the story. I have always enjoyed reading the above columns, and I found this really intriguing as the basis of the story.
Thanks to Net Galley for the book to review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell.

This was a fun, twisty, and delectable mystery. I liked the plot line of having this revolve around an advice column, that was very original and brought a good tone to it.

This story didn't keep my attention very well and it took longer than it should've to finish. It had a decent ploy and characters but it was slow and not very engaging. The ending was great though!

TLDR: it was okay. I liked it but it was also predictable.

Alex lives in New York City and has a quiet life. She likes to keep it that way, but when she is hired as the new advice columnist at the famous Herald Newspaper, her quiet life is disrupted.

This book was alright. I finished it so i obviously didn’t hate it! It has a fun “found family” theme and it has a bit of romance too. It was written very creatively , as there are snippets of a letter written to the old advice columnist sprinkled throughout.

I didn’t like that it took a while to start the story. There also isn’t really a bunch of building. It’s sort of flat until the last few chapters, where things start happening! I do regret to say that I had guessed the ending from the beginning, but it was still enjoyable to read!

I’d recommend this book to people who want to get into murder mystery but don’t know where to start and they don’t want something too gory or confusing and winding.

🖍️Content summary: there is very little swearing. No lgbt, a lot of paranoia, significant references to domestic violence, several references to blood, and references to sexual assault 🖍️

Review: I went into this book completely blind, only knowing that I enjoyed the authors last book. Wow, it was such an entertaining read!

First, I loved the whole premise of the book. It’s about a woman named Alex who lands the job of a famous advice columnist. The previous columnist was beloved by many and her murder took so many by surprise. As Alex grows in the role, she starts to become paranoid about her boss, the news building, the new guy she met and went on a date with. This anxiety is on top of what she is already facing with the constant looking back, locking her doors, and mostly keeping to herself. Weird things begin to happen while working on the column, including threatening notes and some clues to what happened to Francis.

I always loved the local advice column like Dear Abby- so this was a very entertaining plot for me. I think the book started off strong but towards the middle it did slow down. There wasn’t much action until the end. I do wish it would be more twisty and fast moving. I also wish that Francis’ murder and the mystery letters would have been better intertwined, it felt a little off.

This is way more mystery than thriller. I enjoyed the mystery along with the advice columns in each chapter, but again, I love advice columns and find them so entertaining.

Overall, good plot but a little slow to execute. If you enjoy advice columns, I think you will enjoy this mystery! Don’t go in expecting a thriller jam packed with action. I did enjoy this more than her other book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

3 Stars. After DNFing The Golden Spoon, I wanted to give Jessa Maxwell another try when I was approved for her upcoming novel I Need You to Read This. I was not disappointed, but I was also not enthralled.

When Alex Marks lands her dream job under some unideal circumstances, she can't help but wonder if everything is not what it seems. While avoiding her past, Alex discovers the dark secrets of her new employer, driving her to find the answers herself.

After reading this novel I have come to the conclusion that Jessa Maxwell's writing style is not for me as a reader. The premise of the novel intrigued me and I was interested in the overarching plot, but I did not enjoy the style of dialogue between character. Overall the relationships and dialogue in the book felt superficial and cliche. I was not invested or did not care for any character in this book. Although Maxwell delves into the main character's past, she still felt surface level. The end reveal was predictable, yet satisfying.

Overall, I think mystery and thriller readers will enjoy this novel, but may not fall in love with the characters which can be a less enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jessa Maxwell does it again!

This was a fast-paced non stop thriller that I zoomed through it in two days! I really enjoyed the premise and I was a big fan of the mixed media element of the story! Having advice column letters intermixed throughout the book made for an interesting twist and added that one more tense element into the mystery.

Alex was a great main character and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. The supporting characters were some of my favorites (I know it’s weird having favorite characters in a thriller) but Ray and Janine have my whole heart.

I didn’t guess the culprit but the reveal was pretty unexpected. It gagged me a little bit.

I loved The Golden Spoon and this book was a hit for me as well! I can’t wait to see what Jessa Maxwell writes next!

Pub date: 8/13

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review