I loved this one! Twisty plots that I truly didn't see coming, characters written to be suspicious so you're never quite sure who's telling the truth or lying, and a main character that you can absolutely get behind. I loved the setting in the newspaper office, and I was fully satisfied with the ending, which I feel like I can never say about these kinds of thrillers.

An enjoyable tale with engaging characters... nothing life-altering but definitely worth the read. Will watch for more from this author! Thanks to Netgally for this ARC.

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell is a heartfelt and empowering book that encourages readers to find strength, hope, and clarity in life’s challenges. Filled with relatable insights, personal stories, and gentle guidance, it’s the kind of book that feels like a supportive friend cheering you on.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter, and I liked that it differed considerably from the author's debut. I spent the book trying to figure out if the main character was reliable and trustworthy, or if there was something else happening at play. I thought the big twist was a bit wild, but this was a thoroughly fun book that I would suggest to anyone looking for a fast read to get out of a rut.

This one was highly recommended by one of my favorite Bookstagrammers, and I’m glad I was able to pick it up.

Alex is devastated to learn that advice columnist Francis was murdered. A journalist herself, she can’t help but jump at the chance to apply for Francis’ job when it’s made available. It turns out that advice comes naturally to Alex, and she is quickly offered the job. But once she’s there, she finds herself drawn to Francis’s unsolved murder.

Read this one if you like: slow burn thrillers; running from your past; unreliable characters.

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell is a fascinating novel. This book immediately caught my attention with its topic— an advice columnist who is killed and the predecessor begins getting threatening letters. This book is well written and will keep your attention well. I loved the story and how everything fell into place. Great read for readers of this genre. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I love a good whoodunnit and this one did not disappoint. The characters were good and I enjoyed the plot.

If your looking for a good whodunnit give this one a try.

Jessa Maxwell's I Need You to Read This is a contemporary mystery that delves into the complexities of ambition, vulnerability, and the blurred lines between personal and professional lives. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the novel follows Alex Marks, a pharmaceutical copywriter who unexpectedly lands her dream job as the new voice behind the iconic advice column, Dear Constance. However, the position comes with unforeseen challenges, including the unresolved murder of her predecessor, Francis Keen, and a series of unsettling events that suggest someone is watching Alex's every move.

This was a clever who dunnit. I enjoyed the premise and plot of this book. It was unique and fresh. I really like the main character she was our underdog. She kept pushing and was determined.

I enjoyed the characters of this book and had a good time.

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell is an entertaining mystery with a clever premise and plenty of intrigue. The pacing moves quickly, and there are some genuinely surprising moments that keep you turning the pages. Maxwell’s writing is sharp, and the tone is both dark and witty. That said, a few characters feel underdeveloped, and the ending may not hit as hard for everyone. Still, it’s a solid, fun read—especially if you’re into fast-paced thrillers with a bit of flair. 3.5/5

I Need You to Read This is the first book I have read by Jessa Maxwell. It was so engrossing that I read it in a day! It alternates between the story of Alex Marks and Dear Constance letters. There are triggers; the main one being domestic violence. I liked Alex. She was a very sympathetic character. It was kind of cozy, kind of thriller and I really enjoyed that format. There were twists; some I guessed, some I didn’t. I will definitely read any other books by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, this was pretty wild. I love Jessa’s writing style.
I was bought off guard quite a few times while reading this. It starts off kind of slow, but around the 30% mark I was hooked.
Definitely would recommend!

Felt like the story and characters came off rather static so it felt that I was not hooked or pulled into the story.

This is my 1st read by this author. I'd say it wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. A solid 3⭐️ read with a few twists along the way that I enjoyed. 🙂

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I Need You to Read This is a twisty, compulsively readable novel that plays with the idea of hidden messages and unreliable narratives. It has that “just one more chapter” pull, with plenty of clever misdirection along the way. Perfect for fans who love puzzles and psychological suspense

This book does include themes of domestic abuse, suicide, murder, conspiracy, and rape mentioned on and off page. If any of the above triggers you, please do not read this book as there are graphic parts that depict some of the above and or off-page mentions.

Did not get to read - have way too many books on the shelf. Need to clear some out. Hope to get to this one in the future though.

I enjoyed the concept of this but it was just so predictable. I pretty much guessed every single thing that happened. It also felt a bit boring at times.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for a copy of this book.

After reading Jessa Maxwell's previous book, The Golden Spoon, I was expecting the same unique premise and concept with this one. Unfortunately, this fell flat. It was a pretty generic thriller, which is too bad, because it's about a woman who takes over writing a popular advice column after the previous columnist got murdered. I feel like the advice portion could've been utilized more. The way it was used was pretty predictable. Still, I didn't hate this. There were supporting characters that were interesting, and at least one twist I didn't see coming. I also liked the romance element, which isn't often the case for me and thrillers. The issue was with the setup itself, which had so much potential that was never met. Why was our MC, with no experience, hired for this huge job? Why did the police barely investigate this case? Why wasn't our MC more afraid when her picture was splashed all over the internet? Couldn't she have asked to remain anonymous if she was trying to stay hidden? Also, wouldn't that just make sense considering what happened to the last writer? These are all gaping holes I had issues with. That being said, this would probably have a space in our library as a generic and inoffensive mystery.

I wanted to like this more because the main character was sympathetic, but the logic didn't work. Alex used to read an advice column, and the writer was murdered, and she applies for the job while drunk. Days later she's starting at a very high salary and she has to spend the whole week in the office to write one column a week, which doesn't make sense. She and her friends are looking into the murder but they're blundering around doing silly things, even though one of them is a trained investigator. Then the book is slow and focuses on how Alex eats almost nothing.