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.

3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the gifted copy of I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell. I enjoyed this one. It gave me more of a cozy mystery vibe than a straight up thriller. I found the plot and premise to be unique. At times I was wondering where it was all going but in the end it all came together.

I enjoyed the main character Alex and her realness throughout the book. She was very relatable as someone who is also a young woman navigating her past and her present. She was very inquisitive and I loved how she tried to solve the mystery herself. She showed a lot of growth and her storyline is what I enjoyed the most about the book.

I loved The Golden Spoon, but found I Need You to Read This a little underwhelming. I look forward to Jessa Maxwell's newest book though.

Overall enjoyable, much darker than The Golden Spoon which is more what I was hoping for with this book. It’s creep elements are what kept us page turning!

Read this book in basically one sitting.
I went into the story blind, had no idea what I was getting myself into, and totally loved every second.
Alex is writing copy for medications, and couldn’t be less inspired when her dream job is up for grabs. Sadly, the original writer for the advice column Dear Constance was murdered, and the Herald needs a new writer. Alex gets the job, feeling a kinship with the former Constance, and entangles herself into the darkness in the office.
4 solid stars. Would totally recommend!
Thank you netgalley!

Jessa Maxwell is a new author to me but I can say that she has a new fan for life! I went in blind and am so happy I did! A puzzling mystery/thriller with quirky and somewhat eccentric characters, amateur sleuths and a twisty rollercoaster of a plot make for a great read!!

“You have to allow yourself to be vulnerable if you want to receive anything good this world has to offer.”

I read this in two days and could not put it down! In short, a young woman named Alex is hired as an advice columnist for "Dear Constance" for a big-time news paper. Only, her predessor recently died, by a brutal stabbing. Alex is devastated by the loss of her icon, Francis Keen, but is excited at the chance to take over her work, well known and relied on for life advice by so many. Her new boss and editor, Howard Demetri starts acting strange, and stays late in his office engaging in mysterious late-night calls while pounding down the alcohol. Alex starts to receive threatning letters from readers who are not so happy with her replacing Francis and they are making their feelings about it very well known!

Could Francis's killer be after Alex now?

By taking this job, has she placed a very direct target on her back?

How will she handle this new responsibility, and how will she tackle the thousands of letters waiting for her as well as the threats looming over her?

Alex decides to conduct her own investigation into Francis's murder since the police have not been able to solve it. She enlists her only friends from the local diner, Raymond, a retired detective who trusts nobody and Janice, the friendly mother-like waitress who always seem to be looking out for Alex.

I can't say anymore without giving away spoilers! This was well written, although a little slower paced at the beginning for my liking, but it did not stop me from reading it and I did not want to put it down!

I came to love the characters in this story and thought it was a suspenseful and intriguing mystery ride! Highly recommend!!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this arc, all opinions are my own.

DNF: 54%
1.5 stars

This is probably the slowest, most boring thriller/mystery I've ever tried to read.

Not much happens and the things that do -- Alex getting the column, the threatening letters, Howard's suspicious behavior -- don't carry much weight when they should. Lucy's fear of Howard felt false and overdone. Alex seems incredibly, unbelievably naive for all that she's supposed to be in her early thirties. She doesn't think anything is worth looking into until she discusses it with her diner friends. The dialogue is weak.

I didn't connect with the characters and didn't think the ending would be satisfying so I cut my losses.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I Need You To Read This tells the story of Alex, the woman who is hired to take over an advice column after the previous columnist is tragically murdered. As she gets wrapped up in the daily life of the woman, she begins to suspect everyone around her, and she vows to solve the mystery - especially when she starts to get threatening letters herself.

I had some problems with this book, specifically with the characters and the writing style. I felt like I was held at an arms length away from all of the characters, and because of that I didn't care much for any of them. I think some of that has to do with the fact that all of the sentences were extremely simple, repetitive, and structured the same way, and also I think it has to do with the fact that the main character reads much, much younger than she actually is. I kept forgetting that she was a full grown adult living on her own and making her own decisions, because it felt like she was a child. I didn't care at all for any of the other characters (so much so that I already forgot most of their names). I guessed what would happen at the 40% mark and I was spot on, and although I am a huge believer that a book being predictable is not a bad thing, it did not help keep my attention.

Even so, there were definitely some moments that really shined in this book. Despite the fact that I didn't care much for the characters, the mystery was interesting enough that it kept my attention. I also loved the Dear Constance letters - I felt more connected to the people writing the letters than anyone else that circled around Alex.

Overall, I enjoyed this book enough, but I don't think it will be one that sticks with me for very long. I will definitely be reading other work by Jessa Maxwell, however! I'm curious to read other mysteries by this author.

Jessa Maxwell’s I Need You to Read This is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that captivates from the first page. The novel’s intricate narrative structure and richly developed characters create a compelling and immersive reading experience. Maxwell’s prose is both elegant and evocative, drawing readers into a world of suspense and emotional depth. What sets this novel apart is its exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the shadows of the past. The story delves into themes of identity, trust, and the consequences of buried secrets, all while maintaining a taut and engaging pace. The tension builds steadily, leading to a climax that is both surprising and satisfying.

Jessa Maxwell had me gasping, giggling, and side-eyeing everyone in my apartment complex. It's as if your favorite true crime podcast and group chat secrets had a scandalous baby. I highly recommend it if you love mystery with a side of "wait, what just happened?!"

I wanted to like this so bad, I felt like it had so much potential and then just fell flat. I have such a hard time with psychological thrillers, if I predict the outcome in the beginning, I just lose interest, it's unfortunate.

In I Need You to Read This, the author takes you on asuspenseful ride filled with secrets, and manipulation. The story follows a young journalist who lands a job working at a prestigious but cutthroat magazine after the death of the previous column writer. When she receives a mysterious letter, she’s pulled into a hidden narrative full of danger and deception.

As we get deeper into the story behind the letter, the MC begins to uncover dark truths not only about her workplace but also about the people she thought she could trust. The tension builds steadily, with lots of twists.

Perfect for fans of fast-paced thrillers with strong female leads and a plot that keeps you turning the pages. I Need You to Read This is an exciting, well-written novel that I read in one sitting!

Alex Marks has escaped her past to live an anonymous life in New York City, but she can never stop looking over her shoulder. An advice columnist, "Dear Constance" gave her the courage to leave her old life and start fresh. Alex had always been a fan of the advice column and of Francis Keen, the woman who wrote the column. Everyone was shocked when Francis was found murdered in her beach house. Now, eight months later, Alex sees that the Herald newspaper is looking for a new advice columnist to replace Francis. Alex, who writes unexciting pharmaceutical ads from home, is curious about what sort of qualifications the new columnist might need. She goes online to look at the application and ends up submitting her information, as well as answers to some sample letters. She is shocked when she's called in to speak to the big boss at the paper, and even more stunned when she's offered the job on the spot. While she's excited at the prospect of an interesting job (and raise), she is uncomfortable with having her personal information attached to her new job. As she begins to settle in, she starts to wonder why someone wanted the previous columnist killed. The murder is still unsolved, so when threatening letters start arriving along with those seeking advice, Alex starts to try to piece together what happened to Francis. At the same time, Alex's own past is never far away.

I enjoyed the format of the book, with the present Alex investigating, and the previous Alex telling her story through letters written to Dear Constance. There were plenty of twists that kept me guessing and I enjoyed the two sidekicks Alex collected from the local diner.

This one had me intrigued from the start. I loved the concept—an advice columnist dies mysteriously, and her replacement starts getting creepy letters? Yes, please. The premise delivered just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages, and I really enjoyed the Dear Constance letters woven throughout the story. They gave it a fun, unique vibe. That said, the middle dragged a little for me, and I guessed a couple of the twists before they landed. Still, Alex was a relatable main character, and there were some quirky side characters that made the journey worthwhile.
If you’re into slow-burn mysteries with a little psychological tension (and a dash of dark workplace drama), this is worth picking up. Not a five-star thriller, but a solid, engaging read.

This was a really solid mystery/thriller. Alex gets the highly sought after job of writing an advice column after the previous beloved columnist is murdered. Alex now has to deal with unfriendly coworkers, impostor syndrome, piles of mail to read, possibly solving a murder, and giving good advise. Plus her own past is starting to catch up to her.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very quick to read. I also really enjoyed the found family aspect of the story.

This felt very mediocre. There was nothing that really hooked my attention. I read another book from this author that made me feel the same way.

Wasnt a fan of this one either unfortunately. Got really bored reading it and I really was hoping for this one to be good. The whole synopsis sounded great and I couldnt wait to read it but sadly it fell flat for me and wasnt a hit.

I really enjoy Jessa Maxwell’s writing. This is the second book I’ve read by her and overall I did really like it.

It did have a slow start but once I got to the fast part of the book I couldn’t put it down. There were several twists and turns that I never saw coming and they shocked me.

I definitely look forward to more books by this author.

🎧 I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell 📝🔍

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book had been on my list to read for so long, and it surprised me how much I liked it. I couldn’t wait to see how it was going to end. I enjoyed the writing style and how it switched between the storyline and the “Dear Constance” letters of Alex’s job. I thought Alex was a very relatable and likable character who ended up having her own secrets. 😅 I loved all the twists towards the end. Such a good thriller! I’ll always love a whodunnit story.

Alex Marks moves to NYC to start her life over. Alex sees an ad for Dear Constance, an advice column, and decides to apply. Francis Keen was the previous writer who was mysteriously murdered and nobody can figure out who killed her. Alex seeks to uncover the truth.