I Need You To Read This by Jessa Maxwell is a mystery set in NYC in the field of journalism. Alex has been stuck in a rut but her life takes a turn for the better when she begins a new job as an advice columnist. She's replacing a woman who was found dead at her summer cottage under possibly mysterious circumstances. Through plenty of twists and turns Alex soon gets caught up in a world she hadn't planned on visiting. Read and enjoy!

This took me a little while to get into but ohhhh man when it picked up, it picked UP.

An absolute page turner that you will no doubt finish in one sitting. I LOVED the dynamic between Alex and her diner-detective-gang friends, Janice and Raymond.

While I feel like the intro lagged a tiny bit for me, the pacing was overall fantastic and the last 100 pages had my pulse racing when Alex’s mysterious past and present come to a head. And that final twist? My jaw was on the floor.

Definitely make this your next fall mystery read!

I was given the opportunity to read this ARC for
Atria via NetGalley. Really unique premise for a thriller in a wonderful setting. I liked the interspersed letters that were included. I was hoping the twist would be a bit “twistier,” but it was still an enjoyable resolution. I enjoyed the themes of found family, standing up for yourself, and how “therapy speak” can be used against victims. I really enjoyed Jessa’s style, I’ll have to look up her other book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jessa Maxwell for allowing me to review this twisty suspenseful mystery. This is the second book I have read by this author and I have loved both so much. I just love the pacing and writing style. This book keeps you guessing and I didn’t expect any of it! I also love the storyline. It’s a very unique idea. I always enjoy books about writing and this one was a great one. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I think this book and her last one would both make excellent movies or tv series. Thank you again for allowing me to review this twisty mystery.

Francis Keen, the writer known as the beloved *Dear Constance*, has just been tragically murdered. The newspaper quickly tries to fill the position, and in an attempt to see the criteria being used to fill this unfillable role, a drunk Alex Marks applies for the job. Alex goes from a nobody to the most important somebody, and her past finally finds her. As she navigates her unexpected new career, Alex finds herself entangled in a web of mystery surrounding Francis's death, all while receiving ominous letters that threaten her own life. Does this have anything to do with Francis, or is someone out to get Alex for a different reason?

Author Jessa Maxwell has this story paced perfectly! Suspense builds throughout the whole novel and the ending wraps the story up with a tidy little bow.

For those who enjoy a blend of mystery and character-driven storytelling, this novel is a must read. Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This cover was more enjoyable than the book itself. I feel like the blurb for this is a smidge misleading. The plot goes off in left field at about 80% percent. Prior to this, it was very repetitive. I enjoyed the author's previous book more. I would still give future books a chance.

The advice columnist for the Herald Newspaper recently died and they are looking to replace her. On a whim our main character Alex decided to fill out the application form. When Alex starts at the newspaper she starts to find, read, and learn weird things and comes across information she probably should not know. Alex starts to dig deeper into what happened to the previous advice columnist and it may not be the best idea to do so.

This book kept me guessing. It had twists and turns all over the place. I enjoyed the pacing and Jessa did an amazing job revealing the mysteries throughout the book!

Thank you Jessa Maxwell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was disappointed I didn’t like this book. It was a slow start, like it didn’t get good until 60% of the way slow. I almost dnf this book because I really was like what is the point of this book until 60%. There’s like 3 different plot lines going on and they sort of end of mixing together but in a really sloppy way. The end also leaves you with some loose ends. The concept is interesting but not really page turning and there were so many other story lines going on that it just didn’t blend well.

I enjoyed the short chapters.

Alex has escaped something in her past, we just don’t know what. As a writer, she has a pretty mundane job until on a whim she applies for a job as an advice columnist for the Herald. The previous columnist, Frances Keen, was someone Alex revered, but when she was found murdered, the column lay dormant. That is until a new columnist is hired. When Alex gets the job, she has to step out of her shell and come out of hiding. Feeling completely out of her league, when especially when she starts to receive threatening letters, she decides to dig in instead of running. She’s determined to find out what really happened to Frances before it’s too late for her. This was a slower paced read, with some darker aspects, but with a cast of eccentric characters, it was a fun one. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Marvelous mystery thriller concerning a gal who writes for an advice column. Thret is an easy flowing style of writing that captivates the readers attention. Maxwell knows how to keep readers in her grip. Great read!

I have mixed feelings. The twist was sooo good but the book was a little boring until then. The twist added a star for sure.

This was an alright thriller for me. I unfortunately found it very predictable. To me, this was a run of the mill thriller.

I was excited to read this book after enjoying The Golden Spoon. I’ve always been fascinated by the thoughts of who writes the advice column and I thought it would be a truly unique story. I initially loved the short chapters. It allowed the pages to fly by. However the deeper I got into the story the less invested I became. With the short chapters it felt like nothing was really happening. The intensity wasn’t there and I began to question the point of the story. It didn’t feel as gripping as it should have been for a mystery book. I know the original advice columnist died under mysterious circumstances, but I never felt like we were getting any information about that storyline to stay engaged with it. So unfortunately it wasn’t a new favorite.

My first Jessa Maxwell book and it won't be my last! The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of tension and introspection that keep the reader invested. The exploration of connection—both missed and cherished—resonates throughout the narrative, making it a thought-provoking read.

I won't sum up the plot, since others have done so and you can read the synopsis.
I read The Golden Spoon, and loved it.
Like others have mentioned, I went in thinking this would be a fun cozy mystery much like Maxwell's previous book.
There are similarities, in the loveable characters full of their own personalities, and twisty plots. However, I Need You to Read This is not so cozy, with darker themes and a bit more thrill. I can't say I'm mad about it though. I enjoyed this book for what is was. I well-laid out mystery with good characters (more than a few with some secrets in their pasts). I think the only thing I might wish for more of, is a bigger build up to the final reveal. More threatening frightening type clues, since we only get a few, before we find out what is happening. Otherwise this is a solid mystery novel amd enjoyable read.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

I had read and very much enjoyed the author's first book, The Golden Spoon, which took place in the culinary world, so I was happy to see that she had a new book. In this one, Alex is a copywriter who stumbles on a new opportunity she didn't expect to get -- she will become the new advice columnist, replacing one who recently died. Soon things begin to turn sinister and a little scary, as it starts to look as if someone might be trying to kill her, too. Great mystery that I look forward to recommending.

"I Need You to Read This" will have you hooked...until it doesn't. While the first half of the book sparked intrigue and mystery, the plot started to fall a little flat after this point. It seemed as though there were multiple plot lines that sort of connected, but also didn't. That being said, I would maybe recommend this as a cozy read. I would recommend The Golden Spoon, also by Jessa Maxwell, as the more engaging read!

"I Need You to Read This" by Jessa Maxwell is a well-written twisty character-driven murder mystery. When Alex Marks lands a dream job as the replacement for a national advice columnist, it seems almost too good to be true... and maybe it is. Immediately, Alex finds herself at the center of her predecessor's murder case, discovering clues that lead her closer and closer to the truth while she also dodges her own mysterious past.

The novel is set in New York, and while it takes place in modern times, there's a certain timelessness to it that doesn't rely too heavily on tech, style, or current events to move the plot along. There's any eerie quality to the settings that help to really set the tone. So many mystery/suspense books rely on remote settings to create a vibe, but this worked well right in the heart of the city. The plot really didn't involve too much suspension of disbelief, at least not compared to other popular books in the genre I've read lately.

In particular, Maxwell does a great job developing characters that are nuanced and interesting. She has some characters recovering from trauma, and I felt that they were well written and not done in a cliched or overly dramatic way. Even characters who were a little quirky still felt authentic. It would be easy for a story in this genre with characters in certain roles (newspaper editor, waitress, detective, etc.) to dip into caricatures, but Maxwell avoids this for the most part, and the characters are what keeps the story interesting. Again, many of the books I read in this genre rely on very niche characters for interest, but Maxwell's cast is mostly made up of average people.

There were a few pacing issues that kept this from being a five-star read. It starts with a very slow burn, while the end perhaps feels a bit convenienced or rushed. There were also some interesting plot pieces that showed promise but then ended up not contributing to the final reveals, which was a little disappointing.

The novel does have darker themes, including content that might be triggering to some who have experienced relationship trauma. I won't give away too much here because they could be spoilers, and other reviews have touched on those elements.

Overall, I really enjoyed "I Need You to Read This," and the writing kept me turning the page until the end. Those who like an interesting character-driven mystery will likely enjoy this book as well. I'll likely read "The Golden Spoon," Maxwell's first book, because I liked this one so much, and I'll also be looking for future releases from her. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced read.

I WANTED to love this book. I went into it excited and ready… and I was disappointed. This book could not hold my attention. I felt like the book took forever for me to finish because I would get bored and distracted and have to reel myself back in to the story.

When a famous advice columnist is murdered, Alex takes over her job. However, she quickly starts feeling threatened as well, and her past is starting to catch up with her. This is a very quick read, and there were several twists I didn’t see coming. I do think I liked Maxwell’s debut, The Golden Spoon, better, but this is still a solid suspense!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read before pub day! ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I NEED YOU TO READ THIS is out now!