I liked that this took place in the world of bikini/body competitions; this gave the book an original feel to it. Some of the POV weren't necessary, or at least, didn't seem necessary to me? But I liked the web of connections that was woven between the characters.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a fun read! You spend most of the time following Gemma’s point of view as she prepares for the Olympia swimsuit competition and navigates the drama of life as a fitness competitor and influencer. I loved the different POVs and the deeper themes of self-esteem, the fitness/diet industry, and body positivity. It was so ridiculous at times that humor was an undercurrent. I feel like psychological thriller is a bit of a stretch but there were definitely many twists along the way that kept me guessing.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lori Brand, and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a free audio version of this book and exchange for an honest review. This was a great debut and I’m looking forward to other books by this author!

I know I sound like a broken record, but we really are lucky to get a chance to preview so many great books at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse! And this time, even better, we’ve got a debut to talk about today.

Gemma is a fitness influencer who is a true testament to “it works if you work it” with the before & after photos to prove it. Thousands of women look up to her and aspire to one day be their own version of an “After” and on paper Gemma’s life seems fantastic, despite the reality being less than stellar.

Ashley is still a “Before” and she’s frustrated. Diet after diet has failed, she’s bullied online due to her size, her own mother won’t stop pushing different methods of losing weight onto her and she’s finally had enough. She stumbles upon a group dedicated to taking down diet culture and taking up space - literally and figuratively. They decide to fight back against the toxic over-scrutinization of women’s bodies by protesting at a bodybuilding competition…the same one that Gemma will be at.

Amidst the preparation for the competition, fitness girls start turning up dead, including Gemma’s biggest threat. Now every girl is fearing for their safety as “fat” and “fit” go head to head and everyone has something to hide…and something to lose.

If you’re looking for a quick and mindless popcorn thriller (which I am not trashing, I absolutely LOVE those) then keep looking. If you’re looking for a thriller that can elicit some feelings that cause you to stop reading and really chew on what you’ve read, then we’ve got a winner for you.

Bodies to Die For is a thriller at heart - but it’s one with some deep social commentary that will resonate with plenty of readers. Whether you are thin or not, have had to work for a “good body” or not…you’ve encountered the fitness or diet industry in some way, shape, or form, even if it’s just commercials or sponsored ads on your feed.

Due to the nature of the book, there are also some really fun dramatic/reality tv reminiscent moments as well as some fun social media dialogue…and if you’ve read my posts in the past, y’all know I LIVE for social media being integrated into books, especially thrillers.

One thing that I especially loved is that Lori Brand is deeply involved in the fitness industry, so not only is she writing what she knows (and loves) but she’s writing it honestly. However, my favorite takeaway, whether intended or not, was that this book shows that no matter what side of any fight you might be on, becoming obsessed and too involved to see clearly is toxic, no matter how pure the intentions. There were so many characters that we met who had lost their way and had to own the path they ended up on, making all of them pretty unlikeable but still engrossing you in their story and leaving you needing to know what happens.

I really think that Bodies to Die for was an innovative book. Like I said, I do enjoy those quick and mindless thrillers a lot being a multi-tasker, but I also love these thrillers that are not only entertainment but can also serve as a sort of thinkpiece as well. I’ll be interested to see what Lori comes up with next!

As someone who has fat and isn’t “standard size,” but is extremely active, this book resonated with me. I really enjoyed the commentary from both sides: fit girls and fat activists. It was a good thriller with depth and thought provoking conversations, and in the end, I really enjoyed the moral of the story.

I really did not enjoy this book as much as I thought that I would. The one felt crass and disrespectful, and I did not enjoy the narration.

Gemma is a bikini bodybuilder and fitness influencer who seems to have it all, and is proud of her before and after transformation. But the world of fitness influencing has higher stakes than you’d imagine - especially when Gemma’s friends start turning up dead. Ashley is an introverted software engineer who is tired for being made to feel bad for being overweight. She teams up with some other “fat activists” to try to take down the fitfluencers and diet culture fanatics. But she quickly realizes she is in over her head with her new friends - is it too late to turn things around?

This was definitely less of a thriller/suspense book and more of a drama. It reminded me a lot of One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose a if you enjoyed that book, you’ll most likely like this one. For me, none of the characters were really likeable, and I always enjoy having someone to root for. I appreciated that the author showed both sides of the spectrum (the fit and the unfit, as it were). I do have to wonder how accurate the fitfluencer side was, because I definitely can’t relate to it (🤣). Overall this was a quick read - great for summer!

Narrated by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, Joe Hempel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Story by Lori Brand ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story is full of backstabbing, untrustworthy characters, and I loved every minute of it!

I could totally see this as a hilarious dark comedy miniseries on some streaming service.

Goodreads says this is Lori Brand's debut novel, and if that's true, I'll be eagerly waiting for her next book.

*for publisher, this is such a good book and this cover is not good enough for it.*

Bodies To Die For was a nice, suspenseful storyline. There were definitely some unexpected endings that I wasn't expecting. The topic of diet culture was very well written and seemed on brand with today's culture. I liked it!

This was a twisty psychological thriller by a new to me author perfect for fans of books like Fit to die by Daniel Kalla. Good on audio and a fun read for this summer! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I’m always so hesitant when I read anything that focuses on body types. However, this was so well done. The different narrators that allow the different thoughts on body types to be heard was wonderful. And the negative thoughts over any and all body images makes it relatable due to the realistic writing of it all. I highly recommend this book, unless you have major triggers around your body and/or around fat shaming.

As someone who has struggled with my weight for most of my life and has fallen victim to the body shaming diet culture and tried every single weight loss program ever created, only to stumble and fall and fail over and over and over again, this book really resonated with me. I really appreciated the hypocrisy and deceit behind the fitness and diet industry, including online influencers, with their misleading and sleazy sales gimmick. I enjoyed the super fast-paced, short chapters and alternating POVs. The narrators were well cast and did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing, NetGalley and Lori Brand for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Bodies to Die For is a captivating mystery/thriller that translates exceptionally well into an audiobook format, providing a gripping experience for listeners .The narrative maintains a good pace, balancing intense moments with well-placed clues and red herrings. The audiobook format enhances the experience, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre.

This is a psychological thriller in the world of fitness, fitness influencers and diet culture. It mentions different aspects of the pressure we feel regarding our bodies. It's a theme I haven't read in a thriller so far and I really enjoyed it! The book was so fast-paced, I was never bored. I thought I guessed what happens in the end but turns out I was not totally correct, and I love that in a thriller.

While I devour thrillers this book was unlike others I had read before. This book was equal parts thriller and part commentary on women’s body standards through the lens of body building and ‘fat activism’. The story is told primarily from two viewpoints - Gemma a body builder who lost 100lbs and is getting ready for the Bikini Olympia Competition and Ashley - a software engineer turned ‘fat activist’ who is tired of being held to society’s body standards. You get other perspectives of the supporting cast interspersed. This story was great, it immediately grabbed my attention with the murder, building suspense, character development and as a woman who has struggled on and off with body image I enjoyed that element too.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

If you can get your hands on the audio version of this one, do it. There are three narrators so you can easily tell each chapter apart, and they are fantastic. They add more nuance to the story and make it much more engaging. I don't usually prefer audio formats but in this case I do.

As a lifelong victim of diet culture who now knows better, I enjoy books and podcasts that dive into why diets don’t work and why they’re harmful.

Bodies to Die For is a novel that touches on this harm, but that’s not the main focus. This is a murder mystery slash social commentary on the extreme things people are willing to do in the name of being thin — waist trainers, Biggest Loser type competitions with dangerous trainers, consuming untested products that make big claims.

“Fit girls” are getting murdered. Who did it? The two main characters, Gemma and Ashley, alternate POV throughout. Gemma is a former fat girl turned bodybuilder who is hungry and unhappy, and Ashley is a fat woman learning to accept her body but in doing so got mixed up with the wrong people. There are some chapters told from side characters and I liked those the most. Throw in an unhinged client, a creepy stalkerish fan, a jealous competitor, and a domestic terrorist and you get a jam packed story that keeps you guessing.

Despite all that, I didn’t love it. I liked it, and I’m glad I finished but found that the middle dragged. I skimmed some middle sections but by the end was absorbed once again. I also hope the messages of fat acceptance didn’t get overshadowed by the actions of Lydia and her group because they’re important messages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

A clash between the two sides of diet culture at a bodybuilding competition is the setting of this whodunnit!

Gemma is a fitness influencer whose dramatic weight loss and lifestyle changes have earned her thousands of followers. On Instagram, her life looks perfect — great body, husband, and life. But the reality is far different.

Ashley could easily be Gemma’s “before” picture. She’s overweight and is frequently hounded by her mother to lose weight. After failed fad diets, Ashley rebels against obtaining “the perfect body.” With the encouragement of her new friend Lydia, Ashley decides to fight against diet culture and influencers like Gemma.

When Gemma’s friend and bodybuilding competitor is murdered, everyone is a suspect!

I enjoyed this fast paced debut for its well developed characters, relevant topics, and well-timed twists that will keep you guessing.

Narrators Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel make Bodies to Die For an entertaining listen. The multiple narrators made the story easy to follow. All three made the characters and their struggles relatable.

Grab Bodies to Die For if you want a murder mystery with lots of drama and suspects.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BlackstonePublishing for giving me the chance to listen to this #ALC in return for my honest review!

I loved this book! Everything about the book allowed me to relate to almost every character at some point in my life. As activities of the characters unfolded, I could feel my head bobbing and saying to myself, "Yup, I can see that" or "Been there, done that"!

Lori Brand did a spectacular job of what I call "jumping characters" without confusing me; I can easily pick up where she left each character while still enjoying the current character.

Lori also did a great job writing about a subject that is so touchy. She was able to show each side of this "fat/skinny war". Some spice was thrown in there but it was not the focus. And she threw in the twist at the perfect moment!

I look forward to her next book.

This book had such a unique premise for a thriller.

Beware of trigger warnings because this book involves body shaming and diet culture. It is set in the scene of fitness competitions.

Gemma is haunted by memories of her old self, despite being a fitness influencer. She is determined to win an upcoming competition, despite all her competitors turning up dead. Ashley is a body positivity activist determined to bring Gemma down at all costs but finds herself working with the wrong people.

I found the writing to be so witty and often funny, despite this being a thriller. The narrators all did a great job giving the wit and banter just the right tone. I loved both of the main characters and their attitudes.

There were a few plot twists that I saw coming and others that I didn't. Overall, I loved how it all fit together in the end. I think the overall message in the end was a positive one.

This psychological thriller was so fast paced, I ate it up! I really enjoyed the concept of this book that it included many current topics such as influencers, dark side of social media and diet-fitness industry. I loved the alternating points of view of the book- it made the book such a page turner. It kept me guessing with the various motives and suspects. Twisty and addictive but also thought provoking on the pressure we put on one another for the perfect image as well as, the pressure we put on ourselves. Perfect twisty summer beach read. The audiobook was so easy to listen to! The cast of characters was narrated by Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, Joe Hempel. They brought the characters to life and make it such an easy fun listen.

“𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬, 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬.”

I absolutely loved this one! Told from multiple perspectives, with Ashley and Gemma being my favorite. This was such an addicting listen. The narrators, Jennifer Aquino, Chelsea Stephens, and Joe Hempel did a wonderful job portraying the characters and pulling me in completely into this fitness world that is filled with competition and keeping me fully immersed in this competitive – and sometimes deadly – fitness world. I loved how diverse and complex the characters were. Some you love and others you dislike immediately. I couldn’t trust anyone and it was so fun to see the conclusion. A fantastic listen with a gripping mystery.