Frances Bean has been an inadvertent trendsetter at her exclusive private school, where she goes tuition-free since her single mother is a teacher there. Frances’ father recently died from his battle with alcoholism, and she has a very strong connection to a small friend group who all listen to her style opinions. Frances, or “Bean” as her close friends and family call her, doesn’t actually see herself as being anything more than a fringe element, lucky to have those close pals. She’s out as a lesbian, and has had the worst crush on an impossible girl, Julia Patterson, whose mother owns the high-profile natural skin, body, and spiritual care company, DEEP.

Julia’s skin is flawless, and she’s always wearing the white, gauzy, natural-fabric dresses DEEP sells at a crazy price. Her best friends are a part of Femme, the program developed for female teens to bond and develop their emotional wellness–away from toxic family, if necessary. Julia and Bean are partners on a project about Jane Eyre for English class. All the better for Bean to privately swoon–until she receives an exclusive invitation to a Femme party. And, Julia tells her she would really like her to attend. Because, Julia also has a crush on Bean.

The more Bean connects with Julia, the more she begins to fall into the DEEP/Femme end, and the more she isolates from her friends and mother. This seems to be the way of Femme, though, with lots of young “broken” girls getting spiritual healing (and some sexual attention) from the resident “healer,” a 24-year-old man called Kai, whose abusive, wealthy, pedo father is currently in prison.

Bean struggles with the competing interests of her developing relationship with Julia and a newfound Instagram fame, with supposedly private moments promoted by Femme and DEEP, and her previous ride-or-die besties. It’s very confusing for her, because Bean’s always had inferiority issues, and the Femme people all seem so kind, and compassionate, and beautiful. Being around them helps Bean feel beautiful, too. Connected, in a way she’s always desired.

But, the more she’s allied with the Femme folk, the more the oddities surrounding their activities begin to add up in Bean’s brain. She’s confused why weird men are sometimes at the Femme parties, and no longer feels safe in the DEEP stronghold of Julia’s home. Witnessing Kai’s shenanigans is another red flag, especially when he asks her to demonstrate her loyalty to Femme by destroying one of her best friend’s work. Of course, the biggest issue is the suspicious death of a woman who began as a Femme girl, and who currently seemed to be on the inside of the DEEP complex. Was Bean somehow complicit in her tragic death?

This story was billed as a psychological thriller, and I’m not sure it met that criteria. It does have great mystery elements, and the romance between Bean and Julia, though a little rushed, also felt pretty appropriate for YA. I enjoyed the lush description of Bean’s indoctrination into the “world” of Femme and DEEP, because it felt realistic–comparisons to Manson girls are not far from the mark here. Bean’s struggles were relatable, and her desire for enhanced social status and recognition was very teen-centered. She’s an “any girl” and her headfirst plunge into this “cult” was eye-opening in its simplicity and completeness. If Bean had any weaker of a network of friends or family, she could have easily fallen victim to the emotional manipulation that plagued other Femme girls.

I enjoyed the story, and thought it was interesting and pretty well-considered. I wanted to have a little more build-up of emotional intimacy between Julia and Bean before they felt it was love, but that was a small issue, for me. The resolution ticked off the mystery boxes, getting people to see how gnarled and knotted the web of lies went at DEEP. There were many victims of the cult culture of DEEP and Femme, not only the woman who died. Its parallels in the real world–clout chasing and status envy chief among them–are both resonant and bleak. I wouldn’t say it’s a cautionary tale, but it’s certainly thought provoking, especially considering the sheer volume of toxic “health” gurus and influencers capitalizing on the frailties of the young and disaffected in our society.

I’d recommend this one for readers who like a more gritty YA read, because this one is not a rom-com.

This one is a hard one for me to review because I was interested, but the thriller/horror part was no where to be found. It was just a messed up bunch of people hiding behind this wellness club. I thought there was going to be so much more “thrilling” aspects to it and it just wasn’t.

Ok so the cover got me. I saw that she had this thing on her face and there was what looked like blood and here I am thinking the wellness stuff that she was putting on her face was doing these things to her, but yeah no such luck. It’s less a horror story and more just a thriller. But again, someone pitched this to me as a horror book and now here I am disappointed lol Disappointed because the thrilling part isn’t all that exciting either. She’s basically drugged to make her unreliable so I was like ugh, but the way it was done made it a bit unique so I wasn’t THAT mad. But even still, it wasn’t ground-breaking. I just wish there was more. Most of the stuff that was “thrilling” didn’t happen until later in the book so it was a bit boring.

The story itself was ok tho. I was hella interested in the club thing that they were in. It was more like a cult. They were all brain-washed and trying to keep this one person safe when in reality none of them were safe. It was really a mind eff of a situation. This part I enjoyed. I think it was because I had actually just finished a different book about cults, so I was looking for all the parallels that were also in this book. And seeing the two of them side by side, it was a lot. The way it actually lined up was the scary part lol

The characters were ok, not necessarily ground breaking tho. I don’t want to say why because I don’t want to spoil anything, but yeah. And the friends of the main character were all cool, but also just weird. One of them was really rude, even if she was right. Idk, I thought things could have been handled differently. But again, they’re also teens so I had to remember that too. They never talk about anything lol

This was ok, but not like groundbreaking or anything. Kinda sad tho because I was so excited for this based on the cover and the promised horror aspects, but it just fell short. It made it right in other ways so I’m not too mad.

A YA thriller about a teen, Frances Bean, who is invited to a skincare party for a famous brand. The owner's daughter goes to school with Bean and happens to be Bean's crush. She is surprised but excited to get the invite. Soon, she is draw into this glamorous world, but this will not last as things take a sinister turn.

I thought this premise was really interesting, but the writing style was really not for me. It felt overwritten and yet simplified in a way that some YA books are. I liked the slightly culty aspects in it, but I think it could been more sinister to really give the vibes it promises in the synopsis.

I was so excited to read this because of how amazing the description is. I was expecting this creepy cult book all about the beauty world, but instead I got a very judgey book narrated by a very annoying teenager. Frances is the type of character I'm not a fan of reading from because they find it necessary to bring everyone else down to bring themself up. Her judgmental stance on the beauty world and feminine girls is grating and feels more like "women hating women," which I don't stand for.

I found myself pausing as I was reading because I could feel where it was going, or at least I thought so. I rolled my eyes at the characters and shouted at what I wanted them to do. All of this is a good thing!!

The cult world that Hayley built in this story was aggravating and sickening in so many ways. These young girls were taken advantage of in ways I cant imagine all for what?

Watching Bean be sucked into this world was so frustrating as a reader and sad. I felt for her and the first love feelings she had for Julia, also the need for belonging and being appreciated. But the whole time I just kept thinking "RUN RUN".

Till the end I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop.

This was a fun YA horror/thriller/cult like novel!

I was accepted to read this book before official publication through NetGalley and below is my honest review.

The premise of this really drew me in and I did enjoy it, however not as much as I hoped I would. The plot follows Frances Bean who is helplessly in love with a popular girl at school. The story has cult-ish vibes and dives into the dark side of influencers and the beauty standards of women/young girls.

I personally think the story was good however I feel towards the middle it started to drag which means it didn’t capture me much. I also felt that the characters fell flat.

The sapphic element is originally what drew me in and I do think that was portrayed well. The story is written in first person throughout so if you’re not a fan of that, this wouldn’t be the book for you.

Overall, I rate this 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the chance to read this book!

Pretty quick little read, pretty obvious it was YA from the beginning but not in a horrible way, Seemed pretty obvious what was happening from the beginning but I've been reading thrillers a long long time, So I've pretty read this plot before. Still didn't get boring the characters are intriguing enough to keep you interested.

I just finished *You Belong to Me* by Hayley Krischer, and wow—this one really stuck with me. It’s the kind of book that leaves a little knot in your stomach, but in a good way, because it makes you *feel* things and think harder about the world we live in.

The story dives deep into friendship, obsession, and the murky line between love and control. At first, I thought it was going to be a typical YA drama, but it ended up being way darker and more layered than I expected. The characters are flawed and real, especially Casey, who’s trying to piece together what happened to her friend and getting pulled into something way more complicated than she imagined.

Krischer doesn’t sugarcoat anything—there’s a rawness to her writing that hits hard. Some parts were tough to read, especially when it deals with trauma and manipulation, but it felt honest. I appreciated how the book explored power dynamics and how easy it is to lose yourself in someone else’s shadow when you’re not careful.

If you like stories that are a little unsettling but make you think, this one's worth picking up. It’s not a feel-good read, but it’s one that lingers after you close the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hayley Krischer's You Belong to Me is a dreamy and thought-provoking dive into the glossy underworld of beauty, wellness, cults, and identity. As someone who works in the beauty industry and overconsumes on a daily basis, I found the premise both eye-opening and deeply intriguing. Even though I don’t often read YA, the concept alone was enough to pull me in. The DEEP store and its community were vividly imagined—so much so that I could genuinely see myself getting swept up in that world. It had a Brandy Melville-esque allure: aspirational, curated, and just slightly out of reach in the most intoxicating way.

While the pacing of the book was engaging, I found myself wishing for more depth in the characters, especially early on. I didn’t truly connect with Bean until about 60% of the way through, and I wanted more buildup and believability in the romantic plot. Some scenes felt a bit underexplained, which left me occasionally unsure of the emotional stakes. That said, Krischer's writing is sharp, and her take on consumer culture is both timely and haunting. I’d love to see her include her own skincare routine in a future podcast or book signing—it would be such a fun tie-in to this story’s world. Overall, a solid and imaginative read that left me thinking about the lines between self-care and self-erasure.

I want to like YA still but I'm having a hard time. I don't know what it is but the trend seems to be sensational and unrealistic.

A fun cult story set in the beauty world, this was a fun ride. I kept waiting for the FMC to realize she was in a cult. The drama that led to the big climax was well done and engaging.

This was a jaw-dropping read!

I am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.

OMG, Bean is a character to whom I honestly felt an emotional attachment. Her story plays out among high school children on a daily basis: the need to be accepted, getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, and becoming more confused than they were starting out.

This book was dark and disturbing. Trigger warning, psychological abuse, and reference to sexual abuse by way of a physical relationship between a minor and an adult being mentioned on the page.

With that, the book was really good. There is a sapphic romance that takes place, and the chemistry is good, but toxic.

The writing was solid, as was the world and character building. The conflict buildup was amazing! By the time we reached the end, I was out of breath, but I was pleased with the way Hayley resolved the end of this story.

Really gave the " make sure that we are checking in with our children" vibe.

This book had short chapters, the story moved along at a good pace, and the dark, creepy feeling was maintained throughout. I had a good time reading it, and when I put it down, I was satisfied!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Haley Krischer for this extremely creepy but well-written ARC of You Belong To Me.

This book is a deep dive into high school politics, romance, class exploration and friendships. It has cultish vibes and looks at the effects of beauty standards on women and young girls. I would say it’s a little bit of a slower start, but then I flew through it. It is dark and disturbing and includes a trigger warning of substance abuse and should be read with caution. Overall, it is a bit predictable, but I enjoyed it.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

You Belong To Me takes us down into the self-esteem of a teenager. The insecurity and loneliness that most kids feel. How social media projects beautiful and polished images that teens think they need to become to be beautiful and meaningful. Hayley Krischer gives a harsh look at grooming and cult thinking.

Frances Bean was an individual thinker at one time. Then slowly, without even her realizing it, she started craving the ideal. Now a lot of it could be her crush on Julia, the beauty mogul’s daughter, or it could be the constant barragement of hate directed to her. Sometimes you just get tired of not fitting in and wonder wouldn’t it just be easier to blend.

It doesn’t matter what came first, because Bean gets sucked into a world that dazzles her. Then when events start to happen that remove the rose-colored glasses, does she want them to if it costs Julia's love.

Krischer gives us a realistic story that could easily happen to any young girl. There are no easy ways out of decisions and the author doesn’t give anyone an easy out. It’s uncomfortable at times, but an easy read.

I obviously love Bean’s friends. They are diverse and have friend code down cold. Bean’s Mom is a conundrum for me because she is a therapist. I think it’s hard to draw the line at psychoanalyzing your child and giving them space to grow and make mistakes. For me, Bean’s Mom could have done better - especially with all of the changes that Bean goes through.

You Belong to Me can be dark at times, but really it’s an exploration of identity. Sometimes it’s hard to look in the mirror and this book displays every pore on the pages.

Frances becomes entangled in the infamous wellness company DEEP after being paired up with the founder's daughter on an English assignment. She will soon learn all about the secrets hidden beneath DEEP’s innocent facade.

You Belong to Me was an interesting story. The characters were somewhat flat, in my opinion. The plot, however, was quite enjoyable. It was filled with twists and turns.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ability to read this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was unfortunately a DNF for me. It was very cliché with the overall dynamic of the characters. Got 2% into this and opted to discontinue reading. Many well wishes to the author in their endeavors.

You Belong to Me is a look into self worth and exploration through the lens of a young woman. Beans is someone who hadn't felt like she had a purpose until her long time crush invited her to an exclusive party for her mother's company. Little did she know this was just the tip of the iceberg.
You Belong to Me was so frustrating in the best way.
You could feel Beans being pulled into DEEP and before long it felt like it was too late. So many times I found myself having to put the book down because Beans couldn't see what was right in front of her. I loved seeing the different aspects of her life that began to be affected by DEEP and Femme like her wardrobe, friendships and even her relationship with her mom.
I did feel that some of the surprise and shock were taken away by over simplification or being too explicit but I think for the intended age group it will be much more engaging. Overall I enjoyed this and I think that people who are interested in the dark side of beauty and wellness brands, cults, the Manson murders and the substance will enjoy this read too!

This was an average YA mystery thriller. The story had some interesting moments, but I wasn’t that invested in it and I found it a bit boring. The story involves a cult, and there have been a lot of cult themed books lately. I think I’m becoming tired of books that feature cults.

The characters, especially Kai, were pretty annoying. Kai definitely gave off creepy, cult-leader vibes, like a wannabe Manson. The romance between Frances and Julia felt like instalove to me. Their relationship felt rushed and underdeveloped.

I liked the writing style and it was a fast read, but I thought the ending was predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Hayley Krischer, and Penguin Young Reader’s Group: GP Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was not for me! Although I love any books about cults, there were multiple aspects that didn’t quite work for me in this read. Starting with what did work, I did enjoy the “wellness industry as a cult” commentary, and I liked seeing that play out not only through the group of Femme but also through Deep’s store and products. It felt very similar to other brands out there today, and it was interesting to see how the cult vibes in the book ran throughout all the different layers. I also really enjoyed Bean’s friend group of Ivy, Nico, and Brooks! I would have loved to see more from them and their dynamic. Other than these aspects, the book felt a little one note. As a reader, I was immediately dropped into the action without any background for characters/setting/events ever happening. What little background did happen (such as Bean’s dad being an alcoholic) felt kind of thrown in rather than explored fully. I also thought the sapphic instant love felt a little rushed, and I didn’t really feel their connection. More than anything else, I felt the book was just telling me things that were happening rather than showing them, which is not my preferred story method. I also didn’t like what the “dark side” of the cult ended up being, especially in a young adult novel. I think the book could have showed other dark things in the cult without having to have sexual assault of minors. Overall, it was a quick read that had its interesting moments but also had multiple things that made it forgettable for me.