right off the bat I was intrigued because its a '"teen thriller" of course im going to read it! The story starts off in this beauty company that is huge does fancy face serums for all things beauty related. The company specifically wants to target younger girls and influence them to work there because they will use their products and post on social medias to obtain attention from all other potential clients. This book feels like a cult the company that is! the main character gets caught up with the company when a murder happens and tenth book just takes off. I really enjoyed this book there are a lot of mini cliff hangers and the chapters are really short. Thank you Net Galley and publisher for ARC!

You Belong to Me was an intense and gripping read that kept me hooked with its twists and emotional depth. I really connected with the tension between the characters and the suspenseful plot, which made it hard to put down. While a few parts felt slightly predictable to me, the overall story was engaging and satisfying, with enough surprises to make it a compelling read. I’d definitely recommend it for fans of psychological thrillers with strong character dynamics.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you for a copy of this ARC!

This book took a really long time to get going and by that point i was ready for it to be over. Maybe I wasn't in the right mindset but it was not what I initially expected when picking up the book.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC to read and review.

MAJOR CW: Sexual Assault and Grooming, Drug Use, Murder

This book was a queer culty horror- I enjoyed it but I really wish there had been a Content Warning due to the material in the book.

This book was really dark especially for a young adult book but I enjoyed the dynamic of the FMC and her friend group. I think the theme of high school students not really feeling like they belong and being vulnerable due to this is really realistic and this book was an extreme example of what people will do to feel like they fit in.

Kai made me sick to my stomach.

Overall decent read.

ARC provided by PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group

Hayley Krischer’s You Belong to Me is a taut, emotionally layered YA thriller that digs deep beneath the surface of friendship, grief, identity, and the sharp edges of obsession. With sharp prose and a haunting tone, this is a story that lingers—both as a mystery and a character study.

What begins as a story of mourning quickly spirals into something darker. The novel explores the aftermath of a tragedy, but what truly shines is how Krischer captures the emotional chaos that follows—the way grief can morph into fixation, how people project their pain, and how easily boundaries can blur when someone is desperate to feel connected.

The characters feel raw and authentic, especially the protagonist, whose voice is complex, flawed, and painfully real. Her need to understand, to belong, to matter—it all builds a sense of tension that goes beyond the mystery. This isn’t just about what happened, but why it matters, and how the fallout reshapes everything in its path.

Krischer’s writing is intimate and sharp, with a subtle build of psychological suspense. The mystery is well-constructed, but it’s the emotional unraveling that really steals the show. The story touches on themes of manipulation, trauma, and the way memory can twist under pressure.

3.5 Stars
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers group for the gifted ebook to read and review.

You Belong to Me by Hayley Krischer is a captivating commentary on social media influencers and the wellness industry. I think that the POV from sixteen year old Bean can be really impactful for teenagers today.

I did expect to like this book more than I did. In some ways, I thought it did a good job of introducing how seamless in can be to fall into a cult. It starts with one strong connection, and particularly for a teenage girl trying to find her place and feel bonded to another person romantically.

But I also just felt like the pacing of this novel was so scattered. I honestly cannot figure out how much time passed in the telling of this book.

I did really like Bean's initial friend group. Those were the types of kids I was always friends with, but moreso, I appreciated how they held on to their own identities and beliefs and tried to warn Bean of what she was getting herself into, when she was too blinded to see it.

This book really felt like a big hit to Gwyneth Paltrow and goop (Deena Patterson = DEEP).

I've also noticed lately a big surge to body horror and examining the beauty industry and the perils of being too into beauty and skincare. It was interesting to see this YA take on the genre.

Okay, this is definitely going on my best books of 2025 list! I thought this was an incredibly well-done book that goes into the sensation and struggle for belonging, particularly for teenage girls and those who have things going on at home, as well as toxic wellness culture. Bean was a fantastic character, I felt, to explore that struggle and to also tear back that veneer of perfection layered across the growing beauty industry and propaganda — you might not get that at first glance, but as the author explores Bean's character more and more, you can see exactly why she'd be predisposed into falling into the wrong hands. I think anyone looking for a new YA book that is real and raw and discusses relevant issues to today's teenagers as well as their parents/other adults, YOU BELONG TO ME is the book for you!

I really enjoyed the story overall. Bean was a very good main character. She had flaws and was relatable. Like most teens, Bean was dealing with peer pressure and hormones. Unfortunately for Bean, her story is much darker than most teens. There were a few things that seemed a bit far fetched for me, but I suppose if I was still in the young adult mindset that they could seem a bit more possible.

I would recommend this book to teens. I usually enjoy YA books. I think I might just be getting a bit too old to suspend my logically thinking brain to get into the characters more

~2.75~

I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did. The concept was absolutely up my alley, unknowingly joining a cult for love and figuring it out. There was just some elements that fell flat and the storyline kind of dragged. I feel like it could've been more of a shock factor, I think I was expecting more than what happened.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I flew through this book and loved it! The story follows Frances Bean, yes, named after the real person, who marches to the beat of her own drum, follows her own path, whatever cliche you want to use. She and her small friend group are the “outcasts” of the school of rich kids. Bean attends because her mother teaches there, but she never fits in due to her lack of finances. Her friends are kind and accept her, but she’s always felt different.

Julia Patterson’s mom owns a wellness company, and, as Julia and Bean are paired together for a school project, Julia pulls Bean into her circle. As their romance heats up, Bean begins to uncover some dark secrets of the company.

This book is a fun satire that pulls back the curtain on the wellness industry sham, but in a less harmful take than Pyramidia, for example. Love that this was LGBTQ friendly, as well. Definitely a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is more of a 3.5 rounded up to a 4. Frances Bean is a goth girl who has a massive crush on Julia, the daughter of a company called "deep" (aka knockoff goop), a wellness company that is exclusive and expensive. Julia and Bean fall in love quickly, and Bean gets thrust into the glamour and beauty of deep.

Then things take a weird and sinister turn. Trigger warnings for sexual assault, grooming, suicide.

This is a fast read and the writing keeps you hooked to know what happens. Even though much is predictable, I liked it overall.

I'd hoped this was a more horror based novel because Netgalley compared it to Substance but it wasn't sci-fi horror as much as it was the horrors of reality and men in power. That being said, I did not enjoy Bean or any of her friends. The way the novel talked about their style felt so cringey. As soon as she mentioned that her friend had a parasol I knew they'd be obnoxious. They talked about being individuals and finding their own style and that's all well and good but it felt so forced in this novel, especially when Bean gave up all of her perceived originality to follow the popular girls. She caved so quickly it was laughable and when Ivy was trying to convince her that she wasn't a "follower" (after being indoctrinated into a cult), Ivy pointed out how all of their style was Bean's idea and that was even harder to believe. It was not as enjoyable as I'd hoped.

This book was a quick, fast-paced read, and it was easy to consume in one sitting. The comps were a great comparison, and it really set the vibes for the story. I've enjoyed Hayley Krischer's writing in the past, and I'll keep picking up her books!

You belong to us by Hayley Krischer
Genre: YA Thriller
Rating: 3.75⭐️/5

Frances has always been the quiet one in the shadows, but everything changes when she's unexpectedly paired with the glamorous Julia Patterson for a school project. Suddenly, she’s thrust into a world of high society, where Julia’s mother reigns as the mastermind behind the illustrious skincare brand, DEEP. With exclusive invitations to lavish DEEP parties, Frances finds herself stepping into a dazzling new life filled with glitz, glamour, and intrigue.

But as she becomes entwined with Deena's wealthy family, she discovers that luxury comes with its own set of dark secrets.

Read if you like:
•Short chapters
•Wellness Cult
•Outcast & Popular girl
•Sapphic romance
•High school settings
•YA Psychological thriller
•Murder

Thank you Penguin Teen for the gifted copy ✨❤️‍🔥.

I will eat up a culty book everytime. I was able to guess the ending to this book and still had a good time reading. I think this is a good starting point for young adults to dip their toes in thrillers involving cults.

When you need your next female empowerment fix with a side of beauty product cult vibes, this one will be waiting for you. I can’t wait to see what else the author writes.

Thank you to Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an E-ARC copy of this book.

2.75
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one. It took half the book before anything substantial happened and by that time I didn't really care anymore.

I really thought from the blurb that this would be more of a horror, thriller. It's more of a critical look at the beauty, wellness industry and the tendency to create a cult like following. It's dark and covers some heavy topics. It highlighted how this need to fit that perfect societal image can be toxic and damaging to young impressionable girls and lead to their exploitation. It's definitely a cautionary tale. A warning to be careful judging a situation by aesthetics alone, trusting yourself and your judgement and questioning things when you have that eerie off feeling that something isn't right. I did enjoy Francis Beans group of quirky friends and how they called her out and supported her. I wanted to love this one. It had such great potential but I felt disappointed in the execution.