When Frances Bean finds an invitation to a Femme party in her locker, she's torn - it's not her scene at all, but it means she can spend time with her crush, who invited her. She doesn't know why Julia invited her, but she's willing to find out. What follows is your pretty standard YA cult around beauty and wellness and influencers plot, with a subplot of Bean and Julia's romance. Romance is a bit of a strong word, as it's pretty insta-love, and what they initially state what drew them to the other gets discarded very quickly when the cult claws start to come out.

However, I found this as one of the better YA/teen-oriented depictions of cults and how their manipulation and love-bombing tactics can take on an upstanding veneer. How Bean's insecurities are played upon and how the girls are so quick to defend when things go wrong.

Where it really fell apart was the characters - for all that Bean's friends were there for her when things fell apart and knew the right things to say and do then, they weren't doing much of that before, so where did they learn that? It also felt like a very quick timeline, that all of this happened in a month.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book tagline: The Substance meets Girl in Pieces in this new YA psychological thriller exploring the dark secrets of the wellness and beauty world, brimming with sapphic romance, class exploration, and friendship clashes.

Admittedly, it took a few chapters before I was able to settle in and get comfortable with the characters. I wasn't sold on the romance as there were so many other heavy issues being tackled in this book. I have to say that it reminded me of other books, television shows, and movies that have tackled cult followings in the young adult genre. Because of this, I had a very good inkling of how many of the events were going to unfold. Therefore, I have to put it in the 3-star category since it wasn't a surprise to me. Future readers, fair warning, some of the content may be triggering for some readers.

I read it, but I am not sure that I would recommend this one. However, the author has captured my attention and I would be interested in reading more of their work.


#YouBelongtoMe #NetGalley
Expected Publication 15/04/25
Goodreads Review 07/04/25

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I hate to say it, but this book was terrible. A plot that has been done to death, poorly developed characters, and a completely predictable conclusion.

This one didn’t really strike me as a romance but I enjoyed it overall, it was an interesting take on the cult like atmosphere of wellness gurus

Needed to put this down for now due to very specific unexpected triggers not seen in blurb.

Cover looks really cool, and the story seems neat.

Because I didn’t get the chance to read this, I am leaving 5 stars. Thank you for the opportunity to sample this eARC and provide honest feedback.

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars! 🌟

This was giving me heavy “The Midnight Feast” vibes but make it YA! A big thank you to G.P. Putnam’s and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast, intriguing, and terrifying read that explores the ideas of beauty, belief, belonging, and power/manipulation.

In “You Belong to Me” we follow the POV of our teenage female main character Frances Bean. She has a father who passed away from his alcoholism, a caring mother, a tight group of friends, and an admiration for her crush Julia. Julia is the daughter of a very well-known and respected business owner of a wellness company Deena Patterson. At Deena’s company “Deep” she promotes skincare, fragrances, clothes, and eccentric luxurious items that promote “spiritual well-being” and a positive image. The company also has a program for young females called “Femme” where teen girls are offered companionship and the chance to become their “best-selves.” As Bean and Julia become closer in their relationship, Bean dives further into the life of “Deep” and becomes intertwined with the exclusive group and their gatherings. Everything seems to be the best it’s ever been for Bean, so why does it feel as if something so sinister is taking place? Is her newfound community everything it seems?

Let me be the first to say that some of this dialogue was beyond cringey but, being a YA book this was such an easy read. What you see is what you get, and the author does a wonderful job at spelling out exactly what is taking place in the plot. This is an important book with an important lesson for young men and women about people in positions of power and trusting your gut.

The best way I can describe how I felt reading this was going to an organic day spa and then taken deep into the depths of a secretive cult. YIKES. Things went from bad to worse very quickly.

I feel as if many young readers will be able to relate to the feeling of yearning for authentic friendships and self-exploration, and social issues relevant to today’s society.

Definitely give this a read! 📖

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group.

I don't know what to think about this. It was marketed YA, so of course I knew it was YA, but some parts of it felt too YA or too above YA. I don't know how to fully describe it. The characters were bonkers and I struggled with the back and forth between most of them. I would not say I disliked this book, but I didn't love it either.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Even though I enjoyed the storyline, it was slow to me. I did get bored in parts. I am not sure that I would recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and to PRH Audio for the alc.

This was quite an enjoyable YA thriller. I have noticed that since I am in my twenties, YA books can either be hit or miss for me. Well, let's just say this one was a hit!!This is the second book I have read by Hayley Krischer and I don't think it will be the last!
I also really enjoyed the audiobook and I thought that Gail Shalan did a great job bringing this story to life!
Overall, a really fun book!

DNF @26%

I hated the dialogue. It was annoying and felt ridiculous and unrealistic. None of the characters had any real personality, especially Frances.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

This is a solid teen/YA thriller. I think it did a decent job at what it was trying to do, becuase I found myself frustrated half of the time with what was going on with how our main character, Bean, and how she was reacting to certain situations. The writing itself was also good, so I would be interested in reading another release from Krischer! The cover is stunning.

This book is very dark and in some parts disturbing. The characters are not very likeable for me so I had hard time connecting to them. I feel like the book would have been better with more redemption.

I really enjoyed this one! It had me hooked from the beginning and I was very intrigued by the cultish vibe. The ending did feel a bit rushed, but overall I found it to be a very enjoyable YA mystery.

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed the writing style. I will be reading more by her in the future!

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.
This book was really interesting and i was definitely kept entertained the entire time. It has some really interesting commentary on power dynamics and the beauty industry.
Unfortunately there are few things that I wasn't exactly the biggest fan of. For one the whole thing felt a little melodramatic. "Beans" other friend group are constantly talking about how different and edgy they are from the other girls and it comes across as kind of annoying. There is also a bit of insta love between two of the main characters and for plot purposes i understand why that relationship had to happen fast but it cause a lack of chemistry and care for their relationship. the plot itself was really interesting a little predictable but entertaining.

It took me a bit of time to really get invested in this. I could feel the groundwork being laid but it just felt a bit too slow at first. A lot of building up the romance, which was a major part of things so I get it to an extent, but it didn't do the pacing any favors.

The premise itself was really interesting, I love a good cult story and a wellness brand was the perfect set for it. It definitely had some moments that really grabbed me and hooked me, but overall it just ended up feeling a bit flat to me. None of the characters were particularly likable. While the main character Bean wasn’t completely intolerable, she still frustrated me a lot, as did her best friend. (And the wellness group, obviously, though they weren’t meant to be too well liked, I assume.)

The reveals felt rushed at the end, and some were a bit too ‘telling not showing.’ But I do think they were satisfying enough, in the sense that everything seemed to get wrapped up for the most part.

3.5/5 ⭐️ YA Queer thriller mystery cult vibes. I love a good thriller book and I was very much in the mood for one when I picked this up. I found this to be a reasonably short book (not one of those thick 500 page books that make you question your sanity) and yet it kept me engaged the whole time. The story line was good but I would’ve wanted it to be more developed. This book felt like it had potential to be a 4-5 star book but it didn't quite hit that mark for me. That being said, you should give a go because who am I to discourage you from reading and hey you might really enjoy it :)
THANKS TO NET GALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THE ARC!

I so badly wanted to like this one, but the writing style was just not for me. I know this is a young adult book, but it felt underdeveloped and a little juvenile, and I ended up DNFing it. This is a great premise, I absolutely support more sapphic YA lit, and I am sure that the writing style will work for some, so I am glad I gave it a shot!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love a good queer mystery, and this one had a lot of good twists and turns. I like books that explore the beauty community and how they exploit people as well. This was a fun book and I hadn't read anything else by this author so I'm excited for more!

Thanks, Penguin Teen, for the arc!

Every time I read a Hayley Krischer novel, I think it's her best book and there is no way she can top it. Then she comes out with a new book, and I'm again proven wrong. Krischer's latest book, YOU BELONG TO ME, is a YA psychological thriller that I couldn't put down. Even better - it's
sapphic! It explores the dark secrets of the world of wellness and beauty.

I feel like this book was written for me because I always want to see "under the mask." I want to know what they did before they started the video and put that cream on. I'm a skeptical person. But if I get convinced and it actually works on me, you'll have a customer for life. Right away, I was creeped out by the description of DEEP, the company, in the book. I feel like I would watch them from afar and wait for the documentary to come a few years later, lol.

Let me tell you about Frances Bean because I was in love as soon as I met her. And no, it wasn't just because of her stellar name. She's flawed, figuring out life, friends, and relationships, and feels very human to me. I enjoy reading the book from her point of view and seeing her process what is happening around her. I'm glad this thriller didn't jump between characters because having one PoV made it more intense.

Krischer writes smart and relevant books, and YOU BELONG TO ME is an excellent example. Definitely give it a read!


Content Warnings: death of a parent, grief, emotional abuse, gaslighting, adult/minor relationship, sexual assault, drug abuse, alcohol abuse
**CW are hidden as spoilers in my review

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read Hayley Krischer's other books, I think she excels at a thoughtful, dramatic YA book. I can't quite call this book a thriller / mystery, although something very dramatic happens about halfway through.

Frances Bean was named for Kurt Cobain's daughter with Courtney Love - an average student at a private school in Northern NJ where her mom is a teacher. She and her fellow goth friends Ivy, Brooks and Nico run the school newspaper and have a distinct Victorian meets goth style. While they aren't exactly outcasts, they aren't popular either. Bean has a crush on Julia Patterson. Julia's mother, Deena, is the head of some wellness brand called Deep. They have an internship /young leader initiative called Femme. Frances Bean gets invited to one of their gatherings.

I've always wanted a wellness cult story. It's very obvious this is the direction of the book. The title itself is a little misleading to me, as I thought it was a tale of obsession. Frances Bean has a wonderful mother. However, her "sense of self" is still developing - very normal for a 17 year old girl. The deeper she gets into Deep, the more red flags appear. She does have some sense to question what's being asked of her or manipulated into doing - especially as the young man who is second in command, Kai calls her a narcissist. Once something shocking happens, the spell seems to shake Frances Bean up enough to question her loyalty. She has some amazing friends because she did her friend wrong. I also had to question the adults letting things get too far.

Trigger warning for grooming and sexual abuse, drugs, possible suicide, cult / group thinking.

4/5☆ available 4/15/25.