As someone unfamiliar with One Tree Hill or Bethany Joy Lenz, the memoir felt like stepping into a story already halfway told. It assumes a level of familiarity and emotional investment that I didn’t have, which made the narrative feel disjointed and at times distant.

While it’s commendable that Lenz chose to share such a personal experience, the execution lacks depth and cohesion. Without an existing connection to her, it’s hard to stay engaged, and the book doesn’t offer enough substance to stand on its own as a compelling memoir.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Dinner for Vampires is a true glimpse into cult mentality. Joy Lenz describes how she was manipulated into losing savings, her sense of self, and her relationships with her family by cult members. All of this is happening while she is on the hit show, One Tree Hill. She was able to extricate herself from the cult and this book does help show that there is a way out and a life after.

I really wanted to be able to get behind this book more. Bethany Joy Lenz is an adorably engaging actress and "cult stories" are (almost by definition) fascinating. I wanted more though.

Lenz went through a terrible experience for years. At the beginning, the Bible group Lenz found in LA was the only place she felt she could belong. She wanted to give back of herself (and of her wallet) when she could. But the strings being pulled were dark and finally she felt them without knowing how to get out. Pressured into a relationship and marriage, manipulated in many ways.... sad but none of it felt so unique that it was a story that needed to be told. Perhaps that's my jaded standpoint from seeing advertisements of way too many true crime and "my life in a cult" shows. While none of Lenz's book felt overly-sensationalized, it also didn't grab my attention and make me want to stay up all night reading.

Fans of One Tree Hill may enjoy knowing more about the happenings on the other side of the screen where Lenz is concerned, but this doesn't seem to have much broader appeal I do hope that her growth as she's finally taken the reins herself will lead her to a much happier future.

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz deconstructs the strategic manipulation, grooming practices, and events that lead to her being indoctrinated by a cult. What started out as an innocent in-home Bible study, was meticulously and methodically overtaken by a man masquerading as a an ordained pastor and certified therapist. Seeking to remain in good standing with “The Family”, Lenz adhered to the advice of her “wise council” and began isolating from friends and family, surrendering her autonomy, and relinquishing her finances. That is until, she became emboldened to peel back the curtain and see the group for what it truly was, a cult.

If you were a teen in the early aughts, you more than likely were familiar with the WB show, One Tree Hill. Bethany Joy Lenz captured audiences hearts week after week as the resident good girl, Haley James Scott. After seeing her on our screens for nearly a decade it is difficult to differentiate her tv persona from her real life. Thus, it was shocking to learn the moral compass of the show was in a cult the entire time!

I applaud Lenz for bravely baring her soul in this tell-all memoir. Comprised of never before heard stories, she displays immense vulnerability when discussing every facets of her life. This is an inspiring story that challenges readers to understand their belief system and warns against the dangers of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster, and Bethany Joy Lenz for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

*After discovering that Lenz narrated the audiobook, I immediately downloaded it on Audible. I highly recommend listening to Lenz as she relays her story in her own words.

**While I received a complimentary electronic version of this book, I enjoyed it so much I bought a physical copy to keep for my collection.

***I hope the story doesn’t end here. I would love for Lenz to write another book picking up where this one left off.

I picked up this book only for the title. I had no idea who the author was. I have never seen One Tree Hill. I’m sure, now, that I’ve seen shows with the author but I wouldn’t know her if I ran into her.

So this book took me by surprise. I know how easy it is to fall victim to church mentality. All religions are a cult. Hearing all the dreams she gave up or lost because of her ‘family’ and all the money that was stolen from her. I just can’t fathom having to endure that.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an advanced copy.

I was not able to read and review this book before its publishing date. However, now that I have I gave it 3 stars.

this book wasn’t for me but i’m sure other readers will love it and it will find the right audience; it just wasn’t me

Poor Joy! I can’t imagine starting off at a home Bible school and then it’s switching to be taken over by the strange not even charismatic leader. She was right that they wanted them to stay apart because they had nothing in common and they wanted to keep taking her money it’s awful. She had to give up Broadway. It’s frustrating how they couldn’t be prosecuted for all the money they stole from her. The book was a quick read, but I felt like we learned a lot about what happened why she thinks it happened and what steps she took to get out.

Lenz has managed to craft an authentic and thoughtful memoir about her time in a cult and her way out of it. Sharply written and deeply confessional, she details her struggles with her self-image and faith even while navigating the pressures of Hollywood, a crumbling marriage, and an increasingly controlling church community. Probably best suited for established fans of Lenz or those who have a voracious appetite for books about cults, this is a slow-paced, reflective look into the life of one actor. Some readers might struggle with the amount of religious content, but it all feels relevant to what Lenz believes and has endured.

I’ve always loved One Tree Hill, and Bethany Joy Lenz’s character was my favorite. So, I was shocked to learn she was in a cult during that time. Reading about it was both heartbreaking and frustrating. I kept having to remind myself that when all someone wants is to belong, they’ll go to great lengths to make it happen, even to the detriment of themselves. Dinner for Vampires felt a little surface-level, but I respect that maybe she didn't want to dive too deep into her emotions. She is better than I am, though. I would have burned them to the ground.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was such a One Tree Hill girl, so I knew I had to read this book. Add in the cult aspect, and I couldn't wait to dive in. I did the Audible version because I love her voice so much. I have so much more respect for her now that I know everything she went through. Highly recommend

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for honest feedback and a review. Full review to come, but I found myself very engrossed in this story - especially as a fan of One Tree Hill. Truly a story of stardom and survival.

I am obviously a huge One Tree Hill fan, but to hear what she was going through in her personal life wild filming was wild! She overcame so much and I loved listening to some parts as well since she read it.

I never really watched One Tree Hill on a regular basis. I may have been too busy with kids at the time, but it was on my radar. When I saw this book, the first thing that grabbed me was the title, Dinner for Vampires. The second thing that grabbed me was that author and actor Bethany Joy Lenz was in a cult. Both those elements drew me to her story of getting involved in and extracting herself out of a cult. As she mentions in the book, it wasn't some large sexual cult like NXIVIM or anything run by a figure like Charles Manson, but it was more sinister in a way due to its small size and the way it developed from a harmless bible study. You're along for the ride.

I don't know what it is, but I've always been fascinated by cults. I feel like it could be so easy to become part of one. The elements for Joy, as the author likes to be called, came together slowly and innocently. Her parents were young, moved around a lot, and, sometimes, seemed more interested in their lives than Joy's. Once Joy became an adult, she was on her own. In New York, she had friends and a good job on Guiding Light, but she wanted more so she went to Los Angeles. There, she was alone, away from her acting associates, and in the hard, cold industry, which eats many meeker people alive. She was also a devout Christian, so she wanted to find like-minded individuals who would share in her faith. So, she joins a bible study.

Throughout the book, you will be charmed by Joy who narrates the story in a friendly, non-judgmental way. She's funny at times, and insightful and thoughtful in others. You just want to be her friend and help her feel less alone. I was impressed by her writing, which I hope she continues. But the cult, which originally was an innocent bible study, becomes her family when Joy is at her loneliest and drags her down in a gradual way that she didn't see coming. She lost so much with her involvement although she gains her daughter Rosie whom she treasures.

I loved hearing about her relationships with her friends, family, and One Tree Hill cast members. Her involvement in this group interferes with her ability to truly connect with the cast specifically, a group that could have been just as supportive as the cult but in a healthy way. Paul Johansson becomes a confidante and close friend, and she fondly remembers palling around with Hilarie Burton who was fond of antique-hunting like Joy. But, again, the cult and her subsequent marriage to one of the cult members infiltrates everything she does. It's so frustrating to see how she could be enjoying her time as a young actress on a successful teen drama, the fruits of her hard work since she actually was a teenager when she began her career, and the potential to pursue even more challenging and rewarding roles.

The only issues I had with the book was that the end and her departure from the cult felt a little rushed. I felt there could have been more to that. Obviously, it was difficult and fraught with anger from her former "family" members, but it ended a little too quickly. Also, I would love to know what her life is like now, how she's handling the challenges to her Christian faith, and her dealings with the family, since her daughter is connected to key members of the cult.

Even if you didn't watch One Tree Hill, this is a cautionary tale for anyone who feels lonely and may be searching for something more. The book is a good read and tells a satisfying story for the most part. While the cult isn't as crazy or detrimental as some, it still damaged many aspects of her life, including her own faith. I'm glad to hear that she was able to get out of it fairly unscathed.

This is a great title for any One Tree Hill lovers and even just for cult haters who are trying to understand how power is transferred.

It’s been so long since I’ve read a memoir! I’m so glad I read this one, because it was so good! I am a huge One Tree Hill fan and am currently doing a rewatch! Haley is one of my favorite characters, so learning more about Bethany Joy Lenz was very interesting, especially considering she was in a cult. It wasn’t one of the big ones, just a small one out in Idaho, but her experience and abuse were just as significant. It was heartbreaking to see how closed off from the real world she became, even as she was on a major television show, because of the ways her oppressors systematically took her individuality from her. On its surface, the cult she was a part looked like a Christian denomination, and as a Christian that regularly attends church, I could honestly see how it was something a young, impressionable person seeking love, acceptance, and validation could just slip into. It made me mad on her behalf that her trust was taken advantage of and she was made to believe things about God that are not in the Bible. (Honestly, I feel like we see a lot of that, even outside of cults these days.) I’m glad she was able to get out and that she was able to parse out the lies she was told and come away still having faith in God. It was very inspiring to read the last parts of her story! This would be a great memoir for you to read if you’re interested in poo culture, cult culture, or celebrities! I don’t give ratings to memoirs but I enjoyed this one very much!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of Dinner for Vampires in exchange for an honest review.

Bethany Joy Lenz’s writing style is undeniably strong and technically proficient, well paced for the most part, and engaging in tone. She has a natural voice that draws you in, and the book is at its best when she’s in storytelling mode. The narrative was generally interesting, though I found that it lagged in places and could have benefited from tighter editing.

As a OTH fan, I was looking forward to hearing more about her time on the show, both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, those insights felt sparse and somewhat surface level. I would have loved a deeper dive into that part of her life and how her career and cult involvement overlapped, especially since the show was such a significant cultural moment.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the book was how the cult experience was addressed. While it was clearly traumatic and manipulative, the account often felt like it skimmed the surface. Rather than exploring the psychological impact or the thought process that led her into, and eventually out of the cult, the book often resorted to vague statements without much elaboration. It left me craving a more introspective take.

Equally perplexing was the way Lenz continued to defend the religion that had been weaponized against her. Toward the end of the book, there was a sense of religious apologism that felt at odds with the harm she had clearly endured. This created a jarring dissonance and left a bit of a sour taste, especially when it seemed like she hadn’t fully reckoned with how deeply she was preyed upon.

The ending, unfortunately, lacked emotional payoff. There didn’t seem to be a strong moment of agency or resolution—more like the cult dissolved around her than her taking any real steps to leave it. I felt like there’s a more powerful memoir waiting to be written once she’s further removed from the experience and able to reflect with greater distance and clarity.

That said, Lenz deserves credit for her vulnerability and courage in telling this story at all.

"Dinner for Vampires" is an excellent memoir from Bethany Joy Lenz, best known for her role as Haley on "One Tree Hill." The book follows her early life so the reader understands why she was a target for the titular "vampires" of the cult. Her talent and potential appealed to the cult, and they also delighted in cutting her down so that she would stay under their thumbs. One critique I have is that it felt like the book ended a bit too suddenly - I wanted to hear more about the aftermath.

If you're a fan of the show "One Tree Hill," you will likely love this book. But it's so much more than a typical celebrity memoir. It's a true cautionary tale. I also liked that Bethany addressed the fact that people often say things like "I would never be so stupid/naive/trusting to end up in something like that." But she shows how narcissistic abuse is so insidious and often disguised as extreme concern and love, especially under the guise of spiritual guidance.

4.5 stars.

This was such an eye-opening memoir, and Bethany Joy Lenz was so brave to share her story. It makes me think back to the two times I have watched One Tree Hill, and I would have never know her life was in such turmoil. Listening to the audio was a good experience, as she read her own story. We even got a few parts that some of her One Tree Hill cast members were able to speak as well. Beliefs, especially religious, are so subjective. I enjoyed be taken along on her growth journey.

I’ve been watching OTH for the first time ever and when I saw this memoir I knew I had to read it. I love memoirs and cults (not in a weird way, just learning about them), and this book did not disappoint. Joy was so vulnerable in telling her story, and I’m glad to see that she left the cult. I also really liked the explanation of the title of the book, I literally went “Ohhhh, yes! Makes total sense!” Perfect name for the book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.