This book does a wonderful job of capturing Lenz's time in a cult and escaping her situation. It is a must-read for fans of OTH.

Wow this was such an amazing memoir, I am going to be thinking about this one for a while. The story stayed engaging throughout the whole book and delved a fair bit into the many ways anyone could find themselves in a similar cult scenario. I loved every minute of this!

This book was well written and I am glad I read it. I was a fan of One Tree Hill and reading this book brought to light so much that I had no idea about. I felt Bethany's story in my soul and I am grateful that she chose to share her story in this memoir.

I forgot to give feedback for this one, but I bought a finished copy, and I can't wait to read it when my TBR gets less unwieldy!

This book was really compelling to me. I was not a fan of One Tree Hill and am not sure I've seen the author in any show as I'm not a tv watcher but I was intrigued by the premise of the book.

This book delves into the complexities of faith, the dangers of cult indoctrination, and the enduring power of human connection. Lenz's candid storytelling sheds light on a dark side of religious extremism and the importance of questioning authority.

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz was informative insightful interesting funny and I love to see this side of this actress that I've grown to love over the years this is a great option for fans of hers and fans of One Tree Hill thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book early.

As a huge One Tree Hill fan and someone with a strong interest in books about cults, Bethany Joy Lenz's Dinner for Vampires is a wild, sometimes infuriating read. Joy’s account exposes how she was manipulated, groomed, and recruited rather than raised within a cult, adding a unique layer to the narrative. Joy’s story is distinctive and haunting in its portrayal of how adults, too, can be drawn into these dangerous dynamics. I highly recommend this book!

This book is a much-needed slap in the face, in the best way. I grew up on One Tree Hill, and therefore have followed Bethany Joy's acting and music career for almost two decades as she's transitioned into projects like Hallmark, which I also tend to watch religiously. I have always found her to be charming, talented, down-to-earth, and independent. Which is why I found it so shocking to hear she was part of a cult, and for so long! I couldn't wait to devour this book.

I am only about 50% through this book because I have to keep leaving it for awhile and come back after I've had some time to process. (And will come back and edit/complete my review when I've finished it). It's easy to get through, pacing is good, and Joy's writing voice is witty and enjoyable. The only reason I have to keep pausing is because I find it so triggering. Growing up with a lot of friends in nondenominational Christian churches, I recognize a lot of the phrasing, manipulation, and sanctimonious attitudes. It's also upsetting to know where the train is heading, but feel like a passenger who can't do anything but watch helplessly as it heads towards the cliff/climax. So far, a lot of my reading experience has been uncomfortable and upsetting because of the absurdity of these "church leaders" and their actual AUDACITY.

Although the majority of my time with this book has been anger-inducing, I would recommend to anyone who is interested in cult tactics or is deconstructing. Whether or not you have a personal stake in her story from being a fan, I would suggest this to a lot of my regulars at my library because it's interesting and eye-opening.

This was wild and I’m glad she got out with Rosie. You will see no victim blaming here, I felt so mad for her. Les and the big family were all pieces of work who knew how to say the right things and find the right people to take advantage of.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of One Tree Hill so I was very interested in reading Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir. I really enjoyed this memoir, but it was hard to read at times. The manipulation and things she went through are so sad, but she is so strong for coming out the other side and taking back control of her life. Although this book doesn’t talk a lot about One Tree Hill, I definitely think that fans of the show will enjoy it as well as people who have never seen One Tree Hill.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an early copy!

I started this on kindle but decided to switch to audio. I really enjoy when the author narrates a book and Joy did an incredible job! She is a great storyteller and incredible at showing & telling how she was struggling with her feelings while also doubting herself due to manipulation and emotional abuse.

Highly recommend this as audiobook. Joy narrates this wonderfully! She has different voices for the members in “the family”. I am a newer fan of OTH, started watching a few years ago. I enjoyed the inclusion of some of the actors and also sound bits of the actual actors. I am glad Joy was able to have relationships with the cast even if not fully open and understanding to her life while on the show.

I don’t listen to much true crime on cults so it was interesting to learn and hear about her personal experiences. She had doubts a few times and was finally able to leave for her daughter. I am glad she was able to reconnect with her “bio fam” after 10 years in a cult.

This took me a while to get into but once I switched to the audio, I was hooked. Highly recommend but this is NOT a tell all about OTH. Though this was happening while she was on the show.

As someone who grew up watching One Tree Hill, I was really interested to learn about Joy's experiences with the show woven in with the newly revealed fact that she was in a cult at the same time. In this book, she talks about her involvement with the cult and how it shaped so much of her life, and as a narrative it's well constructed (and excellently narrated). But the main focus is very much the cult while the OTH insights take a backseat, rather than being the focal point or an even balance between the two topics as the title would suggest.

As a fan of One Tree Hill and Bethany Joy Lenz as an actress, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when starting this book but was intrigued by her story. Throughout her time on the show, you never would have realized all of this was going on in her personal life.

This book dives deep into helping the reader understand how one can be coerced into joining a cult without even realizing it. The isolation, the destruction of one’s own self image and beliefs were all so real and heartfelt throughout. It took real courage to tell her story, and you can feel the compassion she has for her younger self.

It’s important to note for other fans of the show, she doesn’t delve into much of her experience on-set of the show. I wish there was more focus on this, but it didn’t completely deter from my enjoyment of this book. It’s an important story that definitely needed to be told, and I hope the author experienced some healing from telling it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a memoir that I knew nothing about the author before reading and that did not affect my understanding of the stories at all. I was immediately interested in the story of a young woman who got roped into a cult. The writing was really well done and was compelling right from the start.

Every time we hear stories about cults and the people who fall prey to them, we often wonder "how could they be so gullible?" Lenz does a great job of outlining how the cult manipulated her Christian beliefs and slowly twisted them to result in her brainwashing. It was clear to see how she began as someone who really wanted to do and be her best, in a Christian way, and this group of predators manipulated and took advantage of her right from the start.

What an incredible story.. I picked this up because One Tree Hill was one of my favorite shows in my early 20s, but I fully was not prepared for this. This memoir is not centered around Joys time on the show but more so what was going on behind the scenes in her life. The fact she had the courage to be able to write her story shows how much she has grown from a time where she felt so distanced from everyone in her life and God to now.
I also listened to her speak on the Call Her Daddy podcast and I agree, most people probably cant relate to being in a cult, but even while reading I felt like I could relate to different situations that she experienced.

It’s one of those things that you want to hold a grudge for the rest of your life and get mad every time you think about it, but it also shapes you into the person you become. We all have regrets, but it’s a choice to either let it consume you or use it to your own advantage.

Fascinating inside look at life in a cult and life on a cult tv show. I was never a big One Tree Hill fan but I’m still nostalgic for that era. Thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of One Tree Hill, I was shocked to learn that Joy experienced such terrifying emotional abuse while being a TV icon. I used to watch One Tree Hill in high school and wished I could be like them. I also grew up in the church, so I've seen how people can misuse the Bible out of context to control and scare others into a version of faith that isn’t true to its intentions. I appreciated Joy’s openness and the grace she allowed herself while going through such traumatic events, especially since not everyone can be as empathetic. I wish the very best for Joy and her child, and I hope to see her in more TV shows soon. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This book really show you how you never know what all is going on in a persons personal life. She is such a joy and her light just radiates.

I have been a fan of One Tree Hill for years, especially Bethany Joy Lenz. I watched everything she has ever been in and downloaded all her music. Maybe I was a little obsessed. So when I got the chance to read this book I was soooo excited.

This is a powerful book. The things that Joy had to deal with seems like another movie. I know most people say it could never happen to me, but...the way she describes how it happened and the things she was being told, I understand now. My heart goes out to her but at the same time I'm proud of her for having the strength to get out for her daughter. I would have never guessed watching her on TV that she was going thru so many emotional rollercoasters. That's what makes her an amazing actress. Get this book! You will not regret it!!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I am a huge OTH fan, and Hailey James has always been one of my favorite characters. When I found out Bethany Joy Lenz wrote a book about filming while she was in a cult, I needed to read it! Wow, it was so great! I appreciate how Bethany did not leave anything out and was honest and vulnerable throughout. I'm so proud of her for getting out safely. I highly recommend reading this memoir. Thank you, Bethany Joy Lenz!