I have been a fan of Bethany Joy Lenz since her days on Guiding Light and was happy to see her restarting in Hallmark movies (my holiday guilty pleasure). I had no idea that she had been in a cult. Lenz recounts how she slowly became part of this covenant family, believing the manipulations and lies as “God’s Plan”. It was the birth of her daughter that finally made her listen to her gut that something wasn’t right, her husband’s abuse, was not “God’s Plan”. Lenz hopes her story will help others who feel stupid for allowing themselves to get sucked in to a cult and to give readers insight to be able to empathize with those who have.

To begin, can I only give this memoir five stars? Only five?!

Let me tell you why this is a five star read for me and why it likely will be for you too, future reader!
Dinner For Vampires is set in three parts. Pre-fame and introduction to the cult, deeply rooted within the cult and One Tree Hill fame, and post OTH and separation (or escape if you will) from the cult.
Buckle up, folks. It’s going to be a wild ride.

I want to preface this with I have never seen a single episode of One Tree Hill and did not know who Bethany Joy was prior to this memoir being pressed to me.
After reading Dinner For Vampires, I feel deeply connected with Bethany Joy and her tumultuous 20s/30s. If someone who suffered so greatly can see the beauty of life on the other end, I have a deep respect for them.

If you are here for One Tree Hill, you will receive snippets of sweet anecdotes between Bethany Joy and her cast mates. Know that this is only a fraction of her story.

To read about what she endured had me naively thinking that “this stuff doesn’t really happen to people, right?!” Oh, but it does. It’s raw, deep, layered, and scathing.

Bethany Joy is more than an actress. She’s a voice for the voice-less, she’s a mother, she’s a fighter, she’s a survivor.

Now to conclude, if you need me I will be diving into every episode of One Tree Hill.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read and review Dinner For Vampires!

I didn't grow up watching a lot of TV so wasn't personally familiar with Bethany Joy Lenz, but certainly remember how popular One Tree Hill had been with many of my friends and classmates, so started reading "Dinner for Vampires" with some curiosity. In her memoir, Lenz covers her upbringing, to her entry into acting and eventual fame, and most importantly, the slow and methodological way she was pulled into a religious cult.

There's a lot of ground that gets covered in these pages, but Lenz shares the struggles of her difficult childhood, going through her parent's divorce at a young age to the separation from her mom as a young adult. It sets the groundwork to her eventual introduction to the "Big Family", which begins harmlessly enough as a bible study group and eventually morphs into something much bigger, eventually taking hold of many of Lenz's future decisions and actions, from where she lived, what jobs she took on, and eventually who she even married. Juxtaposed against these events is her career in media and television, and her eventual role as Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill - a character that went against much of her religious upbringing.

So much of this novel is eye-opening; as someone who grew up agnostic, my knowledge of religion and religious practices is quite limited, but seeing how Lenz was psychologically and emotionally manipulated and abused for so many years was infuriating. She reveals as well towards the end of the memoir the total financial impact this had on her as well, which was staggering. There are various details that are left out and names changed, as Lenz notes that there are still a number of legal proceedings underway. The writing was mostly well-paced, though I found some sections a little slower and potentially not necessary, and while the prose fairly simple, it doesn't detract from the overall story and Lenz's message.

Well worth a read when "Dinner for Vampires" is published in October 2024!

I love a cult story... so add a cult story with a bit of Hollywood, and make it a memoir? Yes, please. I never watched One Tree Hill, so I didn't know anything about Bethany Joy Lenz before picking up this book. Bethany has had a few other roles, but her fame comes from playing Haley, the prim adolescent in Tree Hill. Bethany's story is told well: from her childhood, to her beginnings with the cult, to her time within it, and her time escaping it and moving on, it is all well-written and pulled me in.

I have tremendous respect and admiration for Bethanys' ability to take a seemingly objective view of how she was influenced and controlled by her cult's leader, Les, despite the hugely harmful impact it had on her life. Bethany weaves personal experience in with what she's learned about mind control tactics, sharing the highs of feeling so loved and accepted, followed by the deep lows of shame and being othered. And of course, the pieces about acting in NYC, LA, and eventually Wilmington, NC are a delight to read.

Bethany Joy Lenz is a true life heroine and she was brave and bold to share her story with the world in this way. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a life! I wasn’t even a One Tree Hill fan back in the day (more of an O.C. Girl) but now I want to watch the series. It was interesting to learn about the slippery slope that Bethany Joy went down as she became part of a controlling group. I could see how the control started out so slowly, but then eventually snowballed and it was too late. A great and honest memoir

This book was so good that I finished it in 2 days during a move. I wasn’t even a huge fan of One Tree Hill, but I was curious to see how Bethany Joy ended up in a cult. It was such a dark and chilling read. It literally felt like I was reading a horror novel instead of a memoir. Her recruitment into the cult was so insidious. I felt my heart breaking for Joy as she detailed how they took advantage of her feelings of isolation in Hollywood and her childhood trauma. Her faith was used to isolate her from her family, friends, and costars. Joy details how she even turned down a child hood dream role after being manipulated by the cult leader. It’s a thrilling, and fantastic read that garners empathy for cult victims.

Thank you for the e-arc of this book! As. OTH and Haley fan - I have always been so interested in her story and why she never blew up more after OTH. Reading this biography I was really able to feel the emotions and turbulence that "Joy" felt during her ten years in the cult. She did a great job of making you understand how the manipulation could be taken as people just "looking out for you." I am sad that Joy missed many work opportunities due to this "family," but I think OTH saved her life. I believe this because being on the show kept her physically away from the "family" as much as possible, whereas other members like Emily or Jasmine lived in Idaho and were stuck in their everyday lives. I think having the physical distance from the cult gave her a chance to see things for how they indeed were and get herself out. I am happy for her and her daughter and hope they are thriving!

To begin this interview, I want to say -- I have never watched an episode of One Tree Hill. I had no knowledge about Bethany going into this book and had no trouble following her life.

I truly enjoy reading books about people in cults, but as Bethany said -- what we often see as a cult is something like the Manson Family. However, a lot of cults are like what Bethany dealt with-- and so much of her discussions in this book sounded frighteningly familiar to speech I've heard churches near me say.

If you're interested in memoirs, I highly recommend this book! It will be published in October of 2024, so do not miss it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy!

read if you like:
📺 one tree hill
📙 memoirs
😱 cults

summary:
I have to admit — I’m a diehard One Tree Hill fan. Watched it in college, rewatched it a dozen times since then….not sorry at all. So naturally when I had the opportunity to read Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir, I jumped on it, and I’m so glad I did.

Her memoir delves into her formative years, but primarily focuses on her adult life, particularly her career in acting and performing. Interwoven throughout is her spiritual background, which ultimately led her to seek a Bible study upon arriving in Los Angeles and subsequently meeting the Van Hewitts. Joy skillfully develops the characters who significantly impacted her life, including Abe, Camille, Ed, Pam, and others. Despite the challenges she faced with them, culminating in their theft of over a million dollars, she remains objective in her portrayal, allowing readers to accompany her on her journey of self-discovery and understanding. Her story is heartbreaking but equally relatable, as she struggles to find a sense of family in a world of chaos.

For those One Tree Hill fans, her book also talks about her time balancing her role on a hit tv show with her obligations to the Family back in Idaho. Their subtle preying upon her vulnerabilities and insecurities is both terrifying and real, and her writing puts you in her shoes to understand how challenging this time was for her. As a fan of the show, it’s equally as tough to read about how the Family impacted her relationships with her costars and crew, and even the role she played on the show. It’s actually impressive she was as successful as she was, given everything going on behind the scenes.

Joy’s book is an honest and brutal tale of cult culture and the strategies they take to groom and recruit their members. I highly recommend reading this when it comes out on October 22.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.

Whoa - this was frank, dark, and compelling. The author shares her story of being on the cusp of professional success and fame all while forming a close bond with a group of strangers before realizing they are a cult. Her reflections and retrospection throughout add dimension and make this a compelling read.

The writing is clear and draws you in, and the way Joy recounts her experience makes it easy to empathize with her and also to imagine how easy it can be for people with malintent to take advantage of someone vulnerable.

Thank you very much to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Dinner for Vampires is a well-written, evocative memoir. Bethany Joy Lenz spares no detail as she bravely recounts her past and reflects on her experience in a religious cult. 

As a One Tree Hill fan, I've been looking forward to reading Bethany Joy Lenz's autobiography. It did not disappoint. Lenz's story stands out from other celebrity memoirs. She writes openly about her heartbreaking experience in a religious cult.

Lenz referred to the diaries she kept to portray her experience as accurately as she remembers. Her story is a slow, horrifying tale of manipulation. People desire connection and belonging, which is part of the human experience. Lenz's desire for family and her ambitious career made her a target. Her seamless integration into the cult was explained well. 

The group Lenz found manipulated her desire for family to achieve their own ends. Lenz unflinchingly details the cult's systematic isolation and control over her personal and professional life. Lenz relives her dark experiences with honesty. She talks about how the cult siphoned her One Tree Hill earnings and forced her to endure emotionally abusive meetings, among other things. 

Lenz explains that she changed some characters' details to protect their identities. I was curious to learn more about her husband (Quiet Boy) in the memoir. Lenz's husband was in a band in real life, although the memoir didn't mention this musical connection.   

While Lenz's time on One Tree Hill is mentioned in passing, she does not dive into too many details into her time on the show. She brings up the show only in the context of her experience in the cult. She also talks about how her frame of mind at the time made it difficult to build connections with her co-stars.

While Lenz is brutally honest about her experiences, she writes with wit and hope. The subject matter can be quite heavy at times, but Lenz's overall tone and message are uplifting. She's found peace in sharing her story so she can connect with others. Lenz's story spreads awareness about these groups, so people can help loved ones who may be targeted.  

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for an advance copy of this book! I didn’t know anything about Lenz’s personal life and only knew of her big role on One Tree Hill. This was wild to read about and I flew through this book in about a day. Would recommend to others for reading!

I love One Tree Hill and listen to Joy's podcast so I was excited to read this book. I thought it was awesome!

It definitely paints the picture of how a smart, successful person can get caught up in cults. I love when she said that if you aren't allowed to question what someone tells you, they don't have your best interests in mind. Always true. But especially good lesson for those who believe everything they are told by any source: a person, a religion, the media, a government. If you can't ask questions and disagree, there is a cult-like mindset at play. I am so glad that she got out of this awful situation and made the decision to move on with her life with her daughter.

Thank you #Netgalley for this advanced copy!

WOW! wow! wow! I remember hearing years ago about the possibility of Bethany being in a "cult" but never really looked into or learned more. This memoir is well written documenting her life, beginning with her childhood, parents divorce and her passion for being an actor. This took her to multiple cities were she found work and small friend groups, but was eager to find a group that had similar beliefs with her which ultimately led her to a small home in Los Angeles. This home was full of young like minded people and she felt that she had finally met her people. But when additional people make their way into the small group, they eventually take it over, praying on the young. Getting them to trust, ignore their "bio-family" become part of "the family" or inner circle. The last part was really hard to read about how they took advantage of her financially, affecting her career choices, life decisions and so much more. I am so happy that she has come of out this but still has so much healing to do.

I like celebrity memoirs, and even though I didn't watch One Tree Hill or remember Bethany Joy Lenz's character, I devoured this book (pardon the pun). It reads like a horror story that just keeps getting worse. When reading some of the revelations, I gasped out loud. I rooted for Joy throughout her journey, and loved how she credits her own parents' love and her love for her daughter as a means to get out. I recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed "I'm Glad My Mom Died", or anyone who is interested in cults and religious fervor. This was very well-written, with a lot of heart.

As a self-proclaimed One Tree Hill junkie back in high school and a person fascinated by cults, this book was written for me! I loved the little touches of OTH throughout the book but appreciated that the main focus was on the cult that heavily ran her life during that time. You can absolutely tell that Joy is an artist with how wonderfully written the book is. It held my attention and left me researching more about her life and the cult outside of what she wrote (I only wish there was more!). I think anyone intrigued by cults will like this book, but it’s my fellow One Tree Hill fans that are going to LOVE it! 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this memoir.

I’ve been a fan of OTH for about a year now, and knew I had to read this book when it came out. Not everyone can share their traumatic experiences let alone so eloquently. I felt like she didn’t hold back from the nitty gritty of everything she felt and experienced. Like I said, I was a fan on OTH but now I’m a fan of Bethany Joy Lenz.

So, full disclosure, I’ve never watched One Tree Hill and didn’t know who Bethany Joy Lenz was. But cults intrigue me so I had to read this book. Joy tells an insane, compelling, and heartbreaking story about how truly anyone can be pulled into a cult or cult like dynamic.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

First off - I was a HUGE One Tree Hill Fan. Haley was my favorite character. I’ve been a fan of Bethany Joy Lenz since she was on Guiding Light and I’m still a fan now of all her Hallmark Movies.

I admittedly did not know she was in a cult during her stint on OTH. I really enjoyed this book - she was raw and honest, but also managed to add in some humor. I cannot believe what she went through and I was so happy she was able to find her way out.

I wish her continued success.

Absolutely wonderful biography. I am a huge fan of Bethany, especially her work in one tree hill. I had NO CLUE she was in a cult until her mention if it in the drama queen podcast. I am so so glad she wrote about her experience and shared her story, while also sharing others stories as well. This brings so much light to a very scary, but real thing that could happen to anyone. My heart breaks for what she endured but I am so glad she is out now, with her daughter and safe.

Very well written, very raw, very emotional. A must read for anyone, but especially if you are a fan of her. You will see her in a whole different light.