I very much enjoyed this book by Joy Lenz. I've been a huge One Tree Hill fan for years, and it was so interesting to get this perspective from her. We never knew that she was going through this at the time One tree Hill was filmed...and I appreciate her openness and candidness about this difficult time in her life. It was a very quick read, I finished it in less than 3 days.

Bethany Joy serves up a wickedly fun and darkly romantic tale in Dinner for Vampires. With sharp wit, captivating characters, and a fresh twist on vampire lore, this book is a delectable treat for fans of paranormal romance. Prepare for a feast of suspense, humor, and sizzling chemistry!

Loved this raw and touching memoir! This was such a moving story and I applaud Bethany Joy Lenz for sharing it. It takes a lot of courage to do so and it showed in her words. Definitely recommend whether you’re a fan of one tree hill or not!

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz is a raw and powerful memoir that reveals unexpected and deeply personal sides of the actress, best known for her role as Haley on One Tree Hill. The book takes readers on a journey through Lenz’s struggles, notably her time in a cult, and explores themes of personal growth, self-discovery, and the harsh realities of Hollywood.

While fans of One Tree Hill will appreciate the insights into the show and Lenz's experiences with her on-screen relationships, the heart of the memoir lies in her candid account of living under the control of a cult-like religion. Her story is both heartbreaking and eye-opening, shedding light on the coercion, manipulation, and trauma she endured. The memoir doesn't shy away from the difficult moments, and her honest voice provides a poignant and empathetic narrative for anyone who has faced similar struggles.

While the first part of the book may feel slow to some, once Lenz delves into her OTH experiences and the profound realizations she had from the show, it becomes impossible to put down. The book offers not only a glimpse behind the scenes of a beloved TV show but also a profound reflection on relationships, family, and self-acceptance. It’s a must-read for those seeking a deeply emotional and empowering memoir.

4.5
As a big One Tree Hill fan, I was so excited when Bethany Joy Lenz announced her book! I’ve found cults fascinating for years so it was interesting reading about a small non-famous one. I’m not religious at all so I struggled a little bit at some parts. I was hoping for a little bit more detail about being on OTH, but I completely understand that it was a difficult time both for Lenz and it was a difficult set behind the scenes with the creator. It's fascinating to see these religious groups just slowly manipulate people without them realizing. Lenz’s resilience and determination to move forward and get herself out of that situation was inspiring. It's heartbreaking what the group did to her. I’m glad she was able to get her daughter and herself out of there. At the end I would have liked a little bit more information about where she is now and her current relationship with The Family and her ex-husband, but I understand that is sensitive information. This was a compelling and honest account that I highly recommend to anyone fascinated with cults.

What a way to start the year! I couldn’t stop listening. A big fan from OTH it was fascinating to see behind the curtain and hear about how Bethany fell prey to a manipulative religious cult. Who would have guessed. I highly recommend.

Where do I even begin to “review” someone’s life and experiences? That seems so cruel. So I will say this- I am deeply saddened by the experiences Lenz had to go through, and I love the compassion in which she wrote about them. As a Christian, I wish more Christian’s would read this to see what their actions can do when they are not following Jesus, but rather following religion. But I loved that Lenz was so gentle and yet graceful in her own standing up. I commend her greatly for making the choices she did to survive and to protect herself and her child. The is is a heavy read, but so so worth it.

This wasn't a happy read, but Bethany Joy Lenz did a really nice job of balancing the serious with the nostalgic. Her story is heartbreaking, but her resilience and determination to move forward was definitely worth the read.

This was TEDIOUS for me. Please know going in to this book that at least 75% of it describes her spiritual journey and her struggles with God. I guess I was hoping for it to be more entertaining like other memoirs I’ve read / listened to. There was very little in this about her life in Hollywood or on One Tree Hill.
It was exhausting to hear her describe situation after situation where it was so obvious those around her weren’t genuine. It would have been HELL to be her parents.
I’m glad she is out now, but would she be if others hadn’t acted first? Makes you wonder…

I became a fan of OTH after the series had completed, but I had NO idea about any of this until promo for this book started coming out!

It’s truly awful the amount of manipulation she went through with these people, but I am so glad Bethany Joy Lenz got herself and her daughter out of there when she did ❤️

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
As a one tree hill fan I was so excited to read this book. WOW this was so much more than what I expected. Bethany Joy Lenz is an incredibly strong woman who went through an insurmountable trial with grace and grit. This story was incredible and just so fascinating

I am fascinated by books written by people who have been in a cult. This is right up there with Educated and Unfollow for me. The fact that Joy Lenz kept such meticulous journals throughout the years made the dialogue and timeline authentic and while I hate that it took her so long and she had to suffer so much loss along the way, I am so glad that she was able to remove herself from that situation and realize that the the people who truly loved her - her family and her cast mates - always had her best interests at heart. I would have just liked a little bit more information about where she is now and her current relationship with The Family and her ex-husband, but overall, this was a compelling and honest account that I highly recommend.

I absolutely adore Bethany Joy Lenz. She was always my favorite on One Tree Hill and to now know what she was going through while being on one of the most iconic shows just makes me respect her even more than I already did.

Not usually a memoir lover- but this one is excellent. Love the honesty from Joy. Very compelling story that makes you better understand the power of abusive manipulation.

I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook (read by the author).

I was never a huuuuuuuge OTH fan (I had seen the entire show in high school, but it was something I definitely found exhausting to watch--I have always been more of a sitcom girly, though I give OTH props because I got through the entire show when I gave up on shows like Pretty Little Liars after two episodes), but I enjoyed it well enough and really have been finding these nostalgic memoirs interesting. I found this one to be...kind of preachy but also without resolution? Aka based on where the book ends, it seems like she wrote it more for money (which makes sense, since a cult drained her bank account). In general, I honestly thought this would be more...interesting? I enjoyed it well enough but it's not a must read from me.

I'm an avid One Tree Hill fan so was very excited to get the eARC of Dinner for Vampires. Though Bethany's past had been mentioned in passing, I didn't know what to expect from this reading experience.

This is a very vital memoir, much like I'm Glad My Mom Died. I think it will benefit many who feel lost and take on a "found family" that may not be ideal.

I did think the writing lacked at times but it was nonetheless an interesting reading experience.

This was so incredibly hard to read but it gave really good insight into Bethany’s life and the cult that was controlling her. It was really sad to read what she went through and a relief to know that she eventually was able to escape their control.

I have loved Bethany Joy Lenz since the early 2000s. Haley Scott was an amazing character who contained multitudes, and this memoir shined a light on the multitudes that Bethany has as well.

From Cult TV show, to Cult lifestyle (actually, it overlaps). I love Bethany's writing.

I do not typically read any non-fiction books because I get bored easily, and I couldn’t put this down. The author shares her life story in a beautiful way- it’s easy to see how she was manipulated and groomed into a cult, how she battled religious beliefs and every day life, and how painful it was to realize what was happening to her. The book ends as positively as it can with where the author and her family are now in real life. This memoir was beautifully written, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Wow! I was a fan of One Tree Hill in college so this was a fascinating read for me. Lenz weaves a very interesting and believable tale about her experience in the cult which makes it seem relatable and helps the reader understand how easy it would be to fall into. I had no idea any of this was a part of her life story.