Ivy Wescott is a former actress who was known for the teen drama "Hello, Juliet" that she did when she was 22. Now ten years later she has been hired for a sequel to the popular show but when she shows up for filming she finds one of her co-stars dead. This behind the scenes of Hollywood thriller was interesting and twisty and we learn about Ivy's story and her fears that someone is out to harm her and her fellow "Hello, Juliet" cast. Ivy tried out for the show having not much experience and was very surprised to have been given the lead over the popular and pretty Lauren Malloy who everyone thought was a guarantee for the role. Ivy is also surprised to find that Lauren is down to earth and becomes Ivy's best friend, and Ivy also becomes close with her male costars Jesse and Caleb. In the present, it appears someone doesn't want the new show to start and Ivy and her manager mother have to hide out while Ivy tries to find out who wants to harm the former cast mates. Ivy has been hiding out and working as a grocery store bagger after the fallout from a tragedy that happened during the first season of her show and now that she is back in the spotlight she feels the same sense of fear and shame as the public calls her "poison Ivy" and blames her for everything that went wrong with the cast of the show. The show's producer Mack and his wife Rachel are also involved as they tried to protect the cast as well as produce a popular teen drama.

The author does a good job with the dual timelines and the use of social media, gossip sites and transcripts for gossip TV shows adds in to the behind the scenes drama. At times Ivy seems to be very young especially the way she is so attached to her mother. There are lots of complications between the four actors of the show including romances, possible stalking and drug use. I didn't guess the main twist but it did tie everything together in a logical way. Good for fans of Hollywood drama, teen shows and complicated relationships. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for review.

I flew through this one but unfortunately, not for the right reasons. This just didn’t work for me. I found the story dull, the characters unlikeable & lacking depth & the plot was too predictable. I’m genuinely disappointed because I’ve really enjoyed this author’s other books but it seems like a lot of other readers loved it, so maybe this one just wasn’t for me.

Ivy was once star of a big CW-like teen drama, but after one major incident she lost her job, her boyfriend, her best friend and her career imploded. Sick of living paycheck to paycheck, she signs on for a reunion special purely for the money. But when she finds her costar dead, she starts to fear there is something more sinister around the reunion.

Likes: The twist surprised me! I liked the pacing for the most part.

Dislikes: Some parts of the story felt too slow or too YA. Ivy was also kind of infuriating when trying to get to the bottom of things.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a few books by this author and don’t regret a single one! She creates such vivid characters and stories that stick with you long after you’ve finished the book! I loved how this book was set in my home state and was able to really spotlight a lot of the chaos and issues that come with being an actor in Hollywood. I would definitely recommend this book if you like psychological thrillers, mysteries, and deception!

This novel gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at the drama that is part of being a part of the Hollywood scene. The dual timeline made this book extra interesting and captivated me with the back story along with the current events. The action was fast-paced and getting to know the characters was like reading a gossip magazine with lots of dirt being dished out little by little. I wasn’t sure whether the narrators were reliable or not since they were actors and could have been playing a role and presenting themselves in the best life possible. I liked getting to know the characters but my favorite part was cheering for everything to come out well for Ivy since she had a bad reputation from starring in a show previously. Ivy just wants to help out the living circumstances for her and her mom, so her choices are colored by necessity and maybe a little desire for fame. This is a great, entertaining read!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

What a compelling read! This thrilling book was utterly impossible to put down and as the conclusion reached a crescendo.
Such a well paced and suspenseful book! The twists were believable and not predictable.
It had excellent writing and a fascinating plot.
Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey is a book which kept me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end.

This was my first book by Samantha M. Bailey, but I've been wanting to read this author for a long time now! HELLO, JULIET came onto my radar due to the stunning cover and incredible synopsis!

I love books set in the Hollywood/acting world. HELLO, JULIET opens with a bang--I was immediately intrigued. I'm sad to say that from that point on I gradually started losing interest :( I really tried to push through with this, but I just didn't have the interest in picking it back up. I ended up DNF'ing at 35%, but I hope to go back and revisit it!

My new favorite from Samantha M. Bailey - what a ride! This Hollywood-set thriller is twisty, dramatic, and totally bingeable. I highly recommend going in blind for the full effect. Trust me, the surprises hit harder that way.

The story follows Ivy, a once-forgotten actress who shot to fame on the cult hit Hello, Juliet. Now, years later, she’s back for a reunion - but the past isn’t done with her yet. Told in dual timelines (past and present), this fast-paced thriller blends glitzy showbiz with a chilling murder mystery, peeling back the dark side of fame.

I loved the mixed media format - press clippings, social posts, and tabloid headlines added such a fun, modern flair. It’s full of secrets, betrayal, and soap-opera-worthy drama, but grounded with strong characters and emotional stakes. The ending? Totally blindsided me in the best way.

If you’re into behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories with a sinister twist, this one is a must-read.

🌟 4.5-Star ARC Review: Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey 🌟

'Hello, Juliet' is a deliciously twisty tale of fame, betrayal, and murder that completely swept me away. Ivy Westcott once had it all—starring in the hit teen show 'Hello, Juliet'—until a scandal shattered her career and earned her the cruel nickname #PoisonIvy. A decade later, she's broke, broken, and desperate when a secret reunion episode brings the cast (and their secrets) back together. But when a former castmate turns up dead, Ivy is forced to confront the betrayals of her past—and unearth the chilling truth before it’s too late.

This was my first book by Samantha M. Bailey, and it absolutely won’t be my last. Her writing is compelling and clever, especially the way she uses a dual timeline—‘Then’ during the original filming of the show and ‘Now’ after Lauren’s death—alongside gossip blogs, social media posts, and online articles. It perfectly captured the toxicity of Hollywood fame and added a brilliant layer of unreliability and doubt to every character.

The setup was so original—'Hello, Juliet' felt like 'Riverdale' meets '90210', and I was hooked from page one. I did suspect the killer around the halfway mark, but I never guessed their motive. The red herrings were so believable, I second- and third-guessed myself the whole time. I genuinely couldn't put it down and ended up racing through the book in one sitting (yes, I stayed up until 3:30am... no regrets).

The emotional core of the book really stood out for me. Caleb was the absolute sweetest—loyal, kind, and heartbreakingly devoted to Ivy, even when she didn’t return his feelings. Their dynamic added unexpected emotional depth and made the story feel grounded amid the glitz and scandal. The entire cast was flawed, messy, and authentic, and I found myself deeply invested in their tangled relationships.

What makes this story shine is Bailey’s skill in breadcrumbing clues—small, seemingly throwaway details that come together in such a satisfying way. The final reveal made me rethink everything I’d read up to that point. It’s smart, surprising, and so well-executed.

Why not a full 5 stars? A few storylines felt unresolved or inconsistent, and I struggled to see growth in Ivy between the past and present timelines—she felt emotionally stuck, even as the stakes rose. I also felt the tone leaned more toward YA than adult thriller, which may surprise some readers expecting something grittier.

Still, 'Hello, Juliet' is a must-read for fans of Hollywood thrillers, dark secrets, and addictive drama. It’s glitzy, sinister, and impossible to look away from.

✨ Why you’ll love it:

♥︎Glamorous yet toxic Hollywood setting
♥︎ Addictive dual timeline and social media commentary
♥︎ Gripping twists, betrayal, and unexpected emotional depth
♥︎ Murder mystery meets teen drama with edge
♥︎ Characters who feel real, messy, and unforgettable

Thank you to Samantha M. Bailey, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey! Bailey is one of my auto-buy authors, so I was thrilled to see her coming out with a new thriller (and hello, look at that cover)! This one did NOT disappoint and is a 2025 favorite so far. Dark is an understatement,

A TV reunion intended to bring old costars - friends and lovers - back together, ends up bringing a whole lot more than that (scandal and murder included). The MC, Ivy, left LA suddenly when her acting career imploded while playing Juliet on her first major tv series. Now the entire world knows her as “Poison Ivy” and she’s working odd jobs to get by. So, when a decade later she finds herself on a celebrity expose and a top-secret reunion episode is brought her way (with $$$), she jumps on the opportunity.

Ivy’s ready for a comeback. That is, until she finds her costar dead. I loved this book! Several unexpected twists - And I love when the author ties back seemingly small details together at the end to wrap the book up in a perfect bow. Chef’s kiss, Bailey!

Samantha Bailey always delivers with the suspense, and Hello, Juliet is just the latest in her lineup of twisty, entertaining thrill rides. I enjoyed the Hollywood setting, and, even when I thought I knew where Samantha Bailey was taking the plot, she would throw a curveball, and I was once again frantically swiping pages to figure out what was going to happen next. This is a perfect spring break/summer read, and I'm hoping to see it in beach bags everywhere this summer.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I didn’t find myself interested in the flashback chapters at all, and I found the writing very clunky.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer | Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Samantha M. Bailey. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Ivy Westcott had her 15 minutes of fame as a casemate of the popular TV show, Hello, Juliet. But that bubble popped quickly after a viral video caused her career to implode; only to have a documentary a decade later cement her fall. But she's hopeful that a top-secret reunion episode can reunite her with her friends and give her and her mom financial security. But the show has been haunted by secrets from the beginning.

This is a very binge-worthy book - I just wanted to sit and read until that explosive end that I sure didn't see coming. Told in Ive's voice in dual timelines, we characters you just can't quite trust, yet each felt real and fleshed out. You could feel Ivy's angst about just not fitting in or being good enough, but desperate to make it in Hollywood. Bailey uses mixed media to show us just how quickly social media is ready to exploit all our flaws. It's suspenseful and twisty. Go into this one as blind as possible and enjoy the ride - it's a good one!

This was a fantastic Hollywood set mystery, with dramatic reveals and twists worthy of the screen. It starts off strong, and keeps the story moving with flashbacks to the relationships and complications between the young cast members of a teen drama a decade or so earlier. Did not see the ending coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.

This is just what I want a thriller to be - twisty, fun, and captivating. I liked the tie in to Ivy's former life and all of the secrets included. Easy to read, hard to put down.

I’ve read a few books about TV shows and this was my favorite. The way the vital info trickled in and kept me guessing made me want to not stop reading. Cliffhangers at the end of chapters when the book bounced back and forth from the present to the past kept me on my toes.

There are complex relationships and hidden secrets. I found Ivy relatable and resilient as she works to make a comeback.

I’ve read a few books by the author now and I’ve liked them all. This really kept me guessing and not wanting to put it down.

Kira Fixx was a great choice as narrator. She took the story and perfectly delivered the narration. She was part of the reason I finished this in a day.

This is a great choice for summer reading and a great choice for a buddy read. All that discussing of suspects and guessing the conclusion would heighten the experience.

Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey is a twisty thriller that shines a light on the dark side of fame and what some people will do to make it big!

Ten years ago Ivy Westcott was the lead in a popular TV show called Hello, Juliet. With her co-stars Lauren, Caleb, and Jesse, Ivy works hard to be recognized for her talent. But when a very public fallout happens, Ivy is labeled as #Poison Ivy from several internet tabloids and social media. Now out of the spotlight and living with her mom who is her manager, Ivy is struggling to get by. When she answers an email from the assistant of the director of Hello, Juliet, Ivy is shocked to learn of an upcoming reunion. Needing the cash that goes along with the reunion Ivy agrees. But when she gets to the studio and finds the body of one of her co-stars, Ivy finds herself in the middle of a homicide investigation. As Ivy tries to figure out what really happened, old co-star and ex-boyfriend Jesse reenters Ivy's life. As the tension increases and more secrets from the past come out, can Ivy find out what's really going on and who she can trust?

Whoa! I absolutely devoured this book!! At the beginning I was a little leery because it seemed like it was geared toward a more young adult audience, but the twists that were thrown in there had me fully invested. Ivy as a main character is real and relatable and I liked to see her somewhat grow up through the book. The story switches from the past when they were all on the show and the present 10 years later. Bailey's writing pulled me in and did not let go!! There are some heavy themes that are discussed including suicide, drug overdose, violence, and trolling online so just be aware. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha M. Bailey, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC! Publication date is April 29th 2025.

I normally really enjoy this author's books, but this one was a miss for me. It was a slow burn for almost the entire book, and none of the characters were especially likeable. I did think including the social media posts provided a nice touch and added a bit of credibility to the story, and the twist at the end did help to redeem the book in my opinion. Thanks to the twiist, I feel that this is a solid 3 out of 5.

This book was so much more than I expected. I was hooked right from the beginning. I enjoyed Ivy so much. The plotting is fast paced. The hits keep coming. I never saw the ending coming. I definitely will read this author again.

Thank you NetGalley! This is my second novel by this author. I was intrigued by the premise of Hello, Juliet. I loved the back and forth between the past and present, as well as the mixed media. It really helped set the story, especially one set in Hollywood