4.5 stars

Everyone at The Pulse loves Samantha Bailey and were so excited to get an early look at her newest. Well I hadn’t read her yet I hoped on the train and so glad I did, I see all there is to love!

The actors of the hit show Hello, Juliet are coming together for the first time in years for a reunion. Perfect timing for the show’s former star, Ivy, who hasn’t been able to get back on her feet since it all came crashing down. She could really use the good publicity, and the cash. The only problem? When she arrives on set she finds one of her former costars dead.

Secrets, twists, and turns, oh my! This book had so many secrets and twists I had no idea where the next one was going to come from and I loved it. Although I had a general inkling as to who was pulling the strings I didn’t see the whole picture until it hit me square in the face.

If you’re looking for a book to keep you captivated from page one until the end I recommend adding this to your TBR. The pace was perfectly set, the back and forth of the dual timeline flowed well, the characters were all intriguing in their own way, and there’s secrets galore.

This was my first by the author but it definitely won’t be my last!

Read if you love:
🤫 Secrets
🎥 Dark side of Hollywood
🕰️ Dual timeline

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I'm a die hard Samantha Bailey fan , but I was left feeling underwhelmed by this one! I found the twist fairly predictable from early on and unfortunately I just didn't enjoy the characters and the relationships between the characters.

Samantha dazzles with HELLO, JULIET!

A scandalous, twisty, and wickedly delicious Hollywood murder mystery, HELLO, JULIET, stands out with its engrossing dual timelines brimming with secrets. The author brilliantly explores the dark side of fame, a shocking jaw-dropping twist, and a protagonist you will root for. Bailey is at the top of her game—her fourth novel is her best yet! Move this one to the top of your spring and summer reading list.

About...

Ivy Westcott chose to be an actress because she wanted to be extraordinary. However, if she had known that landing the coveted lead role of Juliet Jones would turn her into a meme, she would have run as far as she could. Her journey to stardom was difficult, filled with sacrifices and betrayals that shaped her into who she is today.

Hello, Juliet was the teen drama she starred in almost a decade ago (2014) and later with a tag, #PoisonIvy, when all imploded. This tag, a cruel reminder of her fall from grace, is a constant presence in her life, haunting her every step. Everyone blames her for the tragic end of one of the most explosively popular shows ever to air on television. Everyone betrayed her, even her best friend and costar, Lauren.

The entire show and its relationships collapse when a cast member dies before the finale airs.

There is a recent docuseries about all the celebrities who never bounced back about her public crash from grace with tabloid reporters, gossip bloggers, professors of pop culture, and even the teen boy who stocks at the market where she has worked as a cashier for the last three years.

To capitalize on the fame the show once had, Mack (producer) reaches out for a top-secret reunion of the surviving cast. At age 32, Ivy needs the money for her mom (her manager) as she has a cleaning job and needs surgery for her back, so she agrees. This money will save them.

She and her mom left LA years ago, but she will show up at the Sunrise Studios. Like the sinister secrets of the high school students Juliet, Skylar, Hudson, and Logan onscreen, never knowing who the hero and villain behind the scenes were. Just like her character, she never knew which of her castmates she could fully trust.

(2024) When Ivy arrives at the top-secret location, she finds her co-star, DEAD.

Let the games begin...

My thoughts...

Electrifying! HELLO, JULIET is on my Top Books of 2025! An impressive, sizzling psychological whodunit thriller from page one to the jaw-dropping twisty ending you will not see coming! Absolutely, unputdownable.

The author's expert storytelling skills are on full display as she cleverly takes readers on a wild ride, in complete control, leaving readers in awe of all the pieces and how they connect, leaving you shocked—gobsmacked!

From past (2014) to present (2024), we hear from Ivy, a young girl caught up as the 'It Girl' in Hollywood— and is now in the middle of a MURDER mystery. Full of mystery, glamour, suspense, scandal, jealousy, action, drama, intrigue, and mind-blowing twists.

Ivy, our protagonist, is a highly relatable character. She never sought fame but yearned for validation and acceptance. She wanted to prove to her mom and herself that she was good enough. Talented enough for her to have sacrificed her entire life to help her fulfill her dream. But that dream became a nightmare, and her best friends became her worst enemies.

There is drama onstage and off from Mack, Caleb, Jesse, and Lauren. The author shines with short snappy chapters with cliffhanger endings, very cool Actor breakdowns, interspersed with social media excerpts, scenes, clips, juicy teen drama, Hollywood gossip, trending topics, commentary, news media, podcasts, and more. Where real life off-screen drama is more exciting than on-screen. You may think Beverly Hills, 90210; Pretty Little Liars, or one of your favorite soaps.

HELLO, JULIET is not just a thrilling read, it's an exquisite psychological whodunit thriller that serves as a cautionary tale. It explores the price of fame and exposes Hollywood's dark side and underbelly. The author cleverly showcases the public's obsession with celebrities, commentary, and the dangers of media. It's a story that will make you think twice about the allure of fame.

Prime for the big or small screen. Binge-worthy and movie-worthy! Ivy is tenacious and determined to find justice and clear her name, as the cast's facades and dark, chilling secrets are unraveled and revealed.

I am a huge fan of Samantha M. Bailey. I have read her three previous books and have featured her twice on my #AuthorElevatorSeries. I have loved every book, but HELLO, JULIET is my favorite. I can't wait to see who narrates the audiobook—I am sure it will be a blast. I cannot wait to see what the author has for us next.

Interview...

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Elevator QA behind the scenes ride with Samantha and HELLO, JULIET (pub day, April 29). I can't wait to share more insights about this thrilling book!

Recs...

HELLO, JULIET is for fans of the author and those who enjoy a well-crafted brilliant murder mystery whodunit thriller, pop culture, and the entertainment business.

Also for fans of Rachel Kapelk-Dale, T. Greenwood (Tammy), Joshilyn Jackson, Lisa Unger, Lisa Jewell, Heather Gudenkauf, Alex Finlay, Alice Feeney, Seraphina Nova Glass, Kimberly Belle, Liv Constantine, B.A. Paris, Ruth Ware, Robyn Harding, Wendy Walker, Susan Walter, Christina McDonald, and Mary Kubica. (all favorites)

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy for my honest thoughts.

My Reviews:
A FRIEND IN THE DARK
WATCH OUT FOR HER
QA Interview - Watch Out for Her
WOMAN ON THE EDGE
QA Interview - Woman on the Edge


blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
April 2025 Must-Read Books
April Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries QA
Top Books of 2025

The book was so good. The twists were amazing, i never saw the last one coming it is definfinty one of yhe best stories would recommend.....

Thank you to Samantha Bailey and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

Former actress Ivy left Hollywood behind years ago when a scandal turned her world upside down. In doing so, she lost touch with her friends - her cast mates from the hit TV show “Hello Julia”. When the cast is having a reunion, Ivy has a chance to see her former cast mates and attempt to find it who turned them all against her.

This book was so much fun! Part thriller, part “documentary”, at times, due to its mixed media format, it reminded of an episode “E True Hollywood Story”. Alternating between different types of media and multiple timelines, the story of what happened to Julia was wilder than anything on the teen drama she had been a part of! Combined with its fast pace, I was on the edge of my seat with this one.

This book has been very popular at the Pulse and having read it myself, I can see why!

”Hello Juliet” releases April 29, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

This book pulled me in from the first page and never let up! A decade after being branded #PoisonIvy, Ivy Westcott is desperate for a fresh start—until a reunion episode of Hello, Juliet dredges up old betrayals and turns deadly. The mix of media adds to the suspense, making every twist even more gripping. With layered characters, a dark Hollywood setting, and secrets lurking behind every smile, this thriller is a must-read for anyone who loves a juicy, edge-of-your-seat mystery!

Hello, Juliet takes place in LA, when a has been actress, Ivy, is called back to do a reunion show of her famous series that was canceled 10 years ago.

Filled with secrets, lies and action, this story flew by. I loved the mixed media, with snippets of press releases, social media threads and news stories taking place in both the past and present.

It's highly dramatic, in perfect soap opera fashion.

The book kicks off with this great quote

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."
-Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

This is my 3rd book by this author, and I will always be ready to read her next one.

Child actor Ivy is struggling in her early 20’s to land an acting job. She meets Lauren, a very successful actress, at an audition and surprisingly wins the lead role over Lauren. 10 years after the show aired, Ivy is called to tape a reunion show which should be interesting because Ivy has not talked with the rest of the cast since something happened . We don’t know what that is but through a dual timeline story we dive into the world of filming and the impacts it can have on friendships.

Thank you, for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Ivy is a newbie actress who shot to stardom by landing the leading role in Hello, Juliet, a teen drama, thriller TV show. 10 years later, after a distratrous and very public exit, a new reunion show is set to be filmed, bringing all the stars back together. So when Ivy shows up to the studio, she is surprised to see no one there yet. And then she finds the body of her former best friend and co-star.
After the cops start to investigate, which at first looks like a suicuide but is deemed a murder, Ivy and her mother, Elizabeth, go into hiding. Afraid that whoever committed the murder is after all the stars.

When I first started reading, I loved the relationship that Ivy had with her mother. So many stories, the mother and the daughter don't get along, the mother is dead, or in jail. Everyone on the show loved Elizabeth, too.

This book is full of things I didn't see coming at all. You don't know who Ivy should trust from one chapter to the next. It is a wild ride!

Two evenings. I finished Hello, Juliet in two evenings, hardly coming up for air.
I've been a fan of @sbaileybooks Sam Bailey's since her debut (Woman On The Edge), but Hello, Juliet shot up the ranks to my new favourite of hers.
Thank you to @thrillerbookreadsthepulse for my eARC for review!
Ivy Westcott, Lauren Malloy, Jesse Rafferty, and Caleb Hill are the new stars of the teen soapy drama series, Hello, Juliet.
Hand-picked by series creator Mack Foster, the sensational publicity of the cast begins before the show has even aired.
Ivy, in particular as the title character, is panned by fans from the get-go.
Why did Hello, Juliet only last one season, yet became a coveted cult classic?
The story is told in dual-timelines, opening with a return to the LA studio for a cast reunion, back to the heyday of the show itself.
Immediately I was drawn in by the 90210/The OC/One Tree Hill feel of it all. And the twists and secrets are a tight weave indeed.
Recommended!
For release on April 29.

Title: Hello, Juliet
Author: Samantha M. Bailey
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Pub Date: April 29, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 303

Story is told from the POV in two timelines Present Day and Then-ten years ago featuring the TV show “Hello, Juliet”, Story features the cast members ~ Caleb Hill, Lauren Mallory, Jesse Rafferty, Ivy and show’s creator Mark Foster. Ivy’s mother was also a big support of the show. Cast members and crew loved her and the treats she would bake for them.

The story reveals what happened between the characters on the show then as well as in their real life.

Story starts when a ten year reunion episode is planned for the hit TV show “Hello Juliet”.
Ivy Westcott played the lead role of Juliet Jones is riding in an Uber when the driver recognizes her. It seems she was featured in a recent ‘tell all show entitled “Rock Bottom Celebs Who Never Bounced Back!”
Yes~ ten years ago Ivy Westcott fled LA just as her acting career was a hit. It seems a cast mates from “Hello, Juliet‘ as someone turned her closest friends against her. Now the whole world knows her as Poison Ivy.

Now a decade later, Ivy is horrified when a celebrity exposé thrusts the Hello, Juliet cast back into the limelight, dredging up the old scandals she hoped to escape. Desperate for a fresh start and some financial stability for her mother and manager, Ivy does agree to participate in a top-secret reunion episode.

Ivy’s poised for a comeback, but past betrayals become a present danger when she and the man who once broke her heart find their co-star dead.

I read a lot of thrillers and know to be suspicious of everyone and also know that typically the one who is the least likely is the one whodunit.
So yes I guessed correctly but I had no clue why!
However it was still a GREAT read!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 29, 2025.

Yes! All the stars. This was such a propulsive thriller that I didn’t want to stop reading. When I did (because ya know, work) I couldn’t wait to get home so I could pick it back up. Bailey really brings the reader into Ivy’s world which any fan of teen dramas will know well. I loved the core characters and seeing how their relationships grew during the months of filming. I had no idea where the ending was headed and absolutely loved it. I highly recommend it!

I am a huge fan of Samantha Bailey. This thriller did not disappoint. It starts off right away with Juliet heading to a top-secret reunion from a show she did as a teen and she finds one of her former co-starts dead in her dressing room.

The story spirals from there and in the best. It held me captive until the very end

OMG what did I just read?! This book was SOOO good and utterly addicting, I couldn’t put it down! I absolutely loved the dual timelines with chapters mixed in of podcasts/social media posts/tabloid articles. The characters were so well written, especially Ivy as she was someone I found to be ver relatable and someone who had to overcome quite a bit. I couldn’t wait to find out the twist and I did NOT see it coming. It was well executed and left no questions for the reader. Five stars for this one and I plan on adding more of this author’s books to my shelf!!!

Hello, Juliet comes out April 29th!

Really good. Held my attention and kept me guessing what was going on. Enjoyed the characters and the plot. Flew through this book in 2 Days. Definitely recommend for a good quick mystery! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Loved, loved, loved this book! The ending was such a surprise, definitely not what I was expecting. I loved how the book went between two time frames to tell the story. Who is the true villain… trust me you won’t see this one coming!

I really liked the synopsis and was hoping it had like a behind the scenes Dawsons Creek type of vibe but it felt more like Nickelodeon immature dialogue. I’m very surprised this book isn’t classified as YA.

I saw the plot twist coming from the very beginning somehow. It was very eye roll inducing the way it played out.

I think this must just be a me issue though because it has some amazing reviews. I think if I liked the characters more, I would’ve enjoyed the book more.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

When Ivy Westcott’s acting career came to an abrupt ending while filming the show, Hello, Juliet, she fled Hollywood, leaving behind her cast-mates, including her first love. Ten years later, Ivy receives an invitation promising her money that she desperately needs, if she participates in a reunion with the cast-mates that she once called family. Needing the money to help her mother who has been suffering from health issues, she accepts the invitation, knowing it would dredge up the old scandals from which she tried to escape.

Ivy hoped to move forward and repair her broken relationships, but things don’t go as expected when she arrives and finds one of her costars is dead, and the only other person at the scene is the man who once broke her heart. Ivy realizes that the reunion has turned into a crime scene and she is suddenly a suspect who needs to clear her name. Even worse, could she be next on the killer’s list? Not knowing who she can even trust anymore, Ivy must find the answers and uncover the chilling secrets that have tormented the Hollywood set from day one.

Wow! This book was so good! As soon as I started it, I knew I was going to love it! The dual timelines alternated between the past, as we learned how Ivy got cast on the show and the events that followed, and the present day crime scene investigation. I thought it was so clever how the teen drama that was depicted on the show, paralleled much of what the cast mates were experiencing in real life. This book combines so many things that makes it great thriller…fame, friendships, scandals, secrets, lies, romance, manipulation…and murder! It is filled with tension and suspense and all leads up to a shocking and very satisfying twisty ending that I did not see coming!

Ivy Westcott has been out of the limelight for a very long time, ever since her career imploded and she was dubbed "Poison Ivy" by the press. Needing the money, Ivy agrees to film a secret reunion 10 years later but when she arrives, she finds one of her former co-stars dead and the only person who can help her to make sense of things is her former boyfriend and also the deceased's husband.

What follows is a twisty account of their race to find the killer before they kill again. Fast paced and loaded with surprises, this one kept me guessing and I raced through the second half in order to figure out how all of the pieces fit together.

The only issue that I encountered with this book was my inability to connect with Ivy's voice in present day. Her voice as an actor in her early twenties and her voice as a woman in her 30's was indistiguishable to me and I had a hard time seeing growth there, although this could certainly be seen as symbolic in many ways of how that period of time had stunted her personal growth.

This is an exciting new release from Samantha Bailey, coming in April of 2025. My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

Thank you @netgalley @amazonpublishing #partner for the gifted ebook!

Ivy is trying to reignite her Hollywood career after it came to a crash and burn ending a decade ago. She is back in the limelight trying to avoid past pitfalls when she discovers one of her cast-mates dead. Being that she is the one that found her and their last history isn’t perfect, Ivy is quickly under suspicion. She must work to clear her name and in doing so uncover some dirt secrets in the industry.

If you love a good Hollywood drama or setting you need this book! This book is filled with backstabbing characters, mind blowing lies, drama and deceit so if that is your jam…grab this one in April! This book is bingeable and I think will be nostalgic of some peoples childhood and older shows they used to watch. To me, this one felt like slower burn thriller where I felt I lacked connection with the characters. At times, it felt slow and I felt a little bored. I do think this could have been a me thing however because I have seen so many 5 star reviews. I know Samantha is a well loved author, and I’ve adored her other books, unfortunately this one was a bit of a miss for me.