Rereading my review of Julia Bartz's "The Writing Retreat", I was conflicted because the first 75% was excellent, and then the last 25% disappointed me; however, I still loved it. With "The Last Session," I loved 100% of the story and book.

Thea is a young social worker in New York. Her days are spent in a psychiatric hospital, where she provides various types of therapy to patients, and her nights are spent in a bottle. One day, a new catatonic patient arrives on the floor, and Thea is drawn to her. Somehow, Thea knows this woman; she's so familiar, and surprisingly, she and Thea resemble each other.

Thea is shocked when she discovers who the patient is and how she connects to a traumatic time in her life. Before she and the patient, Catherine, can work together further, Catherine is kidnapped from the hospital.

Following clues, Thea finds herself in New Mexico at a remote retreat. Hosted by a vibrant and charismatic couple, Moon and Sol, Thea searches for Catherine, all while participating in the weekend's events. The events grow intimate, with nudity, shared showers, and confessions. Thea finds herself pulled deeper and deeper by Moon and Sol, especially as they start to work on her trauma. When her last session comes, she's unsure if things are real or if they aren't, and she's deeper into the retreat's cult.
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I love cult stories. I don't think that's an uncommon feeling, as so many novels explore it. I find something about giving oneself over to something or someone fascinating. Thea's determination to save Catherine was her driving force, but ultimately, she DID find some peace from the retreat, so it wasn't ALL bad.

Bartz is about to immerse the reader in the desert—the heat, the dusty landscape, the night sky. "The Last Session is a compelling and dark story that explores the human psyche and repression. It's weird and complex and...I loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

•I really wanted to like Julia Bartz’s latest, but honestly, I’m so confused by what I actually read.

•Initially I was hooked because the premise of a social worker having a mysterious link to a catatonic patient sounded very interesting. I enjoyed the first third of the book, but then things took a strange turn.

•The main character, Thea, follows the patient to a cult-like remote center in the middle of the desert. Once there, things went sideways.

•Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Julia Bartz for this ARC. It will become available on April 1, 2025.

The Last Session is a gripping, atmospheric psychological thriller that hooked me from the very first page. Julia Bartz crafts an eerie, unsettling narrative that seamlessly blends mental health, trauma, and cult-like psychological manipulation into a slow-burning but highly immersive mystery.

🔍 Thea, a dedicated social worker, is thrown into a nightmarish puzzle when a catatonic woman arrives at her psychiatric unit—someone she’s sure she recognizes. As she follows a twisted trail of clues to a secluded retreat in New Mexico, what starts as a search for answers turns into something much more disturbing. The retreat’s manipulative, enigmatic leaders and their questionable “exercises” create a growing sense of dread that intensifies with every chapter.

📖 The writing is sharp, immersive, and deeply psychological, making you question everything alongside Thea. The novel’s themes of memory, trauma, and control are handled with complexity, and the mystery unfolds at a perfectly suspenseful pace. While some parts felt a little slow in the middle, the tension ramps up beautifully, leading to a chilling and satisfying climax.

✨ If you love dark, psychological thrillers with a hint of cult-like manipulation, trauma recovery, and mind-bending twists, The Last Session will keep you on edge until the final page. Highly recommend for fans of intense, character-driven suspense!

Absolutely crazy thriller that you won't be able to put down once you start - from the psych ward in NYC to a cultish retreat center in the desert, perfect for those who love dark thrillers.

Thank you @atriabooks & @netgalley for my ARC!

This was a wild ride, but not always in the best way. Thea, a social worker at a hospital in New York, stumbles upon a patient she recognizes—an actress from her favorite teen movie, Stargirl. Intrigued, she digs deeper and winds up at an exclusive therapy retreat run by famous podcasters.

Once the story moves to the retreat, things take a turn—reincarnation themes, blurred realities, and a plot that left me questioning what was real and what wasn’t. While I love cult-centered books, this one felt a little too chaotic. 🤯 The constant “Stargirl” references went over my head, and Thea’s sudden ability to piece together cryptic clues, uproot her life, and jet off to New Mexico was a bit hard to believe.

That said, the cult psychology aspect was fascinating, and I did enjoy the unhinged characters. But with too many story threads, a dragging middle, and an ending that kept stretching, I was left feeling more lost than immersed. 🤷‍♀️

I’m torn on what to rate this book because I can’t stop thinking about it, for now I’m giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3 stars—if you love twisty, mind-bending thrillers, you might enjoy this more than I did!

Unfortunately, I had higher hopes for this book. Cult?! Yes....However, things got a little strange for me at the end and I really just coulf not wait to finish it so that I could jusy be done.

I loved the concepts and ideas in The Last Session. It felt like the story was disjointed between the parts. I was expecting more twists and turns. Julia Bartz’s ideas are captivating and I will continue reading her works. I loved the cult aspect but it could have had more horror, thrills, and character development. Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC!

Bartz has definitely done her research, the "community" that hosts the retreat feels well developed, in how it operates and the individuals. The entire time we spent with them felt suspenseful even if they were just sitting down to eat dinner.

The plot is much more interesting than the characters, once a reveal happens a new one begins and that's how the story moves forward. I do think Thea had internal growth and it was nice to see her face her past head on rather than just grow past it. Accepting something happened to you is much easier than confronting those who did you harm.

DNF at 26%. This just felt ALL over the place. And I mean all over. The Writing Retreat was quite fun, but this one was going to be a schlog. After speaking to others who told me the ending, I am happy I did not continue.

This book actually surprised me, I didn't expect the outcome. Honestly, the first couple of chapters were pretty uninteresting but I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and once we left the clinical environment of the hospital things really took off. I will say this is one of the few books of late that I haven't guessed a certain villain, and it really threw me when a certain someone (with a J name) revealed himself to be a follower. There are some things I wish had been more explored (like the fake accent used by Moon, what was that?!) but overall I felt like things really wrapped up nicely. Also, I do feel like there needed to be more tie in to the Stargirl film, it felt a little disconnected from the actual story for me, when it was such a big deal in the beginning. Overall I am looking forward to more by Julia Bartz in the future!

I loved Julia Bartz's debut, The Writing Retreat, so I was confident I would enjoy The Last Session. I almost want to say I love this one even more. But I think it's more like I love them both the same amount for different reasons.

Thea is a social worker who focuses on helping people in a psychiatric unit. She gives them prompts to draw things then they discuss what they drew and why. A new patient is brought in that is catatonic and Thea is sure she recognizes her. Once the patient is able to speak she claims to not remember anything that led to her being there. Then she's suddenly taken out of the place before Thea can figure anything out.

She realizes where she knows the woman from and Thea is convinced she needs to help her. Her investigating leads her to a remote place in New Mexico. She pretends to be there for the retreat this couple hosts. They use very unorthodox methods to help people with their romantic issues. They claim you'll find true love after being there.

Just like with The Writing Retreat, I was taken to some wild unexpected places and I loved every bit of it! All I can say is keep an open mind and enjoy the ride. I love how Julia Bartz covers important topics in such wild but fun to read ways while still taking those topics seriously.

This book was a mess. The whole “Stargirl” plot was ridiculous; Thea just disappearing from her job to play investigator was unprofessional and silly; the back and forth between “reincarnation is totally real” and “this is obviously a group delusion” was exhausting. Plus the descriptions were hard to follow - despite all the pages spent on the “castle” and the tents and the caves, I still had no real idea what any of it looked like. Also, enough with the Scooby Doo “let’s see who you REALLY are!” nonsense.

I was excited for The Last Session, but it didn’t quite work for me. The premise was intriguing, but the pacing felt uneven, and the therapy retreat lacked the depth and tension I expected. The protagonist, Thea, had potential, but her decisions were frustrating at times, making it hard to stay invested. While the book explored trauma and healing, it relied too much on predictable twists rather than real psychological depth. Overall, it had some interesting moments, but it just didn’t fully deliver.

When a catatonic woman arrives at a psychiatric unit, social worker Thea recognizes her from a traumatic event in her past. The patient claims to have no memory of what happened, and before long, she's taken away. Determined to find her, Thea follows clues to a remote retreat in New Mexico, where a couple helps attendees confront their sexual and romantic issues. As Thea participates in increasingly intimate exercises, she uncovers dark truths about her own past—while racing against time to avoid losing her mind.I had high hopes for The Last Session. The beginning was exciting but once they reached the retreat, the story lost its momentum. While some may find it fast-paced, I felt it dragged. The connections I expected didn’t materialize, and some plot points felt overused. The author was clear with trigger warnings, the book ultimately fell flat for me.Thank you to Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review of The Last Session. This book publishes on April 1, 2025.

In The Last Session, Thea, a social worker at a New York inpatient psychiatric hospital, becomes fixated on a new patient—an unidentified, catatonic woman who seems strangely familiar. When the patient mysteriously vanishes from the facility, Thea embarks on a cross-country search, uncovering unsettling truths that force her to confront her own unresolved childhood trauma. What begins as a mission to find the missing woman soon turns into a journey of self-discovery, blurring the lines between past and present, truth and illusion.

This was an incredibly fast read—I devoured it in less than two days, staying up way too late because I simply couldn’t put it down. The mix of tension, mystery, and psychological depth had me hooked from the start. That said, there were a few aspects I struggled with.

As a licensed therapist, I was excited about the book’s subject matter but found some of the depictions of confidentiality concerning. Additionally, while the cult-related elements of the story intrigued me from a psychological standpoint, certain aspects of that narrative pulled me out of full engagement. Without giving away spoilers, there were moments that didn’t fully land for me.

Despite these caveats, The Last Session is a gripping psychological thriller that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a fast-paced, thought-provoking read.

My most sincere thanks to Atria Books, Julia Bartz, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my non-biased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books - Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review. The Last Session is out April 1st, 2025.

Based on my experience reading Julia Bartz's first novel, The Writing Retreat, I was really looking forward to digging into this one - and oh what a wild ride it was! I read a couple other reviews that comment on the fact that this story requires a lot of 'buy in' from the reader, and I couldn't agree more. Thea's journey takes us in some pretty unbelievable directions, with some being pretttty wacky (I even freaked myself out thinking about caves in the night!). That said, the plot was unique and I was completely engrossed and finished the book in just over a day - I needed to know what was next!

Ultimately, I had a lot of fun with this one and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh page turner of a thriller! Though I didn't connect with this one as much as I did her first novel, I cannot wait to read what Julia Bartz comes up with next.

The Last Session by Julia Bartz is a psychological thriller that attempts to blend elements of suspense, isolation, and character-driven storytelling. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish the book due to issues with pacing, character development, and engagement. While the premise is intriguing, the execution left something to be desired.

What I Liked
The novel’s premise is undeniably compelling—a group of writers attending an exclusive retreat, only to find themselves entangled in a sinister game. The isolated setting is well-described, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that suits the genre well. Additionally, Bartz’s writing style is vivid and atmospheric, effectively capturing the unease and tension within the group.
The concept of blending psychological tension with the creative struggles of writers is an interesting one. The exploration of ambition, rivalry, and self-doubt within the literary world adds depth to the story.

What I Didn’t Like
One of the primary reasons I did not finish The Last Session was the slow pacing. The buildup takes too long, with much of the narrative feeling repetitive or lacking momentum. While slow-burn thrillers can be effective, the pacing here made it difficult to stay invested.
Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped. Many of them lacked distinctive personalities, making it hard to connect with their struggles or care about their fates. The protagonist, in particular, was frustrating at times, with motivations that felt unclear or inconsistent.
The suspense elements also felt forced at times, with certain plot twists being either predictable or overly reliant on familiar thriller tropes. Rather than building organic tension, the book occasionally relied on vague foreshadowing without enough payoff.

Recommendations for Improvement
To enhance The Last Session, I would suggest:
1. Tightening the pacing – Reducing unnecessary exposition and building suspense more efficiently could keep readers engaged.
2. Developing characters more fully – Giving them more distinctive voices and motivations would make the story more immersive.
3. Avoiding overused tropes – A fresh take on psychological thriller conventions would help the novel stand out.

Conclusion
While The Last Session has an intriguing premise and strong atmospheric writing, its slow pacing and underdeveloped characters made it difficult for me to finish. Readers who enjoy slow-burning psychological thrillers may still find it appealing, but for those looking for a gripping, fast-paced mystery, this novel may not fully deliver.

as a social worker, i LOVE a book about a social worker so it’s a half star bump up from me <3

however, i feel conflicted about the book itself. it’s super quick paced with short chapters and i found myself not being able to put down.

but it was a little too…. absurd if that’s the right word. the plot just was a little too messy and coincidental that i couldn’t really believe the story.

so that leaves me with a 3/5 rating so i wouldn’t read again but would recommend as a quick read!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review of The Last Session, which publishes April 1, 2025.

Before this book even starts, the author provides a list of content warnings. She mentions the following: Alcohol abuse, religious abuse, child abuse, sexual harassment and assault, physical violence, murder, cults, psychosis, suicide attempt (off-page).

I found this book actually quite fascinating to read. Thea being a social worker gave such an interesting perspective on how she thought about things and reacted to situations. I think she felt very “real” as a character, although her using abbreviations like “IRL” and “BFF” out loud in her dialogue felt off. As a 33 year-old woman, it felt like those random moments didn’t match up with how she presented herself through the majority of the book.

I found myself getting increasingly more uncomfortable and anxious as the plot moved forward, which was good since I believe that is the point. I’ve never really read many books involving cults, so if that’s something that bothers you I don’t think this would land - but I really enjoyed the complexity and rationalization of the characters. Moon and Sol were such interesting characters and I truly don’t think I’ve read books with similar characters to them.

I didn’t fully guess the twists, but some of them didn’t feel too surprising either. I think they felt pretty natural for the plot, and didn’t randomly take a different route for “shock value”. The ending tied things up pretty nicely, although I was left wanting a little bit more.

After putting a lot of time and effort into the slog of reading THE LAST SESSION, I really hoped it would be one of those endings where I look back and say to myself, “That was totally worth it.” Unfortunately, this psychological thriller (to the 100th degree) gave me the ick. I don’t like to rate books on vibe, but I can’t help it. This story is unhinged (not in a good way) and had so many strange and unrelated ideas that I could hardly keep track of the story.

The beginning showed promise but it was difficult to suspend belief after Thea decided to go undercover at a sketchy wellness retreat, leaving behind her entire life to rescue a woman she doesn’t actually know. Maybe if there were a deeper connection between the two women in this fever dream, I would have had a better feeling at the end. I mean, I’m very partial to the characters of movies I watched on repeat when I was young, so that I could maybe understand. Even the sudden, out of context orgy couldn’t get me on board.

I will say that Julia Bartz can write compellingly, I just didn’t relate with this book whatsoever and ended up needing to read something light and fun afterward because I'm a little disturbed.

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the early digital copy of THE LAST SESSION in exchange for my honest feedback.