I loved The Writing Retreat. So, I jumped at the chance to read The Last Session. I did like this book, but I didn't love it. I can't quite put a finger on why. The writing is solid. It just felt like something wasn't fully formed here, to me, at least.

Cults happen. People join them. I find real life and fictional cults interesting, but I think this one needed a little more grounding. A lot of what happened was never fully flushed out or explained. So, this requires a ton of belief suspension.

Still, I think thriller readers will enjoy the book and I will read whatever Julia Bartz comes up with next.

The Last Session - A Thriller That Gets Under Your Skin

Julia Bartz's new thriller starts with a bang. A social worker named Thea spots a mysterious patient who seems familiar. This leads her to a wellness center in New Mexico, where something's very wrong.

Bartz, a former therapist, knows her stuff. She writes about mental health and healing with the confidence of someone who's been there, but she never lets the details slow down the story. The book races forward, dropping clues like breadcrumbs, each one darker than the last.

The wellness center feels perfect for a thriller - all peaceful on the surface, but underneath? That's where the story gets interesting. Thea's a great main character, smart enough to spot trouble but damaged enough to walk right into it.

Sure, it takes a few chapters to get going, but once it does, you won't put it down. If you like thrillers that make you think while they keep you up at night, this one's for you.

4.5/5 stars

This book wasn't quite what I expected, and I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. There were darker issues than I expected to find, and I think this could have benefited from some trigger warnings in the description. Sadly, the pace was also an issue. It dragged, Which made it hard for me to stay engaged or care about the outcome. Then there were some parts that just had me rolling my eyes. I'm okay with suspending disbelief, but it was a bit too much for this one. The ending was disappointing, as there were too many things left undone.

Possible Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, cults, religious abuse, bullying, and alcohol abuse

This one is so hard to review because I wanted to love it so much. I really love Julia Bartz writing. I was a huge fan of her previous book The Writing Retreat that’s why I was so excited for The Last Session. Unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

The book is split up into four parts and honestly so much of it felt so disconnected to me. I really enjoyed the second part but then we got into the third part and that’s where the book lost me completely. It felt so unbelievably it was hard to stay in the story. I understand this books deals with cults and I get what the author was trying to do it just didn’t work for me.

I did enjoy the main character Thea. I also really liked how well the author wrote the retreat and the atmosphere it was able to put off to the reader. I could feel the dryness of the desert when reading some of the descriptions. I really enjoyed that in a book.

Overall I feel a bit let down but maybe that’s just because of my own taste. I do feel like people who are obsessed with cult books would really enjoy this one. I would definitely still recommend it because I do really enjoy this authors writing. The Last Session just didn’t work for me.
2/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This locked-room thriller by the bestselling author of The Writing Retreat is a taut and unrelenting psychological puzzle that will keep readers hooked from its eerie beginning to its jaw-dropping conclusion. Set against the haunting backdrop of a remote New Mexico desert, the novel deftly explores themes of trauma, trust, and the darker side of human connection.

The story follows Thea, a determined social worker who finds herself drawn into a sinister web after a catatonic patient with ties to her past vanishes. Thea’s journey to uncover the truth leads her to a mysterious wellness retreat, where the unconventional and increasingly disturbing exercises blur the line between healing and manipulation. As Thea navigates the retreat’s intimate and unsettling demands, the narrative becomes a compelling mix of psychological tension and suspenseful unraveling.

The author’s greatest strength lies in their ability to build atmosphere. The isolation of the desert and the oppressive, cult-like environment of the retreat mirror Thea’s internal struggle, heightening the suspense. The exercises she endures are unsettling yet fascinating, forcing both Thea and the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about vulnerability and power.

Thea is a compelling protagonist—flawed but fiercely determined. Her journey is as much about confronting her own traumatic past as it is about finding the missing patient. The secondary characters, particularly the enigmatic leaders of the retreat, are intriguingly layered, adding to the novel’s pervasive sense of unease.

While the twists are satisfying and the pacing relentless, a few plot threads feel underdeveloped, leaving questions lingering after the final page. However, the gripping narrative and the exploration of trauma and resilience more than make up for these minor shortcomings.

This novel is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers like Verity or The Last House on Needless Street. With its chilling setting, complex characters, and razor-sharp tension, it’s a dark and captivating read that will linger in your mind long after you’ve closed the book.

thank you netgalley for the copy!

after bartz’s first book (the writing retreat) i couldn’t wait to dive in to this one. it was everything i wanted and more.

the characters were captivating and infuriating. the story was mesmerizing and though bizarre, it was also realistic. as someone who lives in LA and has been lightly exposed to cults/cult-like behavior especially in the spiritual community… i was pretty impressed with how julia captured the essence of subtle manipulation among these types of groups. watching the subtleties develop into extremes was beautifully and delicately done.

color me enthralled.

and consumed.

couldn’t put this down. couldn’t stop thinking about catherine and how trauma and patterns will dictate your life if you let it.

for those who may find this story/plot unrealistic or too over the top.. it may simply reflect experiences that are outside their personal frame of reference as i would have felt the same prior to my own experiences.

also for those who watched love has won: the cult of mother god or escaping twin flames ... check it out.

I really enjoyed this book. I was a big fan of the author's previous novel The Writing Retreat and was really looking forward to this one.

This is much different than her debut novel. In The Last Session, we explored cults and how some people are easily affected by them as well as Bartz's dive into the paranormal.

I enjoyed the twists and the unreliable characters. I liked how no one seems to be who they are. However, I knocked a star because the ending felt rushed, and the big plot point seemed a little too far-fetched.

I'm looking forward to this book being published.

I can't recommend this book enough! The Last Session by Julia Bartz is a great read that you're going to want to add to your TBR pile! I'll be looking for more of her books!

This book grabs you pretty instantly - we meet Thea, a worker at a psychiatric hospital, who encounters a catatonic patient she feels an inexplicable connection to. She blames herself -- or, at least, feels responsibility -- when the patient is impossibly "picked up by her parents" and discharged. Following a hunch that the patient is likely at a cult-like retreat, Thea decides to enroll for the retreat and go look for her.

There's a lot to like about this book. It's very tense; you're constantly wondering what exactly is going on here. It's a lot of fun, with the weird cult-isms. That being said, it's strangely paced (the ending feels rushed, while IMO it dwells too long on the plot of a fantasy movie that the patient acted in, and which is not my cup of tea at all). Still, it was a good, reliable thriller that I read quickly.

Thea is a therapist in a psychiatric unit, and one day, a famous actress, Catherine—whom Thea admired as a child—arrives in a catatonic state. Shortly after Catherine’s admission, she is taken from the unit by people claiming to be her parents. Determined to uncover the truth, Thea follows Catherine to a cult-like retreat in New Mexico, hoping to learn who took Catherine and why.

I’m honestly surprised I finished this book. The beginning was engaging, and I was eager to uncover the mystery behind Catherine’s sudden appearance and disappearance. When the story shifted to the retreat, my interest deepened as I find cults fascinating. However, as the narrative progressed, things became increasingly bizarre. The constant references to Stargirl, the movie Catherine starred in, felt excessive. Despite my growing disinterest, I kept reading in the hope that the ending would redeem the story, but unfortunately, it didn’t.

I’m also confused by the title of the book. Does it refer to Catherine’s last therapy session? Or is it about Thea’s?

2.5 stars

Thea is a social worker in New York City, working in a psychiatric facility. She is content to continue leading art therapy until a similar looking star lands herself at the same facility. Concerned, Thea makes it her business to make sure that Catherine is safe, even if it comes at the cost of Thea’s life.

I had so many odd problems with this novel. About 10% of the way through I found myself asking “where could we even go from here?”. I thought the pacing was weird so I thought the book was nearly over at different points. I don’t mind a thriller/mystery that keeps me guessing, but I feel like there should be some kind of inclination that the book will continue. At times I felt like the author couldn’t decide what genre she was in. Was it horror? Mystery? Thriller? Sci-Fi? Along with her seemingly flipping genres she couldn’t stick with her themes. There are overtones of religious trauma, bullying, sexual abuse, mental health, cults, etc and then we get this giant loop of other-worldliness from the alien/reincarnation angle. While I saw what the point was supposed to be I put this book down several times because I had to really push myself to stick with the author. I think so much of this could have been so good if the author wasn't trying to accomplish everything and the kitchen sink all in one go.

Once I sat down and really thought about the novel I realized I kind of enjoyed it, but while I was reading I kept huffing at the fact that I needed to finish it.

I LOVED Julia Bartz' The Writing Retreat, so I was predisposed to like The Last Session and I am pleased to report Bartz has done it again.

This book, plainly, slaps. Our main character, Thea, is a sexually repressed social worker who loves art therapy. We learn quickly that she was groomed by a pastor in her youth and that less than subtle relationship was sexually exploited by a boy her age who treated her horribly and now she has to think about that entire situation to climax. Rough!

Thea's newest patient is a mysterious Jane Doe who bears a striking resemblance to her striking resemblance - big doe eyes and fiery curls. It turns out this Jane Doe is the actress who starred in Thea's favorite preteen movie (I won't spoil it as it's described perfectly in the book, but it's nuts). They have the same birthday and their similarities don't stop there. Thea is connected to this patient - Catherine - and takes swift action when she's picked up from Thea's psych ward by people claiming to be her patients, only for her actual patients to show up mere hours later.

Thea's investigation - which is objectively insane - takes us to the New Mexico desert to the Center for Relational Healing (CRH), an absolute cult. The center is all about healing past relationship trauma which makes sense for Thea but has a darker underbelly. It's giving NXIVM meets the Landmark Forum and it has taken all of Catherine's child actor fortune.

Moon and Sol - the leaders of the CRH - are enigmatic, absurd people. Bartz has a particular knack for painting big personality characters who draw you in quick and dig their claws in deep and these two are no exception. They're whip smart and cut Thea off at the knees every chance they get - she's there for a reason and they're going to ensure their plans come to fruition.

The Last Session is bonkers from start to finish and I loved it so much I briefly considered going back to grad school to become a therapist and I can't recommend it enough. I am begging Julia Bartz to write her next novel as fast as she can.

A catatonic woman ends up in a psychiatric unit and a social worker Thea believes she knows the woman from somewhere. After finding a mysterious tattoo on the woman, Thea discovers the woman is connected to Thea's past. The woman leaves the clinic and a cryptic note for Thea, who is determined to find the woman and ensure her safety. The clues lead Thea to a remote healing center, where Thea is forced to participate in exercises that will help heal her own traumatic past. Thea finds herself finally getting answers to her past, and possible the missing woman in the present.

I had high hopes for this book after Bartz's last The Writing Retreat, and this one did not disappoint. I loved the dual timelines, the characters, the trauma - and the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A therapist meets a lookalike patient and it stirs up memories from her past. Are the two women connected in some way?

this was very fascinating to me. I didn't know what to expect going in and i have to be honest, the characters were not lovable at all. I mean - it's a cult book. I really had no idea where anything was going which is good because that meant I needed to keep reading.

I read Julia's first novel, The Writing Retreat, and it was okay but i'm so glad i picked this up because it was very good. I think Julia did a good job tackling a cult-like environment and exploring how trauma can affect people.

Overall, a solid 4!!

A social worker goes to a retreat to find a missing patient, only to unravel a lot about herself and those running and attending the retreat.

This story was wild. There were a lot of sketchy characters with both depressing and shocking histories. I have no desire to spoil the plot, even if I could because I’m not even totally sure I fully understood it - but some stuff. Went. Down. There was quite a portion of the book during which I struggled to understand what was real and what was a hallucination. It was really something. This felt like one big acid trip.

Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this arc! Definitely one to check out if you like a reading experience that leaves you feeling drunk and slightly confused (not in a bad way). 3.5⭐️

Julia Bartz has done it again! This thriller involves a passionate social worker, a mysterious retreat that may or may not be a weird sex cult, and the ultimate quest for the truth. Thea has a past that will forever haunt her, but she’s no match for the journey she has ahead of her when she is unexpectedly connected to a catatonic patient who also happens to be a famous actress.

The conversations and experiences Thea has trigger memories from her past—and she’s forced to come to terms with some really uncomfortable self-realizations. This book has a lot of layers, so it’s definitely not one I could quickly digest in a few days. There is a lot of discussion around childhood trauma, the mental health care system and even past life transgressions.

So much of this book is the main character realizing something is off, and ignoring her gut. It’s so incredibly frustrating! Regardless, this book kept me guessing and it definitely kept me intrigued. Many pieces of the story felt a bit disconnected, but it all came together at the end. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Went into this book very excited based off the beginning of the description. It’s totally my fault for not reading the rest of the description because it wasn’t my vibe.
Thea is a social worker who tries to help a catatonic patient who goes missing. She chases her down to a romantic “wellness center” in New Mexico that turns out to be more like a cult. After a ton of weird, intimate rituals, Thea finds herself in danger and may not make it out alive.
There were listed trigger warnings in the beginning of the book and they were veryyyyy appreciated. However, even with the warnings, I don’t think it could prepare the reader for what is to come. The book was just strange and the writing was off. Unfortunately this wasn’t the book for me.
The Last Session by Julia Bartz hits shelves on April 1, 2025. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first, THE LAST SESSION felt like a familiar premise—a retreat that turns out to be a cult—but then it took a sharp turn into outright absurdity.

Marketed as a "locked room" thriller, the story only begins to touch on that aspect about a quarter of the way through the book, and even then, it's a stretch. Thea, our unreliable narrator, finds herself trapped at a New Mexico retreat for a few days, but the real sense of entrapment comes from being stuck with her disjointed narrative and a cast of bizarre, unlikable characters.

The plot follows Thea, a therapist, who becomes overly involved with her patient Catherine. This connection leads her to the retreat, which may or may not be a front for a cult. Supposedly mysterious events unfold, but they're hard to take seriously. The story is riddled with references to past lives and leans heavily on Stargirl—a strange, fictional movie Catherine starred in as a teen—which becomes a central, if perplexing, thread in the plot.

The characters’ decisions are baffling and often defy logic, even when the book provides shaky backstories to justify them. The narrative is a series of odd twists, many revolving around Stargirl, but none of them felt grounded or satisfying. As a reader, I found myself cringing at the implausibility of the characters’ actions and the awkward execution of the story.

Ultimately, I kept reading in the hope that things would improve, but they didn’t. THE LAST SESSION left me more frustrated than thrilled, with its over-the-top plot and lack of coherence.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

I had a difficult time rating this one. As a mystery, it was very good. While the reader had to suspend a fair amount of disbelief, don’t they always?

What threw me off was the various sub-plots. The trauma the narrator suffered as a teenager felt somewhat out of place with the current day activities in the novel. I understand how it all came together, but it felt like a forced fit.

The narrator being a social worker made sense for her profession, as she had to be able to interact with the other characters in a certain way, but it also led to issues with the story. A social worker in NYC isn’t suspicious of a private eye? Is willing to jet off to this retreat on a whim? Spends the first half of the book trying to unpack her own trauma that she clearly hasn’t resolved?

The writing is good, and the story is interesting, but overall some aspects felt shoehorned in.