This was a weird premise with weird execution. I think it almost could have been a short story because there really wasn't enough plausible action to fit a full novel.

Wow this book was crazy. At first I was super curious about the cult, but I truly could not figure out where this story was headed. The only reason I finished it was to see what actually happened, but the ending was underwhelming. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

"The Last Session" by Julia Bartz follows a social worker, Thea, as she works in a psychiatric unit where a catatonic woman shows up one day. This catatonic woman turns out to be Hollywood actress Catherine, and once she comes to, she has no idea how she got to the center or even to New York City, for that matter. The only thing Thea can come up with is that Catherine must have suffered deeply to be put into such a state. Then, all of a sudden, Catherine goes missing, and Thea is set to track her down. While tracking Catherine, she is led to a cult center in New Mexico. Will she be able to get Catherine out of the cultish center before it's too late? What happens when Thea realizes Catherine plays a huge role in her past?

I enjoyed this cult cat-and-mouse chase thriller. It goes much deeper than just Thea finding Catherine. Catherine played a huge role in Thea's past, and the journey to uncover the connections was a fun ride. It's almost more of a tale of Thea reconnecting with her past traumas.

This novel has some seriously dark themes involving a cult, including some wacky sex scenes that Bartz incorporates, just as she did in her first novel. It was incredibly entertaining, even for this non-romance reader. Let's not forget to mention the secluded setting of the center in New Mexico. It truly was a special spot for this locked-room thriller, adding a claustrophobic, hopeless feeling of not being able to escape.

If you're looking for your next cult thriller, this is it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

The Last Session:

Thank you @atriabooks and @simon.audio for my gifted copies! #AtriaPartner #simonaudio

I’m a cult reader forever and a day, but this has me really saying bitch wtf. First half had gripped, second half, just confused.

I feel like this was marketed wrong. I thought this was a horror a la Catriona Ward. Or even a stretch for a mystery thriller with a snap of magical realism. But honestly, idk what to market this as.

The chaotic storyline is basically like my ADD brain trying to keep everyone in line. I now apologize to all my coworkers. It went off the rails into the unknown (via Elsa) and I’m just.. confused. I actually have no idea what I just read. No idea as confused not like wtf but also like wtf.

What I did love was finally calling our Moon on her “Spanish accent” and lots of calling out of appropriation on the sake of being “spiritual”.

Not for me but I know so many people loved it so check out their reviews!

Julia Bartz delivers another gripping psychological thriller that hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go. The Last Session is eerie, suspenseful, and masterfully plotted, blending emotional depth with the intensity of a locked-room mystery. Thea is a compelling protagonist—resilient, complex, and haunted by a past that refuses to stay buried. As the story unfolds in the shadowy desert retreat, the tension escalates with every twist. Bartz's signature blend of psychological insight and chilling atmosphere will hook you. I can honestly say I did not see the direction this one was going!

Thank you Julia Bartz, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

The Last Session is a psychological thriller with a side of what did I just read. I’m not certain how to review this novel. It’s a well written, vivid tale about a cult. There is a lot going on here that is completely unbelievable – hence it’s fiction. The Last Session was a bit too bizarre for me. Note several potential triggers. While not for me it will appeal to readers looking for a dark and twisted read.

4.5 stars! I’m so glad one of my most anticipated releases for the year lived up to my expectations. The author has such a knack for blending thriller/mystery/horror/weird fiction into a real page turner. While not quite a perfect 5, I simply couldn’t put it down. I loved the journey we went on with these characters and the way all their stories intertwined. The reveals were well timed and the pacing was perfect. I wish we’d had a little more details at certain points, but generally this was an excellent book. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A total trip. I always love a book where the first chapter hooks me and has me looking sideways. It was my first book by this author and I’m excited to learn of a new writer I enjoy..

Julia Bartz delivers us another psychological thriller with some unexpected twists. A unique perspective with some supernatural aspects, cults vibes, and unreliable characters. I personally don't mind a cult storyline as the concept always blows my mind, but this one was definitely "out there" with its unique storyline and originality. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially with the trigger warnings (although properly forewarned by the author) and some aspects of the overall plot line. It was entertaining, but not quite as entertaining as The Writing Retreat.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review! I would be interested in seeing what Julia Bartz comes up with next!

Julia Bartz is usually quite over the top but that’s why I am drawn to her work. The cult story line is so outlandish but that’s what keeps me involved in the book. The Last Session was a little hard to get into however I did enjoy the craziness of it all

DNF @20%

This book has solidified that Julia Bartz is just not an author for me. On top of not liking the content of this book, the plot is always over the top ridiculous to me. And not in a fun way.

Wow, that was just wow!! This book introduces childhood drama, a non-believer cult, and some weirdness for sure. My dreams definitely reflected on my own childhood by the end. Thank You to Netgalley , Atria, and Julia Bartz for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. It's hard to say you "like" or "enjoyed" psychological thrillers but I was entertained. Were there some flaws and questions at the end, sure. But if you're looking for something with morbid twists and persuasion type vibes that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this might be for you.

I adored Julia’s debut novel, the Writing Retreat, to the point where I kept looking for a new book by her every few months. I was so happy to get the e-arc of her new novel, the Last Session. Julia does a really good job with twisty turns and captivating story lines. She always has a WTF moment in her stories and this book has many. It was entertaining but it was sometimes hard to avoid the reality of it all. Being a social worker, Thea has some standards to uphold and professional boundaries to maintain. At times, some of the things the FMC did felt like a reach. Nonetheless, I will continue to look out for other books from this author!

Julia Bartz is gives you that anxiety inducing escape room experience in The Last Session. This was a heart racing mind bending adventure that has you white knuckling for the whole ride.

Ok I will say this , this book will NOT be for everyone , it was dark and twisted with culty vibes and creepy AF at times !

The Last Session is a magnetic read, which somehow seduced me to read every single page . I did not know where this was going and the story literally took me down some rabbit hole and I was sucked in.. I had so many scenarios playing in my head and let's just say I was never right !

The writing is very vivid and if you like locked room thrillers then I think you might enjoy this one. However there is a lot of triggers in this book, such as sensitive subjects like religious abuse, alcohol abuse, bullying and sexual harassment. ( The author does a good job of forewarning readers before starting )

A quirky read. A little hard to get into in the beginning. Not as good as The Writing Retreat. Had it figured out early on. I love a cult story but it needed a little more action.

It just wasn’t for me. Although written well, the cult storyline was just ‘too out-there’ for my taste. I persevered to about 3/4 of the way through but it struggled to hold my attention. The Last Session was a DNF for me.
Thank You to NetGalley and Atria Booksfor the opportunity to read this ARC.

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it.

Julia Bartz’s second novel, while an interesting idea, was not the instant hit I found her first book to be. I love cult stories, so I was very excited to dive into this one. But the obsession with a fictional movie called Stargirl and how much it was related to the plot turned me off. I will say that Jonah’s character surprised me, so that is one positive note. I do look forward to the author’s next book because I really did enjoy The Writing Retreat. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reality and perception is the inherent question of this book. First of all, it's dealing with cults, which some people are more susceptible to than others. Even years later, you can ask someone who's been in one whether it was their perception or reality. This book explores those themes and takes it a bit further. By the time you get to the end of the book, you know that this place is a cult. But you also perceive that something unnatural is going on. Would you call it supernatural? Probably not. Is it entirely true? Probably not. But it definitely leaves you with a sense of the uncanny. Is all of this a coincidence, a manifestation of something Thea wants to hear or see? I really don't know.
I would like to think that at least in some instances I would have made better choices than Thea though.