I really liked this author's first book. But this book did not seem like it was written by the same person. The plot focused too much on trauma and not enough on the overall point of the story. I just did not think this book was good. I would suggest her first book though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author's previous work, "The Writing Retreat," which captured that same feeling of being surrounded by shady asf individuals. I'm a huge fan of locked room thrillers, and I find cults fascinating. The story follows Thea, who is on a quest to find a missing patient from the psychiatric ward where she works, a missing patient that bears a striking resemblance to her with a mysterious connection. Thea's sometimes reckless behavior and her personal struggles add to the story as she seeks answers, making for an exciting nonstop read although at times I was frustrated with her unprofessionalism lol. The cast of characters is diverse, sometimes you love these characters, scared of them, or just plain hate them which fills the plot with unexpected twists. The psychological elements are also quite engaging. And while the ending was crazy and I am still trying to process it is a solid locked room thriller that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys thrillers/mysteries! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. This review is my own.

Wow, this was a wild book! First of all, I obviously don't know Julia Bartz's history with psychology, and I'm not sure if a lot of the methods used/discussed by Moon and Sol (and other characters, as well, including our protagonist Thea) were actually real, but they certainly SOUNDED quite convincing. Either the author is incredibly well versed in lesser known psychology, such as "ghost lovers", or she's THAT good of an author, that she can write something and completely sell the reader on it. Either way, it's impressive. This book threw me off several times; more than once I found myself wondering exactly what was going on. I knew it wasn't meant to be a supernatural book, but there were aspects of it that were certainly outside the realm of "normal". Bartz did an incredible job of weaving Thea's past in with what was occurring in the present, as well as tying Catherine, Catherine's past, and a movie from their much younger years all into the delusions of the "cult" Sol and Moon were leading. Overall, this was just a very well done book. I had an extremely hard time putting it down. I liked The Writing Retreat, but this surpassed that by a mile. I cannot wait to see what Julia Bartz writes next. If she continues writing along these lines, she has a fan for life!

I think I don’t get along well wit this author. While I enjoyed the writing retreat, the weird lesbian sex was unnecessary and the same thing happened in this book as well. Felt - odd.

A good popcorn thriller! I was enjoying it until the unnecessary orgy was thrown in there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this book!

What a wild ride! This book follows a social worker as she searches for a patient who has gone missing. This book throws you into a chaotic journey that has many crazy twists and turns. There were a ton of storylines which made it a bit confusing and all over the place at times.

My brain felt jumbled trying to keep everything straight. However, I think this was by design to make the reader question what is real and what isn’t. Keeping everyone confused goes along with what the character's we’re experiencing as they were being brainwashed.

Thank you #netgalley and #JuliaBartz for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Last Session had an intriguing hook - the famous actress in peril and a well intentioned heroine looking to save her. The middle relied on Thea making some really poor choices, which lost me for a bit, but the finale was satisfying enough. There was not an explanation beyond coincidence for the dreams Thea had or the connection she felt with Catherine, which made it feel unresolved.

Having to dnf an arc is not my favorite way to start off my already rocky December reading goal, but here we are!

I made it 28% through and was made ridiculously uncomfortable by the amount of sexual trauma not only mentioned but carelessly thrown around. Not to mention the story starts out strong but at the 25% mark just spirals into something so different from what was described.

Super disappointing, but glad I chose to dnf when I did.

Julia Bartz really creates some very unique and interesting novels. When I began the novel, I felt a little uncomfortable by the subject matter. It was a little out there. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the writing was clever and addictive and pulled me right in. The book continued to become more enthralling and I quickly became fascinated and entertained by the storyline. I do feel that the last quarter of the book could have been condensed and perhaps sharpened a bit. I felt it became a little repetitive towards the end. Overall, a solid read.

if julia bartz has no defenders, i am no longer on this plane of existence. now, this one is going to be hit or miss even if you were a fan of the writing retreat (as i am) HOWEVERRRR i think bartz writes exactly the kind of zany, wild things i need to stick through thrillers. with a breakneck pacing, i can see why this might be too much if you don’t let yourself suspend your deblief GREATLY— but if you do, you are in for a treat.

I really enjoyed how immersive the setting was in The Last Session. The descriptions of the castle and its grounds were vivid and atmospheric—it felt like I was right there in its haunting, mysterious halls. The author clearly put in a lot of research, creating a believable and layered backdrop for the story. I also loved the inclusion of a female antagonist, which brought a refreshing change to the typical thriller dynamic.

Though the plot wasn’t gripping or particularly exciting, it was an easy read that kept me engaged. One highlight for me was how the author openly discussed issues surrounding queer and trans individuals in the context of religious harm. Lines like “Think of certain religious communities right now denouncing queer and trans people” stuck with me, adding nuance and depth. I really appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation and the thoughtful commentary on the intersections of faith and identity.

On the downside, some parts of the plot felt exaggerated or disjointed. Additionally, while the backstory of the main character was interesting, it didn’t fully align with her present-day character or the plot’s progression. I also found the male main characters to be quite flat, and I wish they had been more developed.

Amazing and atmospheric. What starts out as an easy mindless mystery turns into a thrilling wild ride that I absolutely could not put down at all. The authors writing style is grabbing and addicting all the way up to the end. Some of the things that happened may seem implausible but when you read for escapism’ you’ll believe anything lol.

I really struggled to finish this book. It was very crazy at times and a little out of my wheelhouse so I had a hard time relating to the story and characters. This content may be perfect for someone else and the prose was fine, I just didn’t care for it personally.

I really enjoyed Bartz’s debut, The Writing Retreat. While The Last Session got off to a fast start, this was a little too “out there” for me and required too much suspension of disbelief to truly enjoy fully.

I’m all for a “cult” thriller but the actual backbone of the cult’s beliefs and philosophy was chaotic and hard to get through in the parts where it was detailed in depth. Thea’s actions throughout also required suspension of disbelief to think she would have willingly continued on or even arrived at the “center” in the first place.

Written well but too much for me!

I really like Julia Bartz’s writing. The Writing Retreat was a 3.5/5 for me— a promising debut but a bit lacklustre. I was really excited for The Last Session and to give Bartz’s sophomore novel a chance. It started off VERY promising. Her writing really does suck you in and the storyline in the beginning was very intriguing. Once we get to the main premise of the story is when things start taking a downward turn for me. I just did not care. And nothing is worse than a mystery that you just don’t care about. And I don’t mind an ambiguous ending but what was this? So many things left unanswered but then also, what was the plot twist? Nothing overtly shocking took place; maybe a couple mini surprises but even that feels generous to say. I probably wouldn’t have finished this if not for Julia’s writing— it really is very good and makes me hopeful for her next novel. Third times a charm? Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Full of twists and bizarre happenings , this kept me reading to see just where it was going and how things would be explained.. Julia Bartz has a knack for writing thrillers that keep you reading even when her stories are a bit over the top. Even though things get a bit unbelievable and the main character seems to consistently make poor decisions, it is still a good read.
3.5 stars rounded up.

Thea is a social worker whose new patient is a celebrity from Thea’s childhood, one Thea has loved since she was 13. The only thing is Catherine, the celebrity, cannot remember what happened to her and how she ended up in a hospital to this in-patient facility. After she leaves in the arms of unknown individuals, Thea embarks on a journey to the New Mexican desert to a health and relationship retreat to find what Catherine was running away from.

This is an ARC so I want to give it the benefit of the doubt that it’s still being worked through, but the ending and the escaping through tunnels is extremely unclear. Thea is in and out of consciousness and we’re supposed to somehow follow how she was dragged out of a cave she was pushed in and that only had one entrance and exit: the one she was pushed from. The book also took a significantly long time to get good and that was the last 75% of the book. Additionally, I found the writing juvenile and cringeworthy. I read her other book and I’ve come to terms that I believe this authors writing style isn’t for me.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Session by Julia Bartz is a gripping psychological thriller that skillfully explores the complexities of group dynamics and hidden agendas. Bartz’s sharp, engaging prose creates an atmosphere of tension and unease, pulling readers into a story filled with twists and unexpected revelations. The characters are flawed yet compelling, each adding depth to the unfolding drama. While the pacing falters slightly in the middle, the final act delivers a satisfying and intense conclusion. A thought-provoking and suspenseful read that keeps you guessing until the very end, perfect for fans of dark, character-driven mysteries.

Thank you Atria Books for the ARC.

I heard great things about Bart’s’ previous book, so I was excited to pick this up. That being said, this seemed to drag on a bit. At first, I was interested to find Catherine and Thea’s connection, but once I hit half way, the story seemed to drag on. I would probably skip this book and read the Writing Retreat instead.

A compelling twisty psychological thriller with themes of sexual/religious trauma, identity, healing, mental health, cultural appropriation and cults, phew that's a lot right? Bartz deftly intertwines these elements with remarkable sensitivity and insight, all while maintaining an unsettling atmosphere that heightens the suspense and unease, an incredibly suspenseful and atmospheric mystery with a protagonist whose journey elicits genuine empathy, much like a Catriona Ward novel the reader is left wondering that the hell is going on, it's intense and will have you second guessing everything, overall a fantastic thriller!