I enjoyed this quirky, darkly humorous book, in spite of the unsympathetic main character, who is most definitely a psychopath! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title and concept of this book really drew me in and I was excited to read it. This gave me vibes of the show YOU, but wasn't as grasping for me. Julie Tudor is DEFINITELY a psychopath with her unhinged antics and obsession with Sean. Although I enjoyed the overall story, I was not a huge fan of Julie herself. She didn't come off as witty or a funny type of crazy, she just came off more as desperate and just made me feel a bit sad for her. Due to this, this book took me a bit longer to get through because I just didn't really enjoy Julie's personality.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the review copy of Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath! This was a fast-paced, darkly funny ride with serious “stalker Bridget Jones” energy. Julie is undeniably unhinged, yet oddly compelling—and even though some of the darker themes didn’t totally work for me, the wild plot and razor-sharp narration kept me turning pages. A twisty, entertaining escape for fans of messy main characters and morally murky fun.

Read if you like:
🖤 Unhinged female narrators
🔪 Dark humor with a side of murder
📺 You or Search Party vibes
📓 Obsessive love stories gone way, way too far
😂 Laughing even when you feel like you probably shouldn’t

I’m not exactly sure how a book with a killer as a main character can be both quirky and fun, but somehow this author manages to do this! This was a very quick read that made me laugh, even though the subject matter is so grim. I can’t wait to read something else by this author!

This book was so much fun to read. Julie reminds me a lot of Pearl only with romance instead of stardom. If fact this whole book gave me that same delusional mix of horror and humor as Pearl does. This was overall a really fun read with just a tiny sprinkle of murder.

While the title of this book is “Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath,” there’s a reason that the “Not” is crossed out on the cover, and that’s because Julie most certainly IS a psychopath! You’ve been warned, don’t get between her and the love(s) of her life!

Julie is certifiably bonkers, but just like a train wreck, I could not look away! Her perception of the world is, shall we say, unencumbered by reality (to put it mildly!), but somehow it’s so much fun to have a front row seat to her unhinged inner monologue. Like yes, she’s a crazy stalker serial killer, but she’s also so darkly funny and unexpectedly, unnervingly charming as she comes up with increasingly devious ways to take down her rivals.

The nonlinear timeline structure is really effective at keeping you both rooted in the present while also showing Julie’s diabolical backstory and the depths of her delusion. Suffice it to say, her obsession with Sean isn’t an isolated event! Between the fast pace and the sharp wit, I was completely entertained and binged this one in just a couple of sittings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath is a darkly funny ride with an unhinged and unpredictable FMC who keeps readers on their toes. Told in first person POV across multiple timelines, the story follows Julie as she navigates life, love, and the occasional morally gray decision. While the book starts strong, the pacing drags in the middle despite its short length (320 pages), and I found myself wishing for a quicker resolution. Julie’s quirks—reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant—make her both compelling and unsettling. A fun, twisted comedy that’s perfect for a weekend binge.
3.5 stars

This was such a fun read for me! As soon as I saw this cover and read the synopsis, I knew I had to read it. Julie Tudor is such a great, memorable character. I was hooked right from the first chapter and really enjoyed the ride. Of course, Julie is completely delusional, but it was so fun being in her head. If you're looking for a fun, easy beach read (with a little murder) definitely give this one a go! I'm really impressed by this debut and can't wait to see what the author comes up with next!

Where do I even start with this book??This book is definitely a dark comedic thriller. It was extremely well written, and let me tell you this story is WILD!!! Julie is a one of a kind delusional, psychopath...100%! I don't think I have ever cringed for longer than I have with this book. The second hand embarrassment I experienced page after page was exhilarating to say the least. I laughed and scoffed and cringed, in no particular order, for the whole darn book. The amount of quotes I made note of in this book to just read over and over again to experience her complete and utter disconnect from her world, her surroundings, is bonkers. To say she's a bit loopy and out of touch with her environment is an understatement. The degree of obsession Julie feels for the unfortunate men that cross her path is unhinged and I loved every second of it. Julie is a character you will never forget, she is so brilliantly conveyed and I don't think I will read a book like this again.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the eArc.

This book is way more enjoyable than I anticipated. The humor is placed in all the right places and most times I’m thinking, “this girl is cray cray.” Thrillers are some of my favorites to read, but throwing in a bit of wit has made this a cut above the rest. I hope the vibes continue through the rest of the book, and every time I think Julie can’t get even weirder, she whips out another quirk. So thankful that @bookmarked shared this eARC with me because this is for sure a story I won’t forget.

One thing is for sure, between her cringe Facebook posts and her petrified cat (iykyk), Julie Tudor is most definitely a psychopath. 💋

Well, you should know from the title that she most certainly is a psychopath. The story is told from her POV and you quickly realize she is unhinged. And she just goes with it!! She talks to herself while pretending her "love" is there, she does whatever it takes to get rid of any competition, and she justifies her actions in a way that makes you uncomfortable. Its almost like second hand embarrassment, but its second hand fear. And you learn she has been this way her whole life!!!!! The story flashes back to previous "loves" and how that went. I think this story will appeal to those who like darker humor. The book has a weird bit of humor in that its told from Julie who this all she does is totally normal. I struggled with it because I just couldn't figure out how she has made it to 49 without landing in prison or committed for life. She just get getting away with all this stuff.

Well, I can say that Julie Tudor will not let anything get in the way of true love, be it a wife, girlfriend, or even the reality that the guy might not reciprocate that love! It was quite entertaining to see the schemes Julie concocted to achieve her goals because some of them were quite wild. I guess it helped that she did not connect with people in the usual way, though she had her more human moments with Gareth and Frank that were sweet and gave me hope that maybe the body count wouldn't rise any higher (though that was not the case, Julie is nothing if not persistent!)

This was a story that flew by for me and was easy to be hooked until the inevitable end, though I do admire Julie's optimism for a future be it with a man or helping get rid of a pest problem for the director! Entertaining to read about but I am glad I don't know anyone like Julie! Though I would love to see some of her artwork.

Julie Tudor is an almost 50 year old spreadsheet whiz with a stable job, a beautiful house and the perfect man whom she is madly in love with. The only thing wrong is that man has the audacity to think he's in love with someone else. Sean is a 25 year old coworker of Julie's and is the only one for her. Their chats in the office and those longing looks that she sees Sean give her, sustain Julie throughout the day. How can Sean not see just how good they could be together? Julie is persistent though and knows how to play the long game, soon Sean will see what's been there for him all along...

Julie, girl.. You are most definitely a psychopath! This is a great debut and if you like dark humor and questionable protagonists you should definitely give it a shot! Being inside Julie's delulu mind is absolutely wild, it's like Fatal Attraction and Dexter had a love child and here's Julie! Some parts made me cringe because it was super uncomfortable sometimes to read about the desperation and obsession but I always came right back to our girl! I wouldn't say it's a full on thriller or mystery, maybe a chaotic character study in unique unreliable narrators but I still loved it! There are definitely a few sensitive topics that are discussed including: animal cruelty, murder, and violence, so be aware before reading. Overall I definitely recommend this fun read to fans of dark humor, cringe inducing unreliable characters, and people that are looking for something that is horrifying and amusing in equal parts!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Holdich, and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC!! Publication date was June 24th 2025.

I DNF’d at page 37, so please keep in mind that this rating may not reflect the book as a whole, or I may not have been the right audience for this one.

I think the premise could have been great. I’ve read a few books this year with unhinged FMC’s that I loved, but this one felt different. I felt a bit uncomfortable with how Julie was being portrayed - more like she was mentally unwell vs. an obsessive psychopath. When she disclosed the age gap is where I really became uncomfortable. I also think the writing style of this book was not for me.

I hope this book finds its audience!

Unfortunately, Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath didn’t quite work for me. The premise had a lot of potential, but the execution felt uneven. I struggled to connect with the characters, especially Julie, whose voice sometimes came off more erratic than endearing. The pacing dragged in places, and the tone shifted so often it was hard to tell what the book wanted to be—dark comedy, thriller, or character study.

There were moments that hinted at something sharper and more compelling, but overall, it just didn’t land. I know this will work better for some readers, but it missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary eARC of Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was just. Uhm.
I typically read cozy mysteries, and this was part cozy and part thriller ?

Julie is a mastermind I’ll give her that. She is also a train wreck and I couldn’t stop reading.

She is most definitely a psychopath.

Rounding up from 3.5

While the first chapter had me intrigued about how this story was going to play out, it ultimately didn't do anything for me. I didn't enjoy being in Julie's head, and although the story took some dark turns, I didn't find any dark humor in it. We get multiple timelines with Julie, and I don't think any, except maybe the most recent to the present, really added anything to what was going on.

This one just didn't work for me, but it is definitely an interesting concept so I'll check out whatever this author writes next.

This is an absolutely perfect beach read for thriller readers. Fast-paced and unhinged! Julie Tudor is a character I will not soon forget. Parts of the book are dark; don’t let the cutesy cover fool you! It has Fatal Attraction vibes and I’m not sure if I was supposed to like Julie or feel sorry for her, but I didn’t feel either way- she’s a truly terrible person! I read this in one sitting because I had to know what happened!

Thanks for the review copy!

This story follows Julie who believes Sean is the one for him and will do anything to make him fall her. The story was fun, and I enjoyed reading from this psychopath’s perspective. Yes, this would be awful in real life but the story was like watching a movie. As much as the story was interesting, I did wish the pacing were the same throughout the book. This book jumps through different times of the year it explaining Julie and what she has done in the past. One thing I absolutely hated was animal cruelty throughout this book. I was that was skipped. This book is from Julie’s pov.

Julie is the FMC who is 49 with a boring job but a crazy mind. I had fun reading her story and don’t expect to see a development or a way to connect with her. Then we have Sean, who is in a relationship that makes Julie mad. As Sean is younger, I enjoyed seeing the different viewpoints of life from both characters’ eyes. There are other side characters, but none who played such major roles. This book is not classified as romance since it’s one-sided and follows a psychopath.

The ending was great, and overall this was a pretty great book. This book is classified as a dark humor but I wouldn’t consider it humorous, but for sure dark. If leaning toward dark humor that would be like Butcher and Blackbird. This book was more like You. I recommend checking out this book if you want a dark mystery/thriller book.

*this book was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

‘Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath’ is one of those rare books that sticks with you; not necessarily because you loved it, but because it’s so unique and utterly fascinating. While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I found myself genuinely appreciating what Holdich set out to do with this story.

At the center of it all is Julie, a main character who is incredible unlikeable, cringeworthy, and jaw-dropping in her attachment and behavior. She’s far from your typical protagonist in how out-of-touch she is with reality, and that’s what makes this such a compelling character study in a lot of ways. Watching her navigate the reality she’s written in her mind is equally awkward and intriguing, creating a constant sense of discomfort that you can’t quite look away from.

The plot itself is fairly predictable, which contrasts with how unpredictable Julie herself is. This made for an oddly effective tension—knowing where the story is going, but never quite sure how Julie will react or what she’ll say next. Her total lack of self-awareness makes for some painfully awkward moments, but that discomfort is part of the experience.

If you’re looking for a conventional thriller this might not be your cup of tea. But if you enjoy offbeat narratives and unsettling characters, ‘Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath’ could be worth picking up.