A decade after being branded #PoisonIvy and exiled from Hollywood, former teen star Ivy Westcott is thrust back into the spotlight when a shocking exposé reignites the scandal that ruined her life. Desperate for redemption, she agrees to a secret Hello, Juliet reunion—only to find herself at the center of a deadly mystery when a former castmate turns up dead. To clear her name and survive, Ivy must unravel the dark secrets of the show that made her famous… before she becomes the next victim.

I had been hearing so many great things about this book, so I was really excited to read it. It gave me total Beverly Hills, 90210 behind the scenes drama vibes, and I loved it! The beginning set up the story perfectly for the mystery, and it was dark and full of suspense. While the characters weren’t totally likable, I did vibe with Ivy. The TV show reunion was done perfectly, and I honestly can’t say anything bad about this book, except that I did figure out whodunnit early on. That’s a me thing though because other people have said the opposite. I don’t want to say too much about the plot though because I loved going into this one blind. This was my first book by Bailey, and it won’t be my last!

Kira Fixx is a new to me narrator, and I thought she was the perfect voice for Ivy. She brought suspense and moodiness to this story, and it fit perfectly with the dark vibes Bailey was going for. I look forward to listening to more books narrated by her.

Thank you to the author, Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse, Thomas and Mercer, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/29
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This book was absolutely fantastic and I ate up every second of this one.
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I have been super into these “stars comeback” books and this was just so different and intense that once I started I couldn’t stop.
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Hello, Juliet is told in a dual timeline during the present and the most recent suspicious death and then in the past during the time of the show Hello, Juliet. I loved both timelines, I found myself completely captivated and unable to pull my eyes from the screen/ears from the narration. The characters are all fantastic. I love how during the entire book I suspected everyone at different times.
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This is a fast paced book right from the start. I flew through this in a night and stayed up way past my bedtime. The ending was incredible and everything I needed for the story.
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I listened to this while reading my eARC. It was narrated by Kira Fixx and I think she was fantastic. This was such an addicting story!
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Overall, huge win for me. I think that all my thriller lovers will love it! Be sure to check it out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Samantha M. Bailey, Brilliance Publishing and Thomas&Mercer for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A decade after the abrupt end of the hit teen drama Hello, Juliet, former lead actress Ivy is invited to a secret reunion episode. But when she arrives, she finds a co-star dead - thrusting her into a fight to uncover the truth and clear her name.

Though this isn’t YA, it definitely has that teen-drama vibe. Told across past and present timelines, we follow Ivy as she navigates the mystery in the present while also reliving her early struggles with auditions and chaos of overnight fame.

I loved how the book included news and social media, with chapters featuring articles, forum posts, and comment sections. It really added depth and a modern, fast paced vibe.

That said, I couldn’t really tell past and present Ivy apart - I would have loved to see some maturity or growth, but she felt the same throughout. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment, but it definitely reinforced that YA-style.

While there’s murder and mystery, this leans heavily into drama, with plenty of romance and who’s crushing on who - but the twist completely got me, and I kinda loved it. For such a light read, it got surprisingly dark!

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining read. I loved how it blended a classic whodunit with mixed media to create a fresh, modern, and youthful vibe. The audiobook narrator matched the energy perfectly, making it even more immersive.

Thanks to @Netgalley and
@BrilliancePublishing for access to this advanced readers copy

Thank you @sbaileybooks @brilliancepublishing & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you love stories filled with Hollywood intrigue, then this one is a must-read!

Former child and teen star Ivy has spent the last decade living a quiet life, away from the media frenzy and scandals of Hollywood. However, when producers announce a reunion show, Ivy finds herself reluctantly drawn back into the spotlight, driven by financial necessity. What starts as a nostalgic return quickly spirals into chaos when a shocking murder rocks the production, thrusting her into a web of intrigue more complicated than she ever imagined.

I highly recommend diving into this story without any prior knowledge, so I won’t reveal too much. The narrative cleverly unfolds through both past and present perspectives of Ivy, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the cast. The twists are genuinely shocking, and with a murderer on the loose, the suspense keeps you guessing until the very end!

I particularly enjoyed the audio version. The narrator does a great job distinguishing voices.

It was great, though I found it a bit too twisty at times. For me, it felt a little overwhelming, but I know that won’t be a problem for many people. The unpredictability and all the twists will probably be a big draw for others.

The character getting a role was nice, but was it really nice? It felt like something was missing, or maybe it didn’t have the impact I expected. It was interesting to see unfold, but I wasn’t completely convinced by it.

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced, an easy read and lots of questions along the way! I thought I managed to figure out the ending, however, I was wrong and the ending was amazing! I liked how it really tied the story together and answered any questions I had.

The only thing I struggled with was that there is a lot of POVs and going back and forth, however I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend!

I went into Samantha M. Bailey's "Hello, Juliet" expecting a good, twisty thriller, and honestly, it delivered... mostly. You know those books that just pull you in with a familiar vibe? That's this one. It's got that "is he or isn't he?" stalker feeling, but with a modern, tech-y twist that definitely made me pause and think about my own online habits.
Ivy? Girl, I felt for her. She's dealing with some serious past trauma, and you can practically feel her anxiety radiating off the page. There were definitely moments where I wanted to yell, "Just put down the phone!" or "Don't go there!" because, well, you know how it is in thrillers. We all see the danger before the characters do. But that's part of the fun, right?
What really got me was how Bailey used social media and dating apps to amp up the creep factor. It's so relatable! We all live so much of our lives online, and this book really made me think about how easily that can be turned against us. It's a bit unsettling, in a good way.
Now, I'll be honest, there were parts where I rolled my eyes a little. Some of the side characters felt a bit flat, and the ending, while it tied things up, felt a bit too quick. Like, "Wait, that's it?" But hey, I was entertained! It was a solid, suspenseful read that kept me guessing.
If you're looking for a book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and you love a good thriller with a bit of a "be careful what you post" message, "Hello, Juliet" is worth checking out. It's not going to blow your mind with originality, but it's a solid, enjoyable ride. I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 because I was genuinely hooked. Plus, it made me seriously reconsider my privacy settings, so there's that!

This was a super twisty celebrity thriller that involves a group of teen tv stars gathering for a reunion show only for one to turn up dead and the other left scrambling to figure out who the killer is. I loved the flashbacks, the female friendship, the secrets and the incredible JAW dropping ending.

Bailey does such a great job delving into the world of celebrity, fame and the true cost of it all (mentally, financially and more). This was also great on audio with news snippets interspersed between the flashbacks. A new fav from this Canadian thriller author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

CW: drug overdose, alcohol abuse/addiction, toxic parental relationship