Julie Tudor is absolutely unhinged! Julie believes that the romantic thoughts she has about men are reciprocated by them, despite any evidence to the contrary. The story follows Julie (49) in her contest to get Sean (25 and a co-worker) to publicly announce his undying love for her. The only problem is, Sean is not romantically interested in her, but that's really only a problem for the reader as Julie knows he is just keeping up appearances at work so that no one thinks he is giving Julie special treatment.

Review: Reading this was a painfully uncomfortable, yet equally hilarious as Julie solves her problems with men by reducing the number of people in the equation. This review is actually for the audiobook shared with me through Tantor Audio and Jennifer Holdich for an ARC of this book via NetGalley. The narration was completed by Clare Corbett, who was wonderful with her lovely British accent and pacing. At the end, I am glad that I read this book!

Julie Tudor is most definitely a psychopath but I’m here for it!

A quirky and entertaining story told from the point of view of a deeply disturbed yet seemingly harmless Julie. This is a quick entertaining and darkly funny read. Despite the amount of violence that seems to follow Julie, this one somehow felt lighthearted and was a nice break from some of my heavier reads. Perfect for the beach, so add to your summer reading list!

The narration was great and perfectly illustrates Julie’s inner monologue, which I felt really added to the story.

Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich left me with more questions than enjoyment. I kept wondering why it was set in 1981 and 2009. The only conclusion I could draw was that it related to DNA evidence, but even that felt flimsy since DNA started solving crimes in the late '80s and '90s. This confounded and distracted me.

Overall, the book dragged and wasn’t funny at all. I did appreciate hearing about Julie’s childhood and teenage years, and even felt for her, but I couldn’t get into the story or care much about her, especially when she mentioned the telepathic messages she and Sean sent each other. It was uncomfortably outlandish.

As for the plot, I couldn’t help comparing it to Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone, which is one of my all-time favorite books. That comparison isn’t entirely fair, since there’s more than one way to write a story about a psychopath, but I preferred VHS' approach, which is why I rate it 2 stars.

Clare Corbett is a good narrator.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for providing me with an ALC.

Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich is an audacious, darkly comic romp through the mind of a woman whose grip on reality is…tenuous at best. Julie Tudor isn’t your typical romantic heroine—she’s in her late 40s, gloriously self-assured, and absolutely certain that she’s found the love of her life in 25-year-old Sean. The only hitch? Sean doesn’t know it yet. And sure, he might be seeing someone else—but to Julie, that’s just a minor inconvenience. She’s not crazy, she’s just committed.

This novel is like diving headfirst into the pool of Julie’s delusions—with a martini in hand and a laugh bubbling up your throat. She’s a deliciously unreliable narrator, charming in one moment, chilling in the next. What sets this book apart is how convincingly it balances that line between sympathy and discomfort. There are moments when Julie’s loneliness feels deeply human—her observations about aging, invisibility, and disconnection are hauntingly relatable. But then she pivots to a deadpan plan to eliminate romantic rivals, and you remember: this woman is deeply unwell… and wildly entertaining.

Jennifer Holdich channels British wit with surgical precision. The humor is sharp, dry, and often unexpectedly tender, making the more outlandish aspects of Julie’s behavior even more striking. There were parts that had me laughing out loud, only to grimace the next second in secondhand embarrassment. The tone is campy but cleverly so—it knows exactly what it’s doing and invites you along for the ride.

One of the most enjoyable elements is the structure. The timeline slides between past and present, gradually revealing what made Julie the woman she is today. The flashbacks don’t serve as justification—they deepen the portrait of a woman who’s always felt “off,” someone who’s tried desperately to belong and ended up going too far. It’s equal parts thriller, satire, and character study, and it works because it never lets you look away from the trainwreck, even when you want to.

The audiobook is also a standout. The narrator captures Julie’s tone perfectly—earnest, exasperated, sometimes pitiful, often deranged. It adds a whole layer of personality, especially in those unfiltered inner monologues where her delusions spiral out of control in the most entertaining way.

For readers who like:
-Unhinged female lead
-Satirical
-Beach reads

Final Verdict
Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath is a riotously funny, quietly devastating, and deeply uncomfortable look at obsession dressed up as romance. You’ll cringe, laugh, and maybe even sympathize a little—until Julie does something completely unhinged again. It’s bold, it’s brash, and it’s brilliantly bonkers. A compulsive read for anyone who loves their protagonists messy, misguided, and memorably delusional.

Grateful to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and Jennifer Holdich for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Okay…I was clearly drawn to this book based off of the sarcastic title and cover. I received an ALC of this book through NetGalley and absolutely LOVED the British narrator - Clare Corbett. This was different from many other thrillers I have listened to in that it was from the point of view of the killer. I don’t think I’m contributing to any spoilers when I say: Julie Tudor absolutely IS a psychopath!

Julie, a 49-year-old woman, works an office job and is convinced that her and her 25-year-old co-worker, Sean, are in love. It doesn’t matter that he is getting married to someone else. It must all be a charade so that the whole company doesn’t know about their love. It clearly means a lot more when he looks at her the way he does…

Jennifer Holdich is such a talented writer. I have NO idea how she could get into such a creative headspace where she could have Julie so effortlessly think of excuses as to why all of the men who are “in love with her” are not reciprocating in an effort to hide their true love from the outside world. This book seriously messes with your head.

I think listening to this book really gave it a leg up. Clare does such a great job just seeming to be so unbothered and unhinged as she narrates this book in the voice of Julie, it’s insane. This was such a great book to listen to! I gave it 4 stars because I felt like there were some chapters that felt like repeated details and it could have been shorter and more to the point. That being said, you would not be disappointed if you listened to this book. The narration definitely brings this story to life!

Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath is a witty, sharp, and darkly charming novel that delves into the inner life of a woman who may—or may not—be completely ordinary. Jennifer Holdich masterfully balances psychological insight with biting humor, presenting a protagonist who is both relatable and refreshingly unpredictable. Julie’s internal monologue is a rollercoaster of dry wit, suppressed rage, and surprisingly touching vulnerability.

Clare Corbett’s narration brings Julie to life with perfect comedic timing and nuance, capturing every bit of her deadpan delivery and simmering emotion. Her voice adds depth to Julie's character, making the audiobook an even more immersive experience.

This novel is for readers who enjoy smart, character-driven fiction with a dark comedic edge—think Fleabag meets Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Highly recommended for fans of unreliable narrators, complex women, and stories that keep you laughing while making you slightly uncomfortable in the best way.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

This book was everything I look for in a weird girl book. An FMC that is completely delusional and honestly just a horrible person, but somehow you are cheering them on every step of the way. I don't really know how the author did it, because this character is truly despicable and deserves no happiness in life, but I wanted her to win so stinking bad, not sure what that says about me, but we'll let my therapist figure that one out. If you like a good thriller with an insufferable character, then you need to pick this one up immediately.

Wow. I tore through this book. The delusional main character was unbelievable. Julie's outrageousness was perfection.

I loved this debut novel. Our main character thinks that everyone is in love with her when in fact, none of these men are. You can’t go into this book with a serious mindset. Julie is not the world’s most likable character but she is highly entertaining. I absolutely loved this and 10/10 recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!! I understand books are subjective but I would genuinely struggle to understand how someone could not love this book

Think Netflix hit show Baby Reindeer (which is based on a true story) from the viewpoint of Martha instead of Donny

I will DEFINITELY be purchasing a book trophy hard copy and recommending this to anyone who will listen

This review can be found on Goodreads, Bookmory, StoryGraph, Fable, and Tiktok

After finishing this and giving it 5 stars, I went to read other reviews, and I find it funny that a book like [book:You|36430011] is getting raving reviews, and a TV show adaptation, but once it's a female POV/main character, it's now 'disturbing' or 'twisted' or 'dark'.

You're not supposed to feel sorry for Julie, you're not supposed to understand her reasoning, you're not supposed to see why she's acting this way, you're clearly in a mind of a psychopath, someone who is unreliable, someone who doesn't think logically, and I fear many readers are searching for or expecting to like or understand Julie and you can't. Just like Joe. Don't look for reasoning or understanding.

If you're a huge fan of [book:You|36430011], you need to read this because it's the same vibes. Julie is just trying to get the dude she likes to notice her, and if that means taking out some people or bending some laws/rules, then she's gonna do what she needs to do to get her man.

I enjoyed the story from beginning to end and seeing as my average rating is a 3.33 and I only give out 5-star ratings to maybe a handful of books, consider this a must read, in my opinion.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"For future reference, meat tenderizers, even heavy-duty models, are not good skull smashers; I ended it...with the cast iron umbrella stand by the door and nearly put my back out!"

"You’d think it would be hard to kill someone in cold blood, but once you’ve attacked one person with murderous intent— premeditated or not— the next one is easier...and it wasn’t really in cold blood anyway. I was furious; my blood was boiling!"

I just couldn't stop reading or listening (or laughing) to the WTF is going on, Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath, by mesmerizing psychological thriller debut author, Jennifer Holdich.

With the darkest humor, Julie Tudor introduces herself to us as a woman who has it all; a job where they couldn't survive without her, owns her home, and, of course, the love of her life Sean. No matter that she's 49 and he is 25. Love is love.

Except Sean just says hello and bye to Julie. She says his greetings are code. He'll be over soon...but he never shows up. It couldn't be his girlfriend keeping him away; she's just a front to hide their relationship.

Sean's just too nice. She'll have to get rid of the girlfriend. After all, it isn't like she hasn't done it before for him...or the others who loved her but had to be rid of the obstacles...uh...people...in the way of true love.

Voice actress Clare Corbett gives a brilliant performance playing Julie completely serious during the most absurd situations. I was flabbergasted by her justification for her actions. I need this to be a movie with either Emma Thompson or Helena Bonham Carter.

This book was part of my Killer Summer Book Box from Sourcebooks Landmark.
Two thrillers left in the box.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath...shh...she really is one, and you really need to meet her.
But not with Sean!

I received free copies of this book/audiobook from Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC. This book was amazing! It was morbidly funny! You can’t help but be captivated by Julie’s delusions while also feel sadness for the people she harmed. I am excited to see more from this author!!

I was super excited for this one (I love a good serial killer story) but this British romance/thriller just didn't work for me. I couldn't connect to the slightly unhinged and delusional FMC and didn't love the narrator either. It was just okay and I ended up DNFing because I couldn't stay interested enough to keep listening until the end. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you @netgalley for my audio copy! Two in one week?! Who even am I these days?! LOL

This one was hard to rate. I thought parts of it were hilarious, snarky, witty and downright unhinged. Julie is sympathetic and frustrating. I wanted to smack her (even though it probably would not have helped) and I also felt for her. She had a strange, abusive upbringing and is a bit erm….delulu.

I did not like that she was manipulated and made fun of without her understanding and yet…she was a murderer. It was perplexing lol The narrator of Clare Corbett did a wonderful job with the accent and dialect. I did find myself giggling out loud quite a few times. Since this was snarky, I will most definitely look for more of Holdich’ work.

This is a great, solid thriller. I enjoyed the premise and love a mature FMC. Although Julie Tudor may not be a psychopath (I’ll let you decide), I’m not sure mature is the right word either. It was fun to read a thriller with such a sunny demeanor.

Julie is an office worker at a local investment firm and is seemingly successful from an outsider’s perspective, with a crush on her coworker, Sean. “Sean is twenty-five and the love of Julie's life. The only problem is, he thinks he's in love with someone else.”

The narrator for this audiobook had the perfect voice for the character and felt authentic to the POV. This is my ideal narrator - reflecting the POV, speaking clearly, no whistling (my pet peeve) when listening at a higher speed.

Overall, I would read this book again and recommend to my fellow readers. Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and Jennifer Holdich for this ALC!

It was a bit hard for me to get into this book, due to it being written from the perspective of a “psychopath”, but the mystery kept me hooked. I enjoyed the audio narration for this title.

Thank you Tantor Audio for my gifted ALC!

Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath was feminism’s answer to Joe Goldberg from YOU, and I had an absolute blast with it. I found myself laughing out loud to Julie’s inner thoughts and reasonings. This was definitely the book I needed to help me out of a slump!

What a crazy ride! I wasn’t sure at first what to make of this book. The shifting timelines give you a glimpse into the past and how Julie has reacted to opposition prior to her latest issues and it’s frightening and fascinating at the same time. The writing balances both timelines well and manages to make Julie seem unhinged and reasonable at the same time, all the while shaking your head wondering where to draw the line. The ending was perfectly fitting and the narrator brought it all together well, making for an enjoyable way to pass an afternoon.

I had SO much fun with this book. I listened on audio and the narrator was fantastic, so that may have something to do with it, but I actually laughed out loud multiple times. The setting is in 2009/10, so Julie knew nothing about social media; every single time she said "the facebook" I laughed. It reminded me of Bridget Jones's Diary (without the stalking and murder).

This author did a fantastic job with the characterization of Julie because I loved her and sympathized with her while still cringing at everything she did and knowing she was not okay in the head. There isn't really a mystery, but I had a few ideas of what I thought would happen and I was wrong multiple times.

I wrote down a few quotes that made me laugh (paraphrasing):

"The guinea pigs had the names of my neighbors. Coincidence."

"Susanna brought in her nut free cakes, although I didn't see how any environment containing Susanna could truly be nut free."


AND THE ENDING. Like, last sentence ending? Perfect.

This was not the greatest book for me and I really wasn’t a fan. Almost glad I got this ALC because if I bought this I would be upset. It seemed fast paced to me and not something I would read again.