A successful therapist sees parallels coming from one of her clients and a family member. She has had trust issues in the past that almost wrecked her marriage. As the story catches fire, she starts snooping in her husband's phone and it seems like one of her clients might be the person that is creating havoc in her relative's life.

The narration is great and parts of this book made me want to go out and walk another mile just to keep hearing the story. Twists and turns go on and on and they ending is painful to read as it comes to a close. Great story and the premise of the whole thing could actually happen. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook.

LOVED! My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough. Lucinda Berry never ceases to send me through the ringer to places my brain could not see coming!
Loved the multiple voice actors and the sound of the “recordings” made it all the more enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio and Netgalley for providing this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fine story for anyone who is looking for a quick mystery with an admittedly surprising end.
The story, especially in the beginning was quite exposition heavy. It felt like when a friend of a friend has trapped you at a dinner and is telling you a boring story with way too much background.
I liked the narration, especially having different people voicing the text messages. It was an original way, at least for me, to make clear who is speaking.

This is a Safe Space is an audio thriller that blew me away. I have been burned in the past when they say something is an audio thriller, and I keep listening, waiting for the thrills. That was not the case here. This was thrilling from start to finish.

Jenna is a successful therapist. She also has trust issues with her husband, Colten. She unlocks a secret between her husband, a bachelor party, and a patient of hers.

There were not many twists in this book, but the ones that were present were effective. I thought it would be easy to figure out, and at times it is, but Lucinda Berry knows how to play perfectly into taking what’s obvious to the reader and flipping it on its head.

If you’re like me and have lost faith when something is called an audio-only thriller, then this is the book for you. Hopefully, this can restore your faith in the genre too.

Fantastic audiobook with great narrators, making it feel like I was watching a movie. Solid twists towards the end, even though parts were predictable.

This book was wild in the best way! I loved how it dropped you right into Jenna’s world, where her personal and professional lives start to collide. If you’re into domestic thrillers with smart women, messy relationships, and secrets that spiral out of control, this one’s a total five-star read.

Great book! Fast paced psychological thriller novella that I read in one reading. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this opportunity!

I was looking for a new audiobook to listen to at the gym and came across this one from Lucinda Berry that is more of a short story (under 4 hours of listening time). The main cast of characters includes Jenna, a therapist with trust issues, her husband Colton, her sister Phoenix (pregnant with twins), brother-in-law Bodie, and Jenna's patient Kaitlyn, a medical student paying her way through school by dancing at parties on the weekend, under the name Lexus Chardonnay. The story starts off focused on Jenna's inability to keep herself from snooping in her husband's phone. What she finds there is shocking: her brother-in-law is being threatened by a stripper from a bachelor party he attended months ago, with whom he appears to have "crossed a line" that could threaten his marriage. Unable to stop herself, Jenna snoops further and realizes the woman is her client, Kaitlyn, who described being harassed by a stalker from one of the parties she worked a few months ago. The story starts a bit slow, but tension mounts and Jenna is caught in a moral dilemma, knowing things about her patient that she shouldn't and about Bodie that she doesn't want to know, and can she do anything about any of it without further compromising her professional integrity? When the twist came, it took me completely by surprise, and the rest of the story was a frenzy of action. The excellent narration, by Danielle Savre, Alicia Crowder, Dan Bittner, Matt Godfrey, and Janina Edwards, brought each character to life, while the sound effects added atmosphere. Due out Oct. 21, 2025. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the advance listen!

This short but gripping audiobook had me hooked from the very beginning. At just over three hours, it’s a quick listen, but one that kept me up well past midnight, hiding under the covers with my AirPods, eager to see how it all unfolded.

The narrator's delivery brought the tension, personalities, and emotions to life, making it easy to stay fully immersed. The pacing was tight, and the premise was intriguing, weaving together therapy sessions, family secrets, and moral dilemmas.

That said, while the journey was engrossing, the ending fell a little flat for me. The reveal was both predictable and oddly unsupported. Without spoiling specifics, the culprit’s behavior didn’t seem to fit with how they had been portrayed throughout the book... there was little to no groundwork laid to explain why they would do what they did. Instead of being shocked, I found myself thinking, Wait… what?

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance listen—this one may not have been a jaw-dropper at the end, but it was an addictive ride getting there.

Lucinda Berry has done it again, delivering a chilling psychological thriller that makes you question every character’s motives. This Is a Safe Space lured me in quickly and kept me on edge, blurring the line between truth and manipulation. The premise, a therapist’s safe space is compromised, is unsettling in the best way, and the twists had me rethinking my theories more than once.

The audiobook narration was engaging and perfectly matched the tone of the story. It made the tension feel even sharper, and the emotional beats hit harder. There were moments where the pace dipped slightly, but overall, the layered characters and creeping sense of dread kept me hooked until the end.

Berry’s ability to explore the dark corners of the human mind shines here, and fans of her previous work will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I really loved this. It was quick and easy but gripped your attention right away.

The twist at the end really got me. I knew Bodie was obviously involved, and i started to piece some of the other details together, but I did not expect the twist that we got. I wont spoil it here, but it was good.

Honestly, no one in this was very likable to me, not even the FMC, but i think that added to the story, because none of them were good people.

This Is A Safe Space by Lucinda Berry.

This Suspense/Thriller by Lucinda Berry is full of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat for the beginning to the end! You think you have it figured out and things change on the turn of a dime.

The multicast narrators did a fantastic job of making this audiobook very interesting and full of depth. The multiple voices gave this story extra levels of suspense and interest.

Review the trigger warnings before reading/listening to this book as it may be helpful.

Thank you to NetGalley and thr publisher for this ALC. I enjoyed it throughly!

This is the perfect thriller that you can read (or listen to) in one or two sittings. It was short but jam packed with drama. Jenna is a therapist whose client, Lexus Chardonnay, a dancer, is dealing with a stalker and college full time. Jenna has had trust issues since her father left her and her mother, and she has boundary issues with her husband. One day she stumbles on her husband and his cousin (who happens to be Jenna's sister's husband!) are talking about the night of a bachelor party, which involved Jenna's client. This book just kept getting more incredible and I felt invested in figuring out what was really going on. What a wild ride, and I love how it ended!!! Dr. Berry does it again!

I love this audiobook! Although short, it packed a big punch. I read it in one sitting, enthralled by Berry’s ability to weave a twisty gripping story.

I just finished This Is a Safe Space by Lucinda Berry. Wow! What a great psychological thriller. The plot moves fast, and I was hooked the whole way through. The narrators did an excellent job bringing the story and characters to life. And that twist at the end? Did not see it coming.
If you’re into psychological thrillers that keep you guessing, definitely add this to your list! It is a very short audiobook (under 4 hours), so you can easily binge it in one day.

The thought of someone going that far to check my phone or social media like the main character did in this book is un-nerving. The plot kept me guessing until about halfway then it kind of fizzled out for me.

I always love a good Lucinda Berry story. The audiobooks are always so well done and I typically listen to them in one binge. This one was no different!

Your therapist may need therapy more than you do!😂

Jenna is a therapist with trust issues of her own. It’s already almost cost her - her marriage. But she can’t seem to stop herself from needing to read her husband Colton’s texts. But maybe she has good reason…

Colton has been texting nonstop with his cousin Bodie. It appears that a woman has been threatening to expose Bodie (Oh, that doesn’t sound good). The woman’s name…Lexus Chardonnay (ya - I laughed at that one too)🤭

Jenna knows that name! Worlds may be colliding when those text messages may refer to one of her patients. Rot roh!

Hold on to your hats because Lucinda Berry packs a lot of thrill into this audio novella. And with a full cast of narrators, it created a perfect audio production!🙌

✍️ written by: Lucinda Berry
🎧 Narrated by: Danielle Savre, Alicia Crowder, Dan Bittner, Matt Godfrey, Janina Edwards
⏰ three hours and forty minutes
📈 4/5🌟
📆 Publication date: Oct 21 2025
👉listen if you enjoy twisty thrillers, multiple narrators, novellas
🥨 psychological thriller

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Audio

Lucinda Berry has crafted a psychological thriller that operates on multiple levels of deception, creating a narrative web where professional boundaries and personal secrets become dangerously entangled. This Is a Safe Space succeeds by exploiting the inherent tension between what therapists know about others and what they hide about themselves, resulting in a story that feels both intimate and unsettling.

The novel’s structure cleverly mirrors its thematic concerns about trust and perception. Berry presents a protagonist whose professional expertise in reading people becomes both asset and liability as she navigates increasingly murky waters between her clinical practice and personal life. The gradual revelation that these two worlds are more connected than initially apparent creates genuine suspense that builds organically rather than relying on manufactured plot twists.

What elevates this beyond typical domestic thriller territory is Berry’s nuanced exploration of professional ethics under pressure. The protagonist’s struggle with her own boundary violations—both in her marriage and her practice—creates moral complexity that prevents easy judgments. The author doesn’t shy away from showing how people’s protective instincts can lead them to compromise their stated values, making the character’s choices feel authentically human rather than plot-driven.

The audio production deserves particular recognition for its innovative approach to storytelling. Rather than simply reading text aloud, the production creates an immersive experience that enhances the narrative through strategic use of multiple voices and realistic audio elements. The therapy session recordings feel genuinely clinical, while the text message exchanges benefit from varied vocal interpretations that help distinguish characters and maintain engagement.

Berry demonstrates impressive skill in pacing, maintaining tension without resorting to breathless urgency. The story unfolds at a pace that allows for character development while sustaining forward momentum. The author understands that the most effective psychological suspense comes from watching characters make increasingly desperate choices rather than from external action sequences.

The exploration of how digital communication can both reveal and conceal truth feels particularly relevant. Berry captures the way modern relationships exist partly in virtual spaces where context can be manipulated and intentions obscured. The protagonist’s discovery of threatening messages serves as more than plot device—it becomes examination of how technology amplifies existing trust issues within relationships.

The professional setting adds authenticity to the psychological elements. Berry clearly understands the dynamics of therapeutic relationships and uses this knowledge to create scenarios that feel clinically plausible while remaining dramatically compelling. The blurring of professional and personal boundaries becomes genuinely disturbing because it’s presented with such realistic detail.

The resolution manages to surprise without feeling arbitrary, a difficult balance in psychological thrillers where authors often resort to increasingly outlandish revelations. Berry maintains logical consistency while still delivering the unexpected, creating an ending that feels both inevitable and surprising in retrospect.

For readers who like:
-Psychological thrillers
-Multi-layered narratives
-Stories exploring ethical boundaries under pressure

Final Verdict
This Is a Safe Space demonstrates Berry’s growing sophistication as a thriller writer, combining psychological insight with compelling plot mechanics. The innovative audio production elevates an already engaging story, creating an immersive experience that’s particularly suited to binge listening. This is smart, character-driven suspense that respects both its subject matter and its audience, resulting in a thoroughly satisfying psychological thriller.

Grateful to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Audio, and Lucinda Berry for the Opportunity to Read an Advance Copy of This Story in Exchange for an Honest Review.

The only safe space here is the audiobook pause button - and even that won’t save you from the twists.

"This Is a Safe Space" is a fast, twisty, enjoyable popcorn thriller that kept me guessing the whole way through. Jenna, a therapist with serious trust - and other - issues, uncovers troubling messages involving her husband, his cousin, and a mysterious dancer from a bachelor party. As she begins piecing together the puzzle through past therapy sessions, she confronts questions of trust, betrayal, and her professional ethics while the stakes escalate, threatening both her career and her family.

The short format audiobook is a standout, with an excellent cast and dynamic sound design that elevates the tension and emotion. Each narrator brings their characters to life, and the production effects add a cinematic quality that makes the story feel immediate and immersive. It’s a quick, engaging listen that makes it hard to pause, even as the plot twists in unexpected directions.

While Jenna is well and truly unhinged and should likely never be allowed to practice therapy in real life, this makes for a fun, juicy setup that drives the story forward. For fans of psychological thrillers and audio dramas, "This is a Safe Space" is a an enjoyable, immersive, suspenseful listen that’s impossible to put down.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio | Simon & Schuster Audio Originals and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

"This is a Safe Space" is slated to be released on October 21, 2025.