3.5 ⭐️
The new novel by Lucinda Berry starts off strong and the changes in POV’s keep you intrigued. The audiobook production was a highlight, dynamic and almost cinematic, making the characters feel real. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns but a few reveals felt rush and some characters decisions left me questioning their credibility. Overall this is a good fast read that I enjoyed and would recommend.

This is another hit for Lucinda Berry. This was my 10th book I read by her and the 10th book I loved. I thought this was a great audiobook. It had a cast of characters with a full on production of sound effects and everything. It was short. Only like 3 and half hours long. It was short, sweet and tones of twists. I definitely recommend it for any thriller lover.

Lucinda Berry offers a quick and entertaining thrill ride with this short audiobook. The suspense is captivating and the multiple narrators add a fantastic layer to the story, making it more immersive.
I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing a complimentary advanced copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to the book’s publisher and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Fast read! Easy listening! Thrilling!

I love a good psychological twist. The fact that the main character is a counselor with her own issues made for an interesting story.

My only criticism comes from her dialogue with her patient. There were a few times toward the beginning that her comments/questions were leading and potentially triggering to said patient. However, I am glad I stuck with it because the book got better the more wrong that was done!!!

4 out of 5 stars and my respect to the author and narrator.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Fast-Paced, Full-Cast Popcorn Thriller

You can never go wrong with Lucinda Berry. Her stories always deliver suspense, tension, and compulsive readability—and This Is a Safe Place is no exception. This tightly written audio novella, clocking in at under four hours, is the very definition of a slump buster. From the opening scene to the final payoff, it’s a nail-biting ride that kept me questioning everyone’s motives (my favorite type of thriller).

The full-cast narration, paired with immersive sound effects, elevates the listening experience to cinematic levels. I was completely absorbed from start to finish, and while the premise isn’t the most original in the genre, the execution made it an absolute blast to consume in one sitting.

The protagonist was especially compelling—layered, unpredictable, and easy to root for, even in her most unhinged moments. In contrast, the secondary characters felt more like sketches than fully realized people, which, along with a bit of predictability, kept this from being a full five stars. Still, the perfect pacing, absence of filler, and emotional core—particularly the bond between Jenna and her sister—gave the story surprising depth amidst the thrills.

If you’re looking for a quick, high-energy thriller with immersive audio production, this one delivers exactly that.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucinda Berry, and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC.

This was a quick, fast paced thriller. I actually related so much to the main character with her trauma but was so surprised how everything unfolded. I loved the twist because I actually didn’t see that coming which I love. Great ending. I believe this will be audio only. I loved having the multiple narrations and the background noises it added to the story. Great production.

This audiobook releases Oct 21, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley + Simon & Schuster Audio for the advanced listening copy! All reviews are my own opinion

This novella packs a punch! A therapist uncovers a disturbing connection between one of her patients and her own family.

The full cast and added sound effects made the audiobook feel extra immersive. It reminded me a lot of One of Our Own—same emotional intensity, same edge-of-your-seat suspense, just in a quicker hit.

Short, sharp, and unsettling in the best way.

Audio only Lucinda books are some of my absolute favorites. The production is FANTASTIC. I listened to this in one day. I had to know what was going on. The character development blew my mind. The growth of Jenna was pretty incredible - I wasn't sure what to expect towards the middle but even near the end, I had no idea what direction it was going to take and I was not let down.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This Is a Safe Space
by Lucinda Berry

Lucinda Berry really said, “Let’s mix marriage problems, therapy ethics, and a stripper named Lexus Chardonnay, and just… shake, don’t stir.” And you know what? It works. This book is one big, messy cocktail of lies, secrets, and oh no she didn’t.

We meet Jenna—therapist, wife, professional secret-keeper, and part-time phone snooper. She swore she’d stop checking her husband Colten’s messages… but breaking promises is basically cardio for thriller protagonists. And thank goodness she did, because tucked between his texts is a steaming hot disaster involving a bachelor party, his cousin Bodie, and Lexus Chardonnay—a name so unforgettable it deserves its own fragrance line.

And here’s the kicker: Lexus just so happens to also be Kaitlyn, one of Jenna’s long-time clients who ghosted therapy three months ago. Coincidence? Honey, not in a Lucinda Berry novel.

From there, we spiral into eavesdropping on therapy tapes, family drama that makes Thanksgiving seem like a UFC fight, and a slow-burn realization that literally no one is playing it straight. Is Lexus/Kaitlyn a victim? A manipulator? Both? Is Colten shady or just the world’s most oblivious man? Is Bodie… okay? (No.)

The audiobook? Immaculate. Multiple narrators, layered voices, the emotional undercurrents—it’s like you’re listening to a drama-filled true crime podcast while sitting in the world’s most uncomfortable therapy chair.

Why not five stars? A couple of twists wrapped themselves up a little too neatly, and I wanted the ending to punch me harder in the face. But still— I ate this up!

Pairs well with: a large glass of wine and a firm grip on your phone so you don’t go full Jenna on your partner’s texts.

You'll never think about therapy the way you did before 😂

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Audio and the author for the ALC! All opinions are my own!

This is a safe space is a great audiobook. I love the narrator. She did a good job. A therapist is caught up in a drama with her family and a woman who is her client

This well-produced and well-narrated audiobook has sound effects like keyboard clacking that bring the story to life. Unfortunately, I didn't love the story that much. Jenna is a practicing psychologist who cannot help herself from reading her husband's texts and emails. All the time. So when she reads something she shouldn't, she goes into overdrive. Her abandonment issues aside, she's a nutcase, her husband's cousin has issues, and even though this cousin is married to her sister, she has a very strained relationship with her. So no one is particularly likable except for her long-suffering and patient husband. Then things get messy and out of control. If you like high drama, this might work for you. I give the story 2 stars but bumped it up one for the audiobook production values.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @SimonandSchusterAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Publication date: 21 October 2025.

3.5 stars ⭐️

This was such a fun short, full-cast audio thriller! At a little over 3.5 hours, this is an audiobook you can easily start and finish on a roadtrip or in a few hours of chores. The plot is pretty interesting and you will be on your toes the entire time you're listening. However, the "twist" is super easy to predict, and I do wish it was a little more original. The depth of the twist was more of a twist for me than the actual twist itself. IYKYK. The ending also felt a bit rushed and could've been cleaned up a smidge. Overall, an enjoyable listen that touches on dark topics!

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Audio, and the author Lucinda Berry for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a Safe Space releases Oct 21!

Title: This is A Safe Space
Author: Lucinda Berry
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Danielle Savre, Alicia Chrowder, Dan Bittner, Matt Godfried, and Janina Edwards.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio/Simon & Schuster Audio Original
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: October 21, 2025
My Rating: 3.7 Stars


Jenna is a successful therapist who is good at what she does but is someone who struggles with trust issues ever since her father left for another wife and daughter and never even said goodbye.
Now she’s made a promise to stop snooping in her husband Colten’s phone, but sometimes she can’t help herself.

Story opens with communication between Colten and his cousin Bodie. The cousins recently attended a bachelor party. Now Bodie is being blackmailed with a ‘tell all” as the dancer claimed he crossed a line sexually and that she’ll expose the truth if she doesn’t get what she wants.
Story opens with the exchange is that his wife Phoenix (who is Jenna’s older sister) car was keyed and Bodie is sure the blackmailer did it – in fact her initials LC were carved in the passenger side. She has sent tons of messages and said she was going to tell his wife –Bodie knows she will.
.
Jenna is interrupted in her snooping but plans to check Colten’s phone later for more details.

Lexus Chardonnay is the stage name of the dancer and Jenna knows that name as she has heard it from one of her clients.
Her client is Kaitlyn a twenty-six year medical school student who dances on weekends to put herself through school. She has been talking to Jenna as she is so stressed over a stalker.
He somehow was able to climb her building to peek into her windows. Other than that he only sends text messages and they are nice message never threatening. This has gone on for months to the point they give him the name ‘Stan the stalker’.
In the meantime, Bodie still is getting the calls from the blackmailer!
Jenna cannot imagine Kaitlyn threating anyone or keying the car.

Of course, the ending is a big twisted surprise.

This is my eighty Lucinda Berry story. My first was " Best of Friends". Although I went into it without knowing anything about it I was drawn to the title and name of author.
My childhood BFF is named Lucinda aka Cindy ~ so I was drawn to a story about best friends. I was not disappointed with that story.

I did enjoy this! I love when an audio has multi narrators. Yes! They All did a fab job performing their characters. I don’t understand why they weren’t part of the exciting ending. - IMO I believe all the audio performers should have been speaking at the most exciting part- the female voices were great but that ended required the men as well.

Want to thank NetGalley and for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 21, 2025.

You can never go wrong with Lucinda Berry, ever! Her books always take you on a suspenseful journey, and This Is a Safe Place was no exception.

From the very start, I trusted no one. Every character felt suspicious, keeping me on edge the entire time. This quick listen (under four hours!) is packed with insecurities, lies, and betrayal. It was the perfect companion for doing housework, running errands, or simply unwinding in the evening.

I was hooked from the beginning, and the tension just kept building. Highly recommend!

Lucinda Berry is a go to author for me. Her novels are perfect to get you out of reading slumps. They are quick thrilling reads with twist you didn’t see coming. This is a Safe Space was no exception.

Thank you netgalley and Simon and shusters audio for the early copy!

Wow! Clocking in at just over 3 hours this novella packs quite a punch. It’s suspenseful and I thought I had it figured out early on but I was, happily, incorrect.

The full cast narration is fantastic! With the addition of audio effects it felt like I was watching a movie in my head, if that makes any sense. The whole production is excellent.

This is the perfect book for a thriller suspense reader who’s stuck in a reading slump. It will get you right back into the reading groove. So much fun!

Great book! Thank you for the Advance copy. I really love this writer’s work and whenever something new comes out, I’m super excited to read it. This book didn’t disappoint at all. It was a great read as usual. Although I was shocked that it appeared to be a short story or shorter than her other novels. Nonetheless it definitely delivered on drama, story twists and it keeps the reader interested in the story. There were a few heartfelt moments that really had an impact on the story while sending a message. I will definitely recommend this book to others,

Successful therapist Jenna is struggling with her own insecurities when it comes to her husband Colten, and is working to stop snooping when a troubling exchange pops up between him and his cousin Bodie. When information in their exchange begins to match information one of her clients has shared with her in session, Jenna worries there is more to the story, especially when her client vanishes.

When I think of palate cleansers or slump busters, this new audio novella by Lucinda Berry is exactly what I envision. For such a short story, coming in at under 4 hours, it packs a powerful, nail-biting punch. I found myself on the edge of my seat the entire time as I found myself unable to trust anyone (my favorite type of thriller). I was able to stay completely immersed in the story throughout, and while it may not be the most original story I have ever read, it sure was a ton of fun, especially given the full-cast narration complete with full sound effects. If you need a quick, easy thriller you can read in a sitting, this would be a great option.

Read if you like:
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️domestic suspense
▪️who can you trust vibes
▪️bingy stories
▪️graphic audiobooks
▪️One of Our Own

Thank you Simon and Schuster Audio for the advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this full cast audiobook. It made it irresistibly immersive. From the very first moment, I was completely hooked and listened straight through in one sitting. This is Lucinda Berry at her finest. The story keeps you guessing until the very end. A must-listen for any thriller reader.

I pretty much always eat up Lucinda Berry books, and this was no exception. The full cast of narrators and added sound effects really created such a perfect listening experience and set the tone for the story, which I think is so crucial for an audiobook. At just a few hours long, This is a Safe Space was successful in exploring therapist/client dynamics, husband/wife dynamics, and even sister dynamics that all came together to make a twisty, fast-paced thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed! I kind of was able to guess the ending as we approached the final twist, which is not necessarily a complaint, but it did become clear to me a bit earlier than probably intended. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucinda Berry, and Simon & Schuster Audio for this ALC!