Little One by Olivia Muenter is a compelling, quick read that uses dual timelines to uncover what happened in the cult that Catharine fled many years ago. The character development was fantastic, everyone felt 360 in a way that kept me turning the pages faster and faster to see where it all led. In what I am beginning to recognize as Muenter's signature style, the book leaves you thinking, which I love. Well written, engaging, and thoughtful!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC. Little One is out 2/3/2026 and is not to be missed!

Whew, I ripped through this! The pacing and mystery drew me in and kept me turning the page. I enjoyed the way the duel timeline unfolded, and I especially loved the modern day Catherine West, she is a compelling narrator. Excellent world building and character development. A satisfying mystery!

This is a very niche mash up of genres: literary fiction/mystery/a dash of thriller. For lovers of Wild Dark Shore, None of This Is True, and Crawdads. I was on the edge of my seat to figure out what was going to happen next, which is where it read like a mystery/thriller, but the way it’s poetically written is SO beautifully done that most times, it felt like a true literary fiction. It makes a really special story to make you feel like you know the characters like they’re real people and this was it for me.

I rarely reread books but I want to restart this one immediately. I rushed to the end because I wanted to know how the story wrapped up. Now I want to reread and savor each beautiful sentence. Loved the story, loved the depth, loved the complicated characters.

I liked the author's last book, but this one I could not put down! I love a mystery or thriller that leans literary, and that is exactly what this was - well written, reflective, engrossing. I don't always enjoy a duel timeline, but this one worked for me, I thought you could really see the how the character in the past timeline became the one in the current.

I love Olivia and was thrilled to receive an ARC of her newest book! I loooooved the cult vibes and the dual timeline. I ate this one up and you will too if you love a literary thriller!

Little One is a taut, unsettling, and deeply affecting novel that explores what it means to reconstruct the story of your own life when the truth has been buried—deliberately or out of necessity. Olivia Muenter takes the premise of a woman whose seemingly pastoral childhood was actually shaped by an insidious cult and transforms it into something far more intimate: a meditation on memory, victimhood, and the complicated ways we survive the environments that shape us.

Catharine West is a protagonist you follow with equal parts dread and empathy. As a journalist begins unraveling the past she’s spent a decade trying to escape, the novel plunges into the tension between who we were told to be, who we tried to become, and the pieces of ourselves we leave behind. Muenter captures this unraveling with sharp, observant writing that is both emotionally charged and eerily calm—like watching a storm gather on the horizon and realizing it has been coming for years.

I loved this book all the way through. It’s depressingly heavy at times, but in a way that feels purposeful and honest, never gratuitous. The portrayal of victimhood—especially within the context of wellness culture and “doing good”—is poignant and unsettling, forcing you to sit with questions about autonomy, desire, and how easily vulnerability can be weaponized.

Little One stayed with me long after I finished it. It’s a dark, important, and thought-provoking read that invites you to look closely at the stories we inherit, the ones we rewrite, and the ones we carry even when we try to let them go.

I read this one so fast. It was such a great commentary on how women are affected by the current culture of instagram fitness influencers, and filters and unbelievably high standards. How the author likened that to a cult was literary perfection. Wonderful read.

Liked this a lot! The dual timeline really worked for me, and I especially liked how bristly the main character was. Very excited to keep gobbling up whatever Olivia Muenter puts out.

This book is an absolute stunner. It's the kind of story that grabs you by the collar on page one and does not let go. I genuinely think it has something for everyone: complicated family dynamics? CHECK. Cult-ish undertones? CHECK; A semi-unreliable narrator that keeps you guessing? CHECK. Complicated characters that you're still unequivocally rooting for? CHECK. A dual timeline that unfolds like a perfectly designed puzzle? CHECK. Un-put-down-able? CHECK (x infinity.)

I’ve been a longtime fan of Olivia Muenter as the co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast, and I enjoyed her debut… but THIS? This one takes the whole cake, the candles, and the bakery. It checked so many of my boxes it felt unreal. I am stingy with my 5 star reviews, but this one deserved every last glimmering spangle.

I’m also a reader who unapologetically loves a tidy ending, and this novel threads that needle with perfection. It ties up just enough to satisfy, but leaves that lingering “I’ll be thinking about this for weeks” feeling that only the best books deliver.

A sincere thank-you to NetGalley for the ARC — I’m genuinely grateful for the early access. I’ll be shouting about this one to both my personal and professional networks. I came across another reviewer who said this could easily be a Book of the Month pick (I’m an avid BOTM reader myself), and I could not agree more.

I may not be a book influencer, but I sincerely hope this catches fire on Bookstagram and TikTok. It deserves every ounce of attention it attracts.

My advice: Run — don’t walk — to read this one.

LOVED this book. It had me hooked from the beginning and I loved the parallel timelines which made it impossible to put down. The development of the story had me guessing until the end and I did not see the twist coming. I have already pre-ordered and will be reading again!

Set against the backdrop of a sweltering Florida commune-turned-cult, Little One explores how control, discipline, and self-trust are shaped by the environment in which we are raised and the people we love. It asks how a beautiful ideal can be slowly corrupted to serve a sinister goal.

Muenter crafts the protagonist, Catharine, brilliantly. I admired her and wanted to protect her, yet I still would not allow myself to trust her even on the final page. Is her guardedness with journalist Reese the instinct of a wounded survivor, unable or unwilling to face her past, or the calculation of a master manipulator shaped by her father? That frisson of attraction and intimidation reflects the novel’s central theme of emotional manipulation and made for an addicting read.

I particularly appreciated Muenter’s exploration of the tension between the interior self and the personas we assume in the world. She captures the intense labor involved in appearing effortless, especially for women. After finishing, I found myself returning to Jia Tolentino’s “Always Be Optimizing” and asking whether a cult creates the demand for relentless self-improvement, or if we're all living inside that expectation every day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. What a read. The word that immediately came to mind in early chapters was "propulsive." I usually think it's overused in most blurbs, but here, it absolutely applies. Muenter draws you in with shrewd observations, a compelling narrator, and the dual timeline structure. I couldn't put this book down; when I had to, the story immediately drew me back in when I picked it up again.

Somewhere between the 50-75% marks, there are several reveals that were just on this side of predictable. To me, they felt satisfying, like things were slotting into place and I had a handle on a truly insane situation. And then things started going sideways again and I realized no one had a handle on anything.

Like other reviewers said, this is a book I will need time to process, and one that you need to be in the right mood for. Some of the most likeable characters suck, and that sucks to realize. I'm undecided how I feel about the epilogue, but I guess that's fitting too.

Finished this in a day - very compelling! I enjoyed the dual timelines and thought her characters were very well-written and interesting. I loved the ending but my only complaint is that I wish it had been a tad longer and explored more of the publication aspect. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love Olivia’s writing—and this literary mystery was right up my alley! Dual timeline full of commentary on cult fascination, control and disordered eating, with simmering tension and dark twists. Especially loved all the sensory descriptions of the tomato vines… and the ending!!

I received an advance copy of Little One from Little, Brown and Company, and I absolutely devoured it. Olivia Muenter’s writing is sharp, immersive, and chilling; the kind of story that feels so real it’s terrifying. I loved how original and unsettling it was, blurring the line between fiction and reality in a way that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The dual timelines, haunting atmosphere, and smart commentary on identity and wellness culture make this a standout debut. Truly one of the best books I've read this year.

I know that technically 3 instances make a pattern and Olivia Muenter has written 2 books, but I don’t care: she’s established a pattern for me as a must-read author. Little One is so sharp, lived-in, and relevant even though the subject matter of having escaped a cult is so specific. I just love her writing and loved this book.

I enjoy a good cult book, but I honestly didn’t know that was what I was picking up when I grabbed this- I chose it because i really enjoyed Olivia Muenter’s debut last year. This is a dual timeline novel, and a rare one where I truly enjoyed the chapter that I was in but also couldn’t wait to get to the other timeline. As a result, I stayed up way too late finishing this one. Incredibly satisfying yet unpredictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a new to me author and wow! I am glad I requested this. It was a quick read with dual timelines that really came together in such a satisfying one. I am not normally into cult books, but this may have just changed my mind!!

Phew, this is one roller coaster of a book. You're sucked in at the start thinking you know exactly what's going on and then the twists and turns start coming at you. This is a cliff hanger of a book and you'll enjoy every minute that the author pushes you to the edge and you'll hang on to see what happens next.

This totally sucked me in. Five stars! I stayed up all night to finish it. I will be thinking about this book for a long time!

Whenever I devour a book in three days I know it’s worthy of a 5 star review. This was an excellent plot, beginning as something so beautiful and eventually turning darker for the occupants of the ‘Farm’. I could understand and put myself in Catharine’s shoes but it takes her much too long to see what’s really going on with her father and his rules and erratic behavior. But that’s the point of a cult isn’t it? Don’t question, simply follow, believe and do as told. I really enjoyed all the characters but especially was rooting for Catharine’s mom and Linna. Lots of twist that keep you on the end of your seat, hoping for a different result. You have to get your copy as soon as published.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown and Company for an ARC copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

Little One is a fantastic novel--dark and darker still, as we watch the daughter of a former cult leader reckon with her past...and those who come looking for it. I loved how the narrative unfolds, every new revelation adding up to a winner of an ending that will have readers thinking about how we're shaped by our upbringing but also by who we are at our core. Little One is unputdownable and an amazing, propulsive read from Olivia Muenter, who is definitely an author I want to read more of now!

This is sooo good! Little One had me SAT from beginning to end.

If you enjoy seamless blending of genres, dual timelines, complex and flawed characters, stories about growing up/escaping cults and unpredictable twists definitely give Little One a read!

I will be adding Olivia Muenter’s previous and future books to my TBR!

4.5 rounded up to 5 ⭐️

Catherine is a freelance writer who doesn’t appear to have any family. Told in the past and in the present, Catherine may not be thriving, but she is surviving. Until a journalist reaches out and turns her whole world upside down. He knows who she is and wants to talk.
Catherine grew up in a cult. Believing her father’s propaganda and lies. So where is he and why is Catherine now all alone in New York?
As the chapters from the past shed new light on who Catherine was and is now, I was furiously flipping pages trying to guess what happened to her family. Some of my guesses were correct, but I totally missed the biggest reveal. And the ending. Well, there were at least two things that I interpreted one way, though I am sure other readers will see them in a different light.
Sad, tragic, and hopeful are the three main words that first popped into my head when I finished. A book that I could not stop flipping pages. 4.5 stars.

Little One is both a thriller and slow. Olivia Muenter takes the language of self-improvement and turns it inside out, revealing how easily the pursuit of goodness can turn into control.

Catharine West grows up believing her world is idyllic. Her family’s farm hums with sunlight, order, and purpose. Her father preaches community, growth, and purity. But Catherine learns at 17 that there is a dark side to the farm.

Years later, when a journalist begins asking questions about her past, Catharine’s carefully constructed life starts to unravel. Every scene brings us closer to the answer, and the tension builds.

Muenter writes about womanhood with a kind of surgical empathy. She understands the pressure to be “good” and how goodness is often a cage. The novel feels personal, especially in its portrayal of how wellness culture can mimic the very dynamics of cult life.

#LittleOne #OliviaMuenter #NetGalley #LittleBrown #Bookstagram #PsychologicalFiction #FeministFiction #ReadersOfInstagram #DarkFiction

So pumped that I got to read this early! I had high hopes and it really delivered. The characters were so well written and I love the writing style. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you NetGalley and Olivia Muenter!

I absolutely loved Such a Bad Influence and was so excited to receive an early copy of Little One -- I was so eager and read it right away.

I loved Little One so much as well -- I love Olivia Muenter's writing, and I love the way the story unfolded. I loved seeing Catharine in the present day as she grapples with the past and learns more about what happened to her. I really enjoyed the secondary characters, and especially Catharine's present day best friend Stella. All the parts in the past were so unsettling -- I found myself unable to put the book down and flew through it.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes unsettling books or literary thrillers. It was so good and I cannot wait to see what Olivia Muenter writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Olivia Muenter does it again! I loved Such a Bad Influence, so I had high hopes for Little One, and it absolutely delivered. The dual-timeline narrative was woven together so deftly, just like the web on the cover. Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC of Little One.

A unique story that will have you thinking about the characters long after you finish it. This was the first book for me to read by this author but it won't be the last!

As an avid reader of mystery/ suspense/ thriller, I find it hard to really be shocked or particularly entranced by any “one” of this genre. From listening to BOP podcast, I know Olivia’s own appreciation of Gillian Flynn. I also find Gone Girl and Flynn’s Ouvre to be a pinnacle of both the popularity of this style and the peak example of it at its finest.

That being said, I have now read both Olivia’s novels and feel like she nails that undertone of darkness mixed with literary fiction. This is NOT a popcorn thriller but truly a work of dark art, just like Such A Bad Influence was. I loved them both, but think I may give Little One the slight edge for how masterfully it weaves the dual timeline narrative, and with how clear the narrators voice is from the very first page.

This book was really hard to stop reading when necessary, so I got through it fast! I was fascinated by Catharine’s story as she narrates in present-day, looking back a decade later, at her childhood in a live-off-the-land cult. In the present, a journalist invades her life, insisting on interviews so she can share her side of things. This serves as a frame story for her recollections of her life on an idyllic farm, working hard alongside her adopted sister, supporting her mother, and always striving to please her father, the charismatic leader of their community.

I loved Such A Bad Influence and couldn’t wait to read Muenter’s next novel, and it did not disappoint. Her language is beautiful and the way she reveals details about the past bit by bit kept me curiously turning pages.

This novel, packed with dark twists, explores deep issues of cult culture (obviously) as well as eating disorders and the bonds of friendship and family. I was desperate to know what happened to the other members of Catharine’s family and the farm community.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the ARC of this thrilling and evocative novel.

I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it in one day; it's seriously unputdownable.

Catharine grew up the daughter of a cult leader, but she has buried that part of her past until a journalist gets a tip from someone who was once close to Catharine. I was hooked by the book's description, and was not disappointed.

The way the author switches between timelines is seamless, and tells the story so well. The author once again has a great twist at the end!

You should definitely preorder this book today. Olivia Muenter has become one of my favorite authors.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Five shiny stars for Olivia Meunter's sophomore novel! I read Olivia's debut, Such a Bad Influence, a few months ago, and I really enjoyed it. But this one blew me away. I was hooked from the first chapter all the way to the last page. The then vs. now timelines did wonders for this story. I was intrigued by both timelines and several chapters ended on cliffhangers which made me want to keep reading. Catharine's backstory, and her character as a whole, is something that will stick with me for a while. I typically don't go for books that have a cult plot, but when it's done as well as this, I'll take it. Potentially one of my favorite books of the year, and it's only October.

Olivia Muenter continues to write precisely the kind of thrillers I’m looking for! I read much more literary fiction that I do thrillers, and OM wants to make space for those readers. She is unconcerned with shock for the sake of, preferring instead to reel you in slowly. And it’s a delicious wriggle. Beautiful writing, crackling but subtle tension, and astute social commentary to boot.

I’m on board for whatever web she weaves next.

I gulped this down. I found the story and the structure to be really compelling & I had to know what happened next. Much like Olivia’s debut, the end twist was both surprising and satisfying. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Olivia Muenter has quickly become one of my favourite voices- not just as a podcast host of Bad on Paper, but also as an author. Little One is written so beautifully, for me, surpassed even her previous work- Such A Bad Influence.

I now believe Olivia has the rare talent to write any story that feels both intimate and universal, she captures the complex female emotions with such sharp clarity and also a tender compassion, that's woven through every page. It's the kind of book that will linger with me.

This is a book I'll be recommending often. I can't wait to see what she can produce in the future. Please keep on writing.

I loved Olivia Muenter’s debut and was beyond excited to read her latest which doesn’t come out until February.

Much like her debut, this book kept me on my toes and I always wanted to read just a little more. The pace is quick and the alternating timelines keeps the reader super engaged. I found the plot of escaping a cult fascinating and in some ways this book reminded me a lot of What Kind of Paradise. So if you enjoyed that one, for sure grab this one.

I can’t wait for others to get to read this book! It was so compelling, I really enjoyed it and recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.