I enjoyed this book and the perspective the author took with focusing on the victims. This is a great domestic abuse thriller that is different than any I have read. Thank you for the arc copy ! 4 star read for me.

this one did not do it for me. i was anticipating such a good read after seeing so many amazing reviews. I went in blind and apparently don’t know much about true crime, because I did not know it was about Ted Bundy. It makes me wonder how much is true and how much is fiction.

we follow the storyline of pamela, who was the president of a sorority when 2 of her sorority sisters were murdered and 2 disfigured. we also follow ruth, and the events leading up to her murder.

the dual POV along with the dual timeline confused me. most books I read have them, but both together? I found it hard to keep things straight. I was also just kind of bored? I feel like I wasn’t invested in any of the main characters. overall a bit of a dud for me, unfortunately.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this book! This book had me hooked in the beginning then lost me about halfway through. I liked how the author didn’t glorify Ted Bundy. I found it hard to follow all the switching between years throughout the book.

This fell flat for me. The idea behind the story was good but the execution left me wanting more. The back and forth timelines also wasn’t for me. I wish it would have been told sequentially and focused on one character more in depth.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Bright Young Women.

A fictionalized account of Ted Bundy's spree of serial murders, this book focuses on the lives destroyed and the women left behind. In alternating timelines and viewpoints, we see how his cruel murders affect the survivors and loved ones as we weave between the 1970s and current time.

I found this book to be an easy read but her writing style made it very confusing in several different parts. Also, for a novel about murder and serial killers, it wasn't very intriguing or suspenseful. I enjoyed parts of the story, but something about it just didn't work well for me. Instead of using a real tragedy, mixing truth and fiction (I'm confused as to why she chose to rename all the victims but one), I think this would have worked better if she had taken inspiration from this case but created an entirely different story from it. Bright Young Women had a lot of potential but it felt a bit flat and left me wanting more.

Damn. That was a great read. Fiction that reads like the kind of non-fiction that one devours, if you know what I mean.

Boy do I appreciate the folks at NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

The writing in this novel was outstanding - better than the other novels by the author. I did, however, find myself bored throughout the book and felt forced to finish it.

Bright Young Women is the story of two women who come together in the pursuit of truth and justice. This epic, true-crime inspired novel paints a new narrative about the Ted Bundy murders, and most importantly the ‘Bright Young Women’ he targeted.

The media painted him as a brilliant, attractive, educated, strategic young man with so much potential, and glorified his persona for years. In this book, Knoll doesn’t even give him enough respect to say his name, he’s referred to as “The Defendant” throughout the book and I absolutely LOVED that. A type of blow that would have crushed an egotistical psychopath like Ted Bundy; a deranged monster who was absolutely ordinary beside the exceptional young women who’s lives he took.

A must-read page turner that will leave you questioning everything we know about these murders, rooting for justice, and admiring the strength of the women who refused to be silenced.

If you’re a fan of true-crime with a twist, this ones for you!

Holy COW!!! What a book!! And the timing is perfect since we are years into our true crime obsession of podcast, books, documentaries, and of course books.
I have read this book twice, once in summer and once in the fall. And I must say this book--even though I know what happened--hit differently in October. Any crime fan knows Ted Bundy favored young coeds and reading this thinking there are young women across the country perfectly happy till someone like HE comes along.
Loosely based on two of Bundy's victim comes the enthralling, engrossing, extended Law and Order SVU episode titled BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN. Of course only the victim and the criminal know what really happened but Jessica Knolls take on the gritty lore is nail biting.

Bright Young Women
One night in January 1978, an intruder burst into the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University. He brutally attacked 4 girls, killing 2 of them. As he was leaving the house, he was spotted by Pamela Schumacher, the chapter president. At first Pamela thought it was the boyfriend of one of the girls who had been attacked. Then she realized it was someone else.
This is the story about the last mass murdering spree committed by Ted Bundy. He had killed other young women elsewhere but the Florida case was the one with a witness.
It is told by Pamela who teamed up with the close friend of another victim to assure that Bundy was convicted and sentenced to death.
This book examines the public fascination with Bundy who had the appearance of a handsome young man rather than a dangerous serial killer. The media printed favorable stories about him and he acted as such while defending himself at trial.
This psychological thriller based on true events captured my attention from the first chapter. I was aware of the fact that Ted Bundy had been convicted of killing several young women and sent to the gas chamber. However I did not know the details about the lives of some of the women he killed as well about his cunning deceptions over the years.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Jessica Knolls ability to tackle huge issues in a creative way. I loved her first book and loved this too. This is not a thriller. If you pick it up thinking it is one you might be disappointed. It’s based on the true crime story of Ted Bundy. Never once does she mention his name throughout the entire book. We all knew who she is talking about but she refers to him as the defendant. This story is about how the media glamorizes serial killers and makes them famous while people can’t even remember the names of the victims. This story touches on misogyny, sexism, survivor guilt, homophobia and so much more. The characters were raw and so well drawn out. This was an exceptionally well executed story. I listened to the audiobook while reading along. I definitely recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to netgalley for an arc in exchange for a honest review.

I thought I knew all about The Defendant. I have seen the documentaries and movies. But I was wrong, and now I am putting this book in everyone's hands. I loved following two women, 4 years apart, and following through to present day. This book is smart and wonderful and a must read.

Bright Young Women takes us through the intertwining stories of Pamela, who is a sorority president that was an eye witness of the killer and Ruth, a victim of the killer. This is told through alternating timelines between the two women. There are many important topics covered, with issues that have improved since the 70’s but only to a certain extent. Some of these topics were the killer being romanticized because of his apparent good looks and supposed intelligence, homosexuality being treated as a mental illness, women not being believed, and how sex crimes don’t tend to be handled in an appropriate way.

This is a book of female empowerment and recognizing the victims of crimes rather than glorifying the person who committed them. I love how the killer was not mentioned throughout the book but rather referred to as only The Defendant.

While the stories of these women were heartbreaking, they were also uplifting. I urge everyone to read this book, but especially women. It is so important that women’s voices are heard and represented so that change can keep coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mary Sue Rocco Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Based off of the sorority murders by serial killer Ted Bundy in the 70s, this book focuses on past and present day sorority president Pamela. When four girls are attacked, two of them succumbing to their injuries, Pamela is the only witness who saw the Defendant (he is never named) at the time of the crime. Another side story of Ruth, one of the Lake Sammamish victims, is entwined through the novel as well. Focusing on the traumas and impact this man had on these girls, their friends, and families, author Jessica Knoll pens a gripping true crime story.
💭Thoughts💭
I could not have loved this book more. All of Knoll’s characters are flawed, which makes them more relatable. It was so interesting to read about this time period when the phrase “serial killer” wasn’t even a thing yet. I loved the timeline of this book as well, however I felt that Ruth’s last chapter was a bit confusing. Over all, another fantastic book by the author.
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⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
I respected the fact that the Defendant was called just that- not named. It took the focus away from him and onto the victims instead. I liked that a lot of the focus was on the police fumbles and coverups as well. Things could have been so different if they hadn’t made it so easy for this man to escape.
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🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
Have a slumber party with your friends like Pamela organized to move the girls back into the house. Cupcakes (or sheet cake), drinks, pizza, and movies with your sleeping bags on the floor.

I was recommended this by a coworker and while it started out great and I didn’t want to stop reading, I found my interest waning as I got further into the book. I feel like it had more protential, but struggled to get through this unfortunately

Wow. I've always loved everything Jessica Knoll writes--essays and novels--but this is spectacular. She so skillfully blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction--here turning the tables and making the fiction read as nonfiction. I had to constantly remind myself that it wasn't the actual person speaking to me from personal experience. What Knoll ultimately understands is the nuances of the female psyche and the internal conversations we have. That often we don't want to admit to having--but only in claiming then do we have power. The way she stylistically brings it together in the final chapter is breathtaking.

Luckiest Girl Alive is one of my favorites and I had high hopes for this one. I was anticipating a suspenseful thriller and this book was way more character driven. It was definitely a slow burn but I loved the historical aspects where women were often dismissed by the police. I think it's definitely worth reading!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. I am conflicted with my review of this, so I will give it three stars. There were times I was entertained by it and then there were times that I was completely bored with it.

"Bright Young Women" is a gripping and haunting novel that weaves together real-life events and fictional narratives into a compelling tale of suspense and female resilience. Inspired by the chilling story of America's first celebrity serial killer and his final murderous spree, the novel transports readers to the harrowing world of a notorious crime and the extraordinary women whose lives were forever altered by it.

The novel masterfully explores the lives of Pamela Schumacher and Tina Cannon, two women from vastly different backgrounds whose paths intersect in the pursuit of truth and justice. The author skillfully delves into their characters, bringing depth and complexity to their struggles and determination. Pamela's decision to stay home on that fateful night and Tina's unwavering quest to uncover the truth about her missing friend create a sense of urgency that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The narrative not only sheds light on the harrowing crimes but also challenges prevailing narratives, highlighting the exceptional strength and resilience of the women involved. While the story is engrossing and thought-provoking, some readers may find the pacing uneven in parts, but this is a minor critique in an otherwise powerful and thought-provoking novel.

In conclusion, "Bright Young Women" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that offers a fresh perspective on a well-known true crime story. It celebrates the strength and resilience of women while unraveling a gripping mystery. This is a must-read for those who appreciate narratives that blend fact and fiction to shed light on untold stories of courage in the face of darkness.

Review will be posted 10/5/23

Pamela Schumacker was the president of her sorority at Florida State in 1978. Instead of partying all night long like her peers, she can often be found doing paperwork or taking care of things for the sorority. On one fateful January night, she hears strange footsteps in the house that alert her, and from the shadows, she sees a man fleeing for the front door. At first, she assumes it's one of the sorority sister's on-again-off-again boyfriends, but after further inspection, she realizes that she doesn't know this man. Turns out multiple violent crimes were committed by a notorious serial killer that night and Pam is the only eyewitness. The story's timeline follows Pam's experience after the heinous crime at Florida State as well as thirty years later when she receives a mysterious letter that brings her to Tallahassee. The narrative also jumps to 1974 and focuses on Ruth Wachowsky, who they believe may have been one of the killer's first victims. The novel dances around the serial killer's actual name, which is never directly stated, but readers can imply it's none other than Ted Bundy. Jessica Knoll takes away his power by not directly addressing him and gives it back to his women in Bright Young Women, a fresh take on true crime as well as a thrilling tale that flips the script.


The story starts with a bang at Florida State through the eyes of Pam. It was terrifying, to be honest, and not something I was comfortable reading at night. However, the story continues after that and while it is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, it isn't as horrifying as the opening. Pam's search for justice is what really drove the story and I applaud Knoll for focusing on the women as often they get overshadowed by the killer. I also did not know much about Bundy's crimes, other than a few basic facts, so this was eye-opening for sure.


Ted Bundy, in particular, has been glorified over the years as a charming, smart, mastermind behind a ton of violent murders. It's a gross characterization and I like how Knoll knocked him off his pedestal and gave the power back to the women. So many movies and novels have focused on Bundy as being some superstar killer and I prefer how Bright Young Women depicted it. As a society, we should be focusing on the victims anyway! I also enjoyed the feminist take in Bright Young Women, but be forewarned that there were a lot of injustices and sexist behavior that the women had to deal with. It was infuriating!


While I liked Luckiest Girl Alive a bit more, Bright Young Women was just as captivating and more terrifying in that it's based on real-life events. So, if you can't stomach a story like this, I get it, but perhaps think about giving it a chance, because the story does give the women a chance to turn the tables. Needless to say, this would be an excellent thriller to read in October. In the comments below, let me know if you are going to read Bright Young Women and if you are a fan of Jessica Knoll.