Thank you for allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed the characters and their arcs, and found the plot interesting. I look forward to reading more from this author.

When I started reading this book, I didn’t read a synopsis or anything about it. I love true crime so felt like I would really enjoy it based on recommendations from my friends. As I was reading I thought to myself, “wow this sounds a lot like Ted Bundy.” It wasn’t until about 75% through the book that I looked up a synopsis and found it was actually historical fiction about the sorority house attack by Ted Bundy that it finally clicked into place. There are many slow parts to this book and it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be- but it was well researched and executed. Pamela’s chapters seemed a bit choppy, but maybe that was her personality?

I was fortunate enough to receive and arc of this book and my true crime loving self was all over this! I love how the killer wasn’t referred to by name. He was only ever referred to as “The Defendant”. To me this gave him a more ominous appearance and dehumanized him in a way. It showed him to be the monster he truly was. It both took away and gave power to the killer and I think it was handled in the best way.
I loved how empowering this novel was for the women in it. Instead of glorifying the killer like a lot of telling do, it showed who the real heroes were. There were some slow moving parts that really got to me here and there and made it hard to really focus. It disrupted the pace of the story. But other than that I found this to be a solid read!

"Bright Young Women" by Jessica Knoll is a gripping and profoundly moving narrative that reimagines one of the darkest chapters in American criminal history through a lens that prioritizes the lives and legacies of the victims over the infamy of their assailant. Knoll masterfully weaves together the lives of two women, Pamela Schumacher and Tina Cannon, separated by thousands of miles yet connected by a shared tragedy, to tell a story of resilience, courage, and the unyielding pursuit of justice.

The novel begins with an air of unsuspecting innocence and excitement on the campus of Florida State University in January 1978, setting the stage for a chilling encounter with evil that alters the course of several lives. Pamela Schumacher's decision to stay home on a night filled with promise saves her life but plunges her into a nightmarish reality when she discovers a gruesome scene that will haunt her forever. This pivotal moment marks the beginning of a heart-wrenching journey for Pamela, one characterized by grief, determination, and the quest for answers.

Meanwhile, across the country in Seattle, Tina Cannon finds solace in a new friendship with Ruth Wachowsky, a young woman hiding painful secrets of her own. Their bond, formed from shared vulnerabilities and hopes, is shattered when Ruth disappears under mysterious circumstances. Tina's unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth about Ruth's fate leads her to Florida, where her path crosses with Pamela's in a confluence of sorrow, strength, and resolve.

Knoll's narrative is a compelling critique of the media's fascination with the so-called "All-American Sex Killer," challenging the mythologized version of a serial killer and redirecting the focus towards the vibrant lives he extinguished. The novel posits that these women, often relegated to the footnotes of a sensationalized story, were the truly exceptional figures, deserving of recognition and remembrance for their dreams, achievements, and potential.

"Bright Young Women" is more than just a fictional account inspired by real-life events; it is a powerful statement on the importance of storytelling in the fight against the erasure of victims' identities in the wake of sensational crime. Knoll's writing is evocative and empathetic, capturing the essence of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. The novel invites readers to look beyond the headlines and remember the individuals whose lives were irrevocably changed by violence, making it a significant and necessary addition to the genre of true crime-inspired fiction.

I really enjoyed this book! I learned a lot about the Ted Bundy story that I hadn't known before - what a creative approach to historical fiction. It inspired me to do some research on my own to become even more familiar with the story. It was well written and the characters were engaging. I look forward to more from this author!

This book was highly anticipated. It was a clear winner in its genre, and many readers loved it. This book is a slower-paced novel that falls under literary crime fiction. The author never mentions the serial killer by name, using only the actual names of the victims. The focus is on the women affected by the killer, highlighting victimhood and sisterhood. The book challenges the idea of the killer being a "terrific-looking" and "bright young man" by portraying him as an average person. The women in the story are portrayed as impressive, innovative, and exceptional. Overall, this book was put together well, and I can tell why so many people loved it.

Wow! This is much more than a "typical" mystery/crime/thriller focused on a serial killer. This book has so much to say how women and men are viewed and how they relate to one another, law enforcement and how they do (or don't do) their work, and ultimately society as a whole. This is a horrific story told by a talented writer who captures all of the unexplainable, unexpected emotions and responses when a tragedy occurs. The main character Pam is not always easy to understand, but my goodness, we all need a friend like this in our lives. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

I love Jessica's previous books. This one was ok. I enjoyed the back story and the nod to the true life crime that took place in the 70s by Ted Bundy. The character inspired by him in the book was just as charming and evil as the real Ted Bundy was.

Going back in forth in the timeline though was a little confusing to me in terms of following the story. I feel like it might have been easier to do a "Then/Now style of a book. Which may have made it a little more enjoyable. It was still a quick read for me.

Thank you #Netgalley

Another great read from Jessica Knoll! In this read we follow a sorority house in Florida that experiences an unimaginable tragedy. The president of that sorority feels obliged to track down the killer and will not stop until she has answers. During this journey she units with another woman who has more in common with her than she realizes that they eventually partner up to solve this mystery. The content is disturbing at times, it is not a light read, but it is very well done!

BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN!
Yes this book was SO GOOD! Luckiest Girl Alive was great and so was this one. These are really difficult stories to tell but the author does so in such a great way that is gripping and painful and that stays with you forever after you have finished them
This one is no different!

Oh my GOD. I have goosebumps all over, that was so ducking incredible. Jessica Knoll manages to so satisfyingly undercut the weird reverence/fetishizing of Ted Bundy that even works like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (which claims to subvert that view of him…) continue to uphold. These are some of the most fleshed out female characters I’ve seen, which is all the more striking given their context in a story that has thus far only seemed to want to flesh out its deeply unremarkable antagonist. Weirdly formal review but I AM SO LOST IN THOUGHT this was so so incredible!!!! 11/10 recommend

This book was not at all what I expected. I had such high expectations and reading the story it just did not have the punch. For one thing, the timeline of the story was a lot to keep track of, which is told in part by Pamela in the past, but also by Pamela in the present, and then you add in Ruth whose story telling is also in the past. The descriptions of the murders are horrific, and I admit I looked over my shoulder a lot after reading this book, trying to be very aware of my surroundings at all times. I really liked the aspect of not giving the murderer a name, not giving him any more attention than he was due, and instead placing all the emphasis on the victims. That being said, the murders take place in the 70's and for the most part oh my the men in this book really infuriated me with the way they talked to and treated the female characters! This book took me way too long to finish because I kept losing interest, and with this subject matter that should not have been the case.

Thank you NetGalley and S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An exceptional book. Infused with a sense of regret and melancholy, but also anger at the casual and quiet ways women are diminished, disregarded and the not so casual and not so quiet; the worst case scenarios (like that of a serial killer targeting them) where women are simply ended, and discarded. Jessica Knoll, I think, has stepped more fearlessly into her mission and vision as a writer. Clearly she has something to say about gender, and now that I think about her debut novel, and the origin story for that novel, I think I understand what she's saying and I understand why. Though she made only a passing reference to it near the end of the book, I shared her main character Pamela's unease at the recent trend of making perverse sex symbols out of serial killers—all those limited series that stoke the fiction that there is something just a teeny bit alluring about men who hunt, rape and disfigure then dispose of other human beings. I never understood it, and I'm not sure I necessarily drew a bright and direct connection between that phenomenon and misogyny, but this book helped me make that connection.

It took me a little while to complete this one, not because it wasn't engrossing and well-written, but because there was that undercurrent of loss throughout and I didn't want to feel that for a sustained period. I completely understand the critical acclaim for this one, and for the refrain of "her best work yet." I absolutely agree. There is something fearless about this book that gives me a sense that Knoll's subsequent work will just keep getting bolder. I look forward to that. The one caveat I have for those considering reading: this is not a breakneck speed read, it is a very deliberate and thoughtful and analytical, and to some people, will seem slow.

I enjoyed this, but it wasn't easy for me to finish. An interesting fictional take on the Ted Bundy murders, this story focuses more on the victims of the crimes, and not the perpetrator.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for the ARC!

Pssst....listen up. I almost DNF'd this book, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Those who know me or may have seen reviews from me willl know that I don't like to work to hard at reading. After the first ten pages I was exhausted and had to really slow down because of the author's writing style. I mean why use everyday words when you can use Panhellenic (3 times - it means relating to Greek Mythology) and obsequious (2 times). I'm not snobby enough to think I'm all that, but I do consider myself relatively intelligent and I had to stop and look up so many words to make sure they meant what I thought they meant. But back to the story...it's a fictional account of a serialized killer based loosely (??) on Ted Bundy. It was facinating (and infuriating) to be reminded of how differently women were treated back in the 70's. I think many will like this...but have a dictionary close by.

This is a stranger-than-fiction account based on the real life, 1970s murders in a Florida sorority house. There used to be a lot going on in this and it is truly fascinating, but at times my mind wandered. Still, an interesting and eye-opening read.

Love Jessica Knoll and her latest title, Bright Young Women, did not disappoint! Sadly, there is a long time between her books being published but definitely worth the wsit! Thank you Netgalley

Really enjoyed “Luckiest Girl Alive,” so I was excited for this one. Unfortunately, I gave up a third of the way through because it didn’t kept my interest. Perhaps I’m tired of the literary devices used but I didn’t find myself caring enough to finish.

This book is a take on the Ted Bundy murders. The idea itself should have made for a 5 star book. However I found the characters to be devoid of emotion and annoying. The writing also seemed overly complicated. This was a hard one for me to finish. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a surprise and absolutely not what I expected, but I enjoyed it none-the-less.

Bright Young Women is a fictional account of a real-life horror, obviously inspired by Ted Bundy. Brilliantly, he is never once mentioned. It really is the women's story.

This story is less of a mystery thriller and more of a think piece on the ramifications of these type of true crime events, and Jessica Knoll is a voice to be heard.