In January 1978, a normal night at a sorority house at Florida State University turns deadly. Sorority president Pamela Schumacher is the only person to see The Defendant leave the house, a man she soon learns has killed two of her friends and injured others. As the nightmare unfolds, Pamela feels responsible for seeking justice for her friends, while proving that she is a credible witness. Meanwhile, Tina Cannon appears and reveals The Defendant’s connection to her own friend’s disappearance. Tina then urges Pamela to help her nail the man who has ruined both of their lives.

Bright Young Women was a slow burn and very character driven, allowing the reader to feel immersed in the stories of Pamela, Ruth and Tina. The book aims to challenge The Defendant’s depiction by the media as a smart and handsome alleged criminal, instead highlighting how the principal women in the story are more brilliant and resilient individuals. It combines courtroom drama, female empowerment, societal expectations, and exposed secrets into a powerful narrative. Rather than focusing on the grotesque crimes involved, Knoll forces the reader to consider how lives were altered by a man who tortured young women with no remorse. The angle of the story felt original and was well done.

I didn’t know much about the story behind Ted Bundy before reading this and now I may have to go down the rabbit hole. Bright Young Women is a fictionalized account that focuses on some of the victims, both the ones who died and those who were collateral damage, of the infamous serial killer (whose first name is only used once in the book – giving him the anonymity that most of his victims generally suffered).

The prejudice that clouds the investigation and the prosecution of this horrific serial killer is infuriating. Pamela, an incredibly smart prelaw college student is the only eyewitness to his sorority massacre. As a woman in the 1970s she is treated like a nuisance and a potentially unreliable witness while Bundy is treated like a D list celebrity. Tina, who has been doggedly following Bundy and trying to catch him (since he killed her girlfriend), is treated as a dangerous element to the investigation (rather than someone who could be a strategic partner) because of her sexual orientation. The way the police treated the women is downright cringy – for example they took a while to get to the sorority house after he killed two women and brutally beat the other two because they thought that the girl who called 911 was probably being overly dramatic.

I thought the book was well written and the premise was extremely interesting – a look at how badly the police and court system treated the women/victims versus who should have been treated badly – the serial killer. The author didn’t want to give him any more fame than he has already received, and she juxtaposes this with the anonymity the victims have been given by giving them the voice in this book. At some points the story seemed to get a little slow and drag for me (and it kept going back and forth between two characters and three time periods which was made the read less smooth than I would have enjoyed). All in all though a worthwhile and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4.25 star for me

4.5 stars

This one surprised me in a good way. As a brief review of the synopsis should clarify, the subject matter is tough, to say the least. But wow, does Knoll cover it in a pretty spectacular manner.

One essential feature of this novel is its constant time jumps. Readers get close to Pamela, the m.c., very quickly because we spend so much time viewing events through her perspective. Though Pamela is now an adult, a practicing attorney, and the mom of a 30-year-old, her earlier life held some truly shocking formative experiences. One night, her sorority house gets invaded by an absolute monster who brutalizes several of her sorority sisters/friends. As the president, Pamela takes on an incredible amount of responsibility in the aftermath. She cares for the house, the logistics, her surviving sisters, and truly everyone and everything else, really never wavering in a close to superhuman stance that once got her jokingly (but accurately) nicknamed "Pam Perfect." Pamela experiences some of the worst trauma imaginable, and it's no surprise that this shapes the entire rest of her adult life. Seeing the events as they play out but then in alternating past and present timelines is absolutely riveting. It also requires an attentive reader, so don't go listening to this one while drifting in and out of chores and distracting errands. She - and all of these women - deserve better from you, anyway.

Readers also see the world through Ruth's perspective, but we don't see her in the present day because she has been missing for years. Though she comes in later and in quite a different manner from Pamela, Ruth's story is in some ways even more compelling, and that is a real feat for Knoll. The tie between Ruth and Pamela is Tina, another fascinating character in her own right.

When I started this read, I struggled a bit with the timeline and also with the pacing. However, I grew to appreciate the choices surrounding both. These characters wait, and suffer, and live with their trauma forever. The desire for answers, clarity, and some kind of justification flow through readers as we wait alongside the characters, and this makes for some effective empathy building, which is another outstanding feature of the novel.

Knoll relentlessly focuses on the titular bright young women, giving NO sympathy or attention to the dirtbags who harm them along the way. It's painful to read about what happens to all of them in different ways and as a result of the general expectation that women's identities, choices, and autonomy are meaningless, even from the perspective of other women. The central crimes are just the impetus for the real atrocities these women - and, well, women in general - face.

It took me some time to get in the swing of this one, but between the fantastic ending and post-read rumination, I am already appreciating it even more. Readers who can handle this content will likely find themselves quite impacted by the journey. Recommended highly but with care.

Eh did not love this book. Jumped all over the place too much and was a bit confusing. Thought it was kind of boring and some story lines were not great.

I’m calling it now: this is THE book of the year. Wrap it up, DONE.

This book just hypnotized me, it was so good - and I wasn’t even sure I would like it at first, given the subject matter had been written about so much. But I should never have doubted Jessica Knoll and her ability to create completely compelling characters that will make you feel like you’re in the middle of the story. Silly me.

The story is a fictionalized version of events based on the crimes of “the Defendant,” who Knoll uses as an obvious stand in for a certain infamous serial killer (recently portrayed on Netflix by Zac Efron, hint hint). She states numerous times that she doesn’t want to name him because it takes his power away, and that it isn’t his story - he was, at the time and even today, portrayed as some sort of criminal genius; when in reality he was a petulant wannabe. He was sloppy and catered to, while his victims were smart and going places. And that’s really the theme of the book: the main characters are the president of the sorority in Florida he attacked, and the best friend of a woman in Seattle in murdered. Both women were successful and their friends were also going places. But their lives were cut short by this small man, and then they had to fight a sexist system to have their concerns heard. To get Justice for their loved ones. To take the focus off of the Defendant and try to put it on the people who mattered.

It was incredibly compelling. I was hooked.

Note: The book jumps between multiple timelines, including the present day; right after the murders; and during the investigation. But you can follow along easily. I didn’t have trouble keeping things straight.

It’s not only about their fight for justice in a system that’s against them, it also shows how people deal with these cataclysmic events. I mean, it’s almost unimaginable what college students would do after an attack like that. So you watch it unfold and see what happens. And it’s completely overwhelming and fascinating at the time.

Anyway, the bottom line is, GO GET THIS BOOK. It is easily the best book I’ve read all year, putting you through a whole range of emotions and drawing you in to a well thought out story that will make you think about the long way we’ve come - and have yet to go -when it comes to criminal justice and women’s rights.

And you’ll never look at a “serial killer” documentary the same again.

Such a good book! Even though I grew up in Wa State I didn’t realize how closely this book paralleled Ted Bundy’s murder spree. Especially the attack in a sorority house! Being from Washington and working locally in a PNWbookstore I can’t wait to recommend this to my customers. This was so well written and I loved the strong female characters throughout the different timelines.

Bright Young Women, the latest novel from Jessica Knoll, is a fictional account of a true life event. Almost everyone remembers/is aware of the serial killer, Ted Bundy but do people remember the names of the girls he killed? Bright Young Women focuses on the story of a surviving witness as well as a young woman who did not survive her encounter with The Defendant, as Bundy is referenced in the novel (never is he named).

Pamela is a pre-law major and president of her sorority at Florida State University, a sorority made up of smart women. She encounters The Defendant at 3 AM as he is leaving the sorority house after committing heinous acts. Ruth is a young woman from Washington state, making changes in her life that bring her happiness. Bright Young Women intertwines their stories as well as moves from past to present day, resulting in a well-paced, engaging read. The reader also learns how the incompetence of those in authority helped create the myth of The Defendant as a clever, charming man.

Not only will those with an interest in true crime stories enjoy the refreshing perspective of this novel, those who are interested in great writing and compelling characters will also want to read Bright Young Women.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read the digital ARC.

DNF at 58%

I went into this book blind, so it took me quite a while to realize that this is a fictionalized account of Ted Bundy's murder spree, told through the lens of the women involved. At first I liked the focus being on the female victims and survivors, but once I realized the Bundy connection and that the author was fictionalizing actual murder victims (which included changing their names, the exact opposite of bringing awareness to the real women) I started feeling uncomfortable with it. That, combined with the slow pace and lack of flow, made me decide to DNF.

WOW. I LOVED "The Luckiest Girl Alive," so I was SO excited to read this one, and a little nervous that it wouldn't live up to my expectations and hopes, but it ABSOLUTELY did. The story, told from a multi-timeline, multi-pov perspective tracks a suspected serial killer through his victims and survivors. "The Defendant" has allegedly been on a spree across several states, had escaped from prison, and went to Florida where he allegedly murdered two sorority girls and a neighbor, while injuring two others. Pamela is the only witness to that crime, the only one tying him to the murders. The problem? No one believes her, and thinks that it was one of the victim's boyfriend--because of COURSE that's who it would be, it's the 70's afterall. But Tina believes her, because Tina has been trying to stop him for awhile. But who really is Tina? Who is "The Defendant"? Who can Pamela trust? Who IS Pamela?

This book also touches on what it was like to be a lesbian during that time, and it broke my heart and infuriated me--it was so well written and indicates that we've come a long way but at the same time, not a lot has changed regarding how we treat women who love women.

"Bright Young Women" is the PERFECT title for the book, and I think at least one of the characters will resonate with any woman who reads it. Ruth, Tina, and Pamela are all such interesting characters, all so different. Tina is what Pamela secretly wants to be, but she can't shake her good-girl image and stop people pleasing to live for herself, even after tragedy struck. Ruth and Tina just wanted to be free and found different paths--and different endings. My heart ached for all of them, and for all of the women in my life who have had similar experiences. This was such a compelling read with so much heart and feeling behind it. This is a book I wish I would have had when I was starting my college years. Even now, there are things I needed to read and see that resonated with me to the point I had to walk away after finishing a few chapters and reflect. Absolutely phenomenal story!

I don't want to say too much about the plot ,as that needs to be discovered as it goes. I enjoyed this , although it wasn't exactly what I imagined from the synopsis
I love the themes of sisterhood, justice , and perseverance that shines through our main characters.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Jessica Knoll made a name for herself with the novel (and Netflix movie) Luckiest Girl Alive, and will cement herself as one of the best crime novelists of her generation (really any!) with the publication of Bright Young Women. While the story is sensational (literally and figuratively), the characters riveting, the writing first class, what Bright Young Women does best is give a voice to the victims of the true life killer Miss Knoll refers to as The Defendant. In solidarity with Jessica, and those whose lives were cut short or forever altered by his evil acts, I will also refrain from identifying him. That The Defendant's reign of terror occured fifty years ago does not diminish the horror you feel at reading a fictionalized account of his actions. Set mostly in Florida and Washington State, Bright Young Women is more about what could have been had these women not crossed paths with The Defendant, but also what should have been-their names and stories the headline making news, not the supposed good looks and charisma of their killer. Bright Young Women is terrific, and will leave an imprint on anyone who reads it, which is truly the best way to honor them. The Defendant may have tried to extinguish their light, but thanks to Jessica Knoll these young women will shine bright forever.

Fictionalized retelling of the Ted bundy murders. Wasn’t sure what was fact and what was fiction and where the lines blurred. I do like the story being told from the women’s side.

I don't even know where to begin! This book is a masterpiece of stories woven together until they come together in the very last pages. I was hooked the moment I began this book and the tension throughout the book kept me invested, trying to figure out all of the small mysteries where Easter Eggs where left throughout the story. It's a mystery and also a coming of age story and also a story of friendship being stronger than all other things. The characters were flawed as humans generally are, but characters you wanted to root for. The ending tied everything up and left me satisfied in leaving the characters behind in this book. Highly recommend!

I devoured this book! It was so compelling. I liked the going back and forth between the murders, the present and the aftermath. I could not stop reading. It really was one of my favorite books of the year. I thought the pacing was good, everything made sense timeline-wise and it hit on a lot of topical issues.

First of all, I am obsessed with this book cover! It immediately drew me in, even before knowing who wrote this story, or what it was about, so major kudos! Secondly, I really enjoyed the setting of a sorority house, and the home of the alumni who took them in after the attack. Pamela’s POV and the harrowing journey from that night, to taking the stand at trial kept my attention. The chapters about Ruth, the other girl from before, kept me wanting to go back to Pamela’s story. Ruth didn’t keep my attention. Overall, enjoyed the premise, but felt like there was an imbalance between character stories that led me to not be completely sucked into the overall story.

Jessica Knoll has written another page turner.Thought provoking told through different timelines I was completely drawn in read late into the night.#netgalley #brightyoungwomen

I have been (im)patiently waiting for Jessica Knoll's next novel, so I was truly thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of Bright Young Women. I'm embarrassed to admit how many chapters it took me to realize that this was a book about the victims and survivors of Ted Bundy. That being said, I loved the concept of writing from the point of view of the survivors and those most impacted by his horrific killings. In a world that is true crime/serial killer obsessed, the victims and survivors are the most overlooked by society. Knoll has a great writing style that really resonates with me as well -- there's a bit of snark and sarcasm to cut to the chase. However, she adds exceptional detail when necessary, such as her descriptions of various outfits, locations, etc. Overall, I thought this was a great, moderately paced novel. Definitely a must read for 2023!

Thanks to Simon Element, S&S / Marysue Rucci Books for the copy of this ARC and Book Club Favorites / Simon Audio for the ALC!

Based on the real-life murders of Ted Bundy, Bright Young Women is a perfect fictional read for true crime junkies. Told in dual POV, we hear Pamela's story as head of a sorority where two sisters are murdered, and Ruth, whose disappearance leads Tina to fly across the country in an attempt to find the man responsible. As Pamela and Ruth intersect, the stereotypes of women are tested and the mystery unfolds.

One of my favorite parts of this book is that the "Defendant" remains nameless. Ted Bundy was the first "celebrity" serial killer, and let's be honest - most people can identify his name and not those of his victims. I love that this is reversed in this book. This is dark subject matter, but really well written!

I actually never read Jessica Knoll's uber popular debut, but jumping into Bright Young Women was really interesting--it's an excellent book. Jessica did many things incredibly well, simultaneously shedding light on sexism and the way we treat true crime in America. I love how she turned the serial killer trope on its head, and the alternating timelines and characters made me unable to put the book down. This will no doubt be another bestseller!

A fictionalized novel based on an infamous true crime, this book asks the question, why do we tend to forget the victims, while elevating the perpetrators to infamy?

In 1978, Pamela Schumaker, studying at Florida State University and president of her sorority, awakes in the aftermath of a horrific crime in which four of her sisters are brutally assaulted, resulting in two deaths. Catching a glimpse of the perpetrator, she becomes the sole eye witness able to identify the assailant, whose crime spree spans states. Across the country, in Washington state, Tina Cannon believes that her missing friend Ruth, was a victim of the same killer four years earlier. The women are drawn together in their pursuit for justice.

Written in dual timelines, the past when the crimes occurred and forty years on when the repercussions are still echoing, this book is a remarkable work that casts a harsh spotlight on the treatment and marginalization of women by law enforcement officials, the media and society at large, as well as an indictment of the justice and political systems that allowed the perpetrator to escape numerous times, resulting in the last crime spree.

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. Highly recommended.