Thank you NetGalley for this Advance Reader's Copy of Bright Young Women from author Jessica Knoll.

This story follows two women Pamela and Tina as they navigate their separate lives in the time of serial killer Ted Bundy. Pamela affected because she is the only eyewitness as two of her sorority sisters are brutally murdered and Ruth as one of the earlier victims.

The novel isn't meant to be an easy read, as the injustices encountered by both characters will frustrate the reader. It is however an engaging read full of an unlikable cast of characters that kept my interested until the very end.

Five stars, I'll be ready for the tv adaptation from whatever streaming service decides to pick it up.

I really enjoyed Jessica’s new book. I liked the character writing as well as the jumps in time for each character as well as the victim Ruth. I felt myself wanting more at the end but overall it was a solid novel.

Bright Young Women takes an interesting approach to a common serial killer story. Jessica Knoll dives deep into the bonds of sisterhood and the alarming sexism present in the 1970s that likely led to many women's murders. The bond between main characters Tina and Pamela is beautiful and is a joy to read about. In addition, Knoll writes in multiple timelines that creates some confusion at first but then weaves an intricate story. I did give this book only 4 stars as Knoll often goes on tangents in her writing that leaves the reader confused. With the exception of that, this book is well worth the read.

I was initially drawn to this book due to my love of Luckiest Woman Alive by the same author. What kept me hooked however was the fast-paced, extraordinary, in depth story of the young women at a Florida sorority that were targeted by an infamous serial killer ( inspired in this exceptional by the real life sorority killings perpetrated by Ted Bundy.)
Taking place in 1978 and also switching to more present day, this novel centered on a surviving sorority president who joins forces and develops a deepening friendship with the lesbian partner of a suspected former victim of the same killer.
What this novel did for me, besides keeping me riveted to the story that takes place over many years of trying to get justice and answers for the victims, is how women were generally treated back in the 1970s and how little their opinions and truths mattered to those in authority around them (men, for the most part).
I was engaged from the first page to the last and if legal thrillers, serial killer novels and women empowerment is your jam, I highly recommend this novel.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll is a terrifying journey back to the 70s. Not only was a serial killer terrifying women in the Pacific Northwest (and then across the country in Florida), but women were handcuffed by the ingrained misogyny permeating every aspect of their lives.Well written and completely engrossing. Highly recommend!!

I hate writing bad reviews, it makes me feel so bad.

Let's just say this book is not for me and I am sure lots of people will enjoy it.

While the beginning of this thriller pulled me in, at 35 percent, I abandoned the book. The story begins with a brutal attack in a sorority house, and as the strong, independent sorority president begins to process the events of that fateful night, she meets Tina who claims to know more about the alleged killer. At this point in the story, a third character, Ruth, is introduced, and that’s when my struggle with engagement began. Tina was involved in Ruth’s story, too, but I found myself looking for connection between the two stories. I’m sure the connection comes, but I was not engaged enough to wait for it.

The Idaho Murders that just happened were fresh in my mind as I read this book because the newspaper articles were similar to what was described in the sorority house scenes. I was already a huge fan of Jessica Knoll so I was glad her newest book was just as amazing as Luckiest Girl Alive. This book is coming out on the height of the Ted Bundy craze so I can already see true crime junkies snapping this book up especially because it is a modern take on the true crime genre. Overall I liked the alternating view between Pamela and Ruth and jumping between the past and present. The author has mastered changing timelines and this book kept me on the edge of my seat without leaving me confused which some thriller novels do with too many characters. I like the note in the beginning that we as a society have notorized serial killers but we don't remember the victims names and I can see this book becoming a big book club read.

I'm a huge fan of Jessica Knoll's writing and I think her style has grown stronger over the years. I loved the different POVs in this story. The pace of the opening was outstanding - I was on the edge of my seat. I think she did a great job taking a well known story (Bundy) and making it wholly through the perspective and emotions of the women involved.

Difficult, but in that good good way you only encounter very occasionally. The tone of the thing is near perfect, but also, I mean: I could do with watching it all burn to fucking cinders.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this thriller from one of my favorite authors .There has been a horrible violent crime on a college campus sorority house and one young girl is the only potential witness. She goes on a journey to uncover the truth, and the story takes us on many twists and turns along the way. I loved the collegiate setting and the strong female characters. A great page turner!

"Bright Young Women is the story about two women from opposite sides of the country who become sisters in their fervent pursuit of the truth."

Personal Review: 4 Stars

First things first, this book had my hooked from the first chapter. A serial killer on a college campus, who is also tied to other killings and disappearances throughout the country! How late 70's! But the misogyny that the female characters had to endure often times made my blood boil- again, how appropriate for the late 70's in America. The author researched this book well and included common landmarks from my state, as the majority of the novel takes place in North Florida. This book had a full cast of characters, but each were well defined and easy to move from character to character, the end was predictable, but I don't think unpredictable was what the author was going for. This book is one of those that is easily able to be binged and keep you invested throughout the whole journey.

Synopsis:January 1978. A serial killer has terrorized women across the Pacific Northwest, but his existence couldn’t be further from the minds of the vibrant young women at the top sorority on Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee. Tonight is a night of promise, excitement, and desire, but Pamela Schumacher, president of the sorority, makes the unpopular decision to stay home—a decision that unwittingly saves her life. Startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she makes the fateful decision to investigate. What she finds behind the door is a scene of implausible violence—two of her sisters dead; two others, maimed. Over the next few days, Pamela is thrust into a terrifying mystery inspired by the crime that’s captivated public interest for more than four decades.

Bright Young Women tells the tale of two women who, despite coming from different corners of the country, become like sisters in their unwavering quest for the truth. The book challenges the prevailing narrative that has overshadowed evidence for decades in favor of sensationalist headlines. It posits that the notorious Seattle serial killer, once thought to be brilliant and charismatic, was actually quite ordinary, while the women whose lives he brutally ended were the truly exceptional ones.