I loved this book. The writing was so unique and searing. I loved Ruth, her arch of learning to set boundaries and love herself/ be true to herself and her sexuality was fantastic. I have already been recommending this book to friends!

Fiction that reads like true crime.

Based on a notorious American serial killer whose name lives on in infamy but one I will not mention. This book was instead a focus on the women whose lives were ended far too soon, the bright young women who were murdered by the monster.

The narrative is told from multiple points of view in shifting timelines. The characters are well-developed and easy to identify with as they share their struggles to bring the killer to justice. Meanwhile, they suffer even more at the hands of men who constantly underestimate and belittle them. Certainly the time period in which these events occurred, the 1970s, shows that the issues women endured then are not completely dissimilar from those they face in present day.

I’m old enough to remember when this heinous villain was at large and when on trial. I’ve seen many documentaries and read a couple of books based on him and his crimes. I want to remember, not his name, but those of his victims who encountered this beast and did not survive.

This was my first book by this author and will not be the last. I liked the story and the writing style. The subject was interesting and the heartbreaking details will linger in my head. Still. After all these years, it still appalls and shocks.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

Well, this was a bit of a mixed bag for me.

First the good. This book unabashedly takes to task the social circus that erupts around serial killers like Ted Bundy and how the monster who creates such pain and suffering is often made into a larger-than-life idol. No where in the book does Knoll say Bundy's name, but it's clear from the get-go that this is most definitely a re-telling of his murderous rampages. I could feel the author's anger when re-telling how the killer was treated by the media, by the judge, even by his "fans." And yes, I feel that too. And I really love the title-- a play on the audacious quote from Judge Edward Cowart who, even after acknowledging the "shockingly vile" acts of Bundy, still called him a "bright young man" and referred to him as "partner" and told him to "take care" of himself. Yes, I throw up a little in my mouth every time I think of that.

However, the book as a whole didn't gel for me. I think this might be an attempt at genre-bending that has been happening around the topic of true crime for a few years now. Some of these attempts work, and some do not. I wanted this one to work. I really did. But . . . it left me feeling unsettled much of the time. Many of the facts of Bundy's murders are kept accurate in this book, including quotes from Bundy, from people in the courtroom, and even from newspaper headlines. But then other details--most notably, the names of some of the real-life victims--are changed. And, in at least one notable case, the whole story of a victim is completely re-written and fictionalized, erasing the real woman all together. I'd like to hear Knoll explain her process here; I am quite sure that her intent is to empower and not to diminish, but I can't quite make out how that works.

Is this an interesting read? Yes. Was hearing a (fictionalized) account of what a survivor might think and feel in the aftermath of the horrendous acts by Bundy legitimate? Yes. But the blurring of fiction and reality didn't make any clear sense to me here and it left me with more questions about the author's goals than answers.

One of my favorite reads of the year! BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN held up a dazzling mirror against the current trend of the true crime genre, reframing the stories to highlight the victims and survivors. A poignant and important story. I love it.

Great book of you are into anything True Crime, which let's be honest, who isn't! Lovely characters and chilling story.

I Received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of Luckiest Girl Alive, I was thrilled to receive a copy of Bright Young Women. This novel finally amplifies the voices of the victims of Ted Bundy in thrilling and heartrending fashion. Knoll effortlessly weaves together the timelines of dual female narrators and makes the 1970s and 1980s era California come alive. This is a book that only Jessica Knoll could write and it is worth reading every page. Extremely well researched and worthy of praise.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll was a fascinating and immersive read. We follow the lives of a few women after a serial killer kills a few sorority sister in 1978 Florida. This is a fictional retelling from the perspective of Ted Bundt’s victims. I learned a lot and loved the overall message!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - Beautiful Young Women is out now!

Jessica Knoll is a keeper!

I absolutely loved Bright Young Women. A true page turner, Knoll’s pacing and character development are sublime. Highly recommend.

I thought this book was well thought out and honestly a difference view from the infamous killer that we always hear stories about. It was interesting seeing things in this light, I will think about this story for a while to come and encourage friends to pick this up as well.

Excellent true crime fiction based on two of Ted Bundy’s murders.


Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard book to rate because it was hard to read at times given the nature of the story. It felt like an important read and I appreciate the author’s commentary on important topics like this.

I will read anything from Jessica Knoll. She's such a sharp writer with a perspective that our society would benefit from listening to. This book is such a fresh take on an infamous murderer - but more importantly - the victims of the murders. The beginning is intense for a scaredy cat like me, but I pushed through and would up loving how the rest of the story unfolded. Can't wait to see what Knoll does next!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I loved that this book presented the story of Ted Bundy's victims, from the perspective of the victims. All of the characters felt real and tangible. Well done!

This was a fictionalized account of the attack on the Florida State sorority by Ted Bundy. While the subject matter was horrific, the writing and story was excellent and I could not put the book down. I loved her previous book as well. Very well done!

Bright Young Women changes the narrative of these true crime serial killer cases and instead gives a voice to the women whose lives were tragically cut short and their loved ones left behind. It is infuriating to know that a judge once called Ted Bundy a "bright young man" and it is so indicative of society's sympathy for men while women are often cast in a negative light, even in victimhood. This book was a refreshing break from the typical point of view told in true crime stories. Quite dark but well written.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this masterpiece. I didn't think a retelling of Ted Bundy would be so enthralling but experiencing it from the side of the brave women who faced this monster brought it full circle. I have recommended this to every reader I know. Seriously one of the best books I've ever read!

A great read and one of my favorites this year. It’s told from two points of view and points of time. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the chance to review.

Thanks to the publisher for a free Netgalley.

I have never hit it off with Knoll's writing, as I have not finished a book she has written yet. But the synopsis of this story pulled me in. And this was quite the story. I loved hearing this story from the perspective of the women and not a story idolizing a serial killer.

The way Knoll wrote Pamela's perspective was really in depth and I felt captivated. I needed to know Pamela's story and how she grew in her life. I will not lie and say that the Ruth sections were that interesting. I feel some of her sections could have been way shorter. Her section at the end was 100% necessary, but I def feel some of her inner monologue in the sections could have been cut.

Overall, I highly recommend.

I found the book to be very dull even with it’s subject matter. The main characters, especially Pamela, were insufferable from the dialogue to their inner monologues. A lot of the side characters came across as cartoon villains. I understand they were being written in a certain way to be antagonizing toward the main characters to drive home a point but it became excessive. The writing and already slow pacing in general were disjointed bc of too many timeline and POV switches. It failed to keep me invested in the story.

This book is said to be "inspired by" by the true events (from the actions to the people) and a fictional version of them. Now out of genuine curiosity, why are a couple of the full names of the real life victims being used then?

I know it’s supposed to be focused on victims instead of the killer to "give them a voice" but by the end of the reading experience, it just feels like a cover/excuse to have a clearer conscience about adding another piece of media (a lackluster one at that) to the endless list of ones about Bundy.



Thanks to NetGalley and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for providing a copy for an honest review.

This book reads like a memoir, but it is merely inspired by the Ted Bundy story. I really enjoyed how it was put together and how the stories merged towards the end as the characters connected. I've told so many about this book and will continue.