I’ve read this one twice now! I loved Jess’s Maxwell’s first book and I’m so looking forward to reading more! The advice column aspect of the book is so unique and I loved reading about life at a newspaper. Not to mention the thriller aspect is wonderful!

This book was completely impossible to put down, so much so that I finished it in one afternoon. I had to know what happened to Francis, had to make sure Alex would be alright, had to know what more Lucy wasn’t telling us. There are so many compelling characters here and it’s impossible to trust any of them. Highly recommend for fans of a good thriller.

What I liked: This mystery is an edge-of-your-seat page turner with some great twists at the end. A young woman, trying to leave her past behind, takes over a newspaper advice column for a murdered writer.

What I disliked: The quirky side characters, Janice and Raymond, were confusing. The reader must suspend belief for the roll played by these two people, who are supposedly barely acquaintances to Alex.

I NEED you to read I Need You To Read This! It's a flawless example of a perfect thriller! With an outstanding plot, mysterious characters and clues, you will be kept on your toes by this all-consuming story. It truly check marks all the ways which make for an amazing read...murder, mystery, secrets, thrill and a gasping ending!

Advice columnist extraordinaire Francis Keen has been murdered. Alex Marks who is a copywriter by day and a hermit by night in New York City is devastated. Alex grew up with Dear Constance and feels like she survived her childhood through reading her column.

Alex tries to stay under the radar. She goes to the same coffee shop every morning, then to her job and then home. Her only friends...the waitress and a customer at the diner and she only sees them for five minutes a day.

But something happens to Alex when she sees the job announcement for a replacement for Keen's Dear Constance column. She feels something she has never felt before. And so, without thinking she applies for the job. Surprisingly she actually gets it! Ah, but always be careful what you wish for!

After meeting with the editor in chief Howard Dimitri she begins what she considers a new life, with a new purpose...to help those in need. But, unfortunately, someone does not feel the same way as Alex. She begins to get threatening notes. She believes it's just a reader who is angry that they have replaced Keen, and she is now Dear Contance.

As she settles into the office, she discovers the editor in chief has a few secrets and then discovers there are some shady goings on in the office. Her mind starts to wander, and she begins to think perhaps someone who worked with Keen could possibly have killer her. But, why?

As Alex tries to discover what exactly is going on in the office, her past which she left behind suddenly begins to collide with her present! Now Alex is frightened! Just as she believes she knows what happened to Dear Constance, well, let's just say she's wrong! And now she could be the next dead Dear Constance!

I Need You To Read This is an absolutely enjoyable read with so many layers and hidden secrets it will make your head spin! The twists and turns are impeccable, but scattered within the story are new friendships and trusts and trying to create a new life. But mostly it's a downright great murder mystery!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #JessaMaxwell #INeedYouToReadThis for the advanced copy.

Really created some ambiance and kept things suspenseful. I had an inclination about the twist. But didn’t guess it fully.

very well written!!! a great thriller for those who love to be on the edge of your seat and submerged into a story!!!! 5/5 stars!!

** spoiler alert ** This book was middle of the road for me. I thought it was unrealistic at how quickly and easily Alex got the job, especially such a high profile one. Did no one in HR do a background check? I was also confused at how overwhelmed Alex seemed at the job right off the bat. She literally only has to choose one letter to respond to, and that's it. And all that for $120,000 / year salary? Just . . . no.

I did like Alex's relationship with Janice and Ray and would have liked more back story on that. How is it that she's been having breakfast with them multiple times a week for years and the relationships are so superficial (until they are not and Janice tracks her down via her work number when she can't reach Alex on her cell. This seemed highly unlikely - normal people would leave a voice mail or two or send multiple text messages, but I don't think anyone would call someone at work because they didn't answer their personal cell phone . . . while at work. Rant over.)

The choices Alex makes towards the end aren't in line with how her overly cautious, paranoid character presented throughout the book. And I just didn't understand the reveal as to who was after Alex; what child would care that much about what happened to her (much older) sibling to harbour a grudge for all those years? And, while I get that the newspaper probably employed a bunch of people and that Alex's office was out of the way and isolated, how did Lucy manage to get around unnoticed?

This wasn't the worst book I've read; it was a quick read and did keep me going until the ending, but it sure wasn't the best.

I would classify this more as a mystery than a thriller, because the slow burn was really slow.

2.5 stars rounded up to three. Thanks to netgalley for providing me an advance copy for review.

This book was a little more involved that I expected going into it, which may be why I didn't like it as much as I expected - you have to be in the mood for literary. The prose is well crafted and the characters are well-developed.

This book was a slow start and i almost DNF the book.

The connection between lost girl and Alex I made the connection early. Alex in the book was trying to figure out the truth about her mentor Francis. Some of the things were predictable and some i did not see coming so that was nice and made me want to continue on with the book.

After you get past the slow burn it is a good book.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. I really enjoyed the premise of this book! When Alex replaces the writer of the famous advice column, she gets caught up in a mystery to solve the former authors murder. There were parts that I felt were kind of predictable but others that I never saw coming too! I enjoyed following Alex along solving this mystery and I know others will as well!

A quit paced story with duel narration. An advice column can be a great asset to readers, but one reader needs a lifeline in more ways than one. Tightly plotted and engaging.

I really tried to love this novel, but it just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t seem to get on board with Alex’s character. However, still getting 3 stars because I do believe this book will have a lot who love it, just wasn’t my particular cup of tea.

A Thrilling Read with a Few Flaws

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell is a fast-paced and engaging novel that follows an advice columnist on a quest to uncover the truth behind her predecessor's murder. The book has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall, it's an enjoyable read that will keep you guessing until the very end.

On the plus side, the book's plot is well-developed and suspenseful. The author does a good job of keeping the reader engaged, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I have never gotten a chance to read a book by Jessa Maxwell and I am happy that I had time today to try and get it done. I will say that I feel like this book has two interesting parallels: one being the columnist trying to solve the murder and the other being her story and why she moved. Both being wrapped up beautifully.

The characters are also well-drawn and relatable, and I found myself invested in their fates. However, the one thing I didn't like is the supporting cast. The only one I liked was her editor.

The book's pacing is a bit uneven in places. There are a few sections that drag on a bit, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Additionally, some readers may find the plot twist to be predictable.

Overall, I Need You to Read This is a solid 4-star read. It's a good choice for fans of suspenseful novels with well-developed characters. Just be aware that the pacing can be a bit uneven in places.

I was excited to read this book. Really, I was. But it kind of fizzled. The characters were underdeveloped. None of them felt important, believable, or even connected to one another. There was no emotional depth between anyone. And the settings? Aside from the three main ones (home, diner, work), every other location felt like a plot device instead of being naturally woven into the story. Like, are we really going to a hidden bar just to investigate, then being caught for an entirely differently reason unrelated to the plot? It felt forced.

The side characters didn’t help either—they felt like props, not like real people who were meaningfully tied to the story. Honestly, it gave off “theater play” vibes, like the characters knew there was a fourth wall. Maybe that’s just how mystery novels work?

Then there were the logic gaps. For example, where is HR in this office building? Where’s the staff team? Why is everything so siloed? I worked in organizational culture, so maybe that’s why it irked me so much, but it seems like the author hasn’t spent much time in corporate America. And don’t even get me started on the ridiculousness of someone driving from the city to the Hamptons to look into a house that’s part of a police investigation. Make it make sense.

As for the twists: I guessed one, missed another, and found the ending way too neat and tidy. This book had all the right pieces, but none of the glue to hold them together.

This book has an incredibly slow build,up.
Maxwell keeps Alex’s story shrouded in the shadows for most of the book. I did make the connection between Lost Girl and Alex early on.
Alex scuttled about while trying to unearth the truth about her beloved mentor Francis.
Some of the things were a surprise bit others were not.
My favorite characters were Janice and Raymond because although just ordinary they were also extraordinary.

Thank you to @Atria for the eARC and thank you to @simonaudio for the ALC! An intriguing and clever mystery sees a young woman apply for an advice columnist position in present day (vacant since the prior columnist was murdered) interspersed with a previous timeline in the form of letters to the former columnist. A compelling story that had me just as paranoid as the main character and eagerly anticipating what could possibly happen next. I enjoyed this thoroughly, the single POV paired with the letters kept things moving - this medium-paced thriller was highly compelling!

I loved The Golden Spoon and was really excited to read this one. A twisty page turn that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put it down. A very enjoyable mystery.

This story was intriguing and did keep me guessing. There is a little bit of romance, a little intrigue, and some mysterious situations. The only thing that took me out of this was that the main character was not always so smart and we as the reader were given a lot of obvious clues for things that the MC should have known. This is frustrating for me because I feel like I'd rather figure things out on my own instead of being given the same clues over and over. The character development was pretty good and the ending was satisfying.
I'll continue to try this author and hope she continues to develop great mysteries! Also, please consider checking content warnings before reading this one.

This was such an enjoyable thriller! I thought the author did a great job developing the characters and I really liked the storyline. The ending I did not see coming, which is always a huge bonus. I would definitely recommend this.

Years ago, Alex Marks escaped to New York City for a fresh start. Now, aside from trips to her regular diner for coffee, she keeps to herself, gets her perfectly normal copywriting job done, and doesn’t date. Her quiet world is upended when her childhood hero, Francis Keen, is brutally murdered. Francis was the woman behind the famous advice column, Dear Constance, and her words helped Alex through some of her darkest times. When Alex sees an advertisement searching for her replacement, she impulsively applies, never expecting to get the job. Against all odds, Alex is given the position but soon, she begins to receive strange, potentially threatening letters at the office. Francis’s murderer was never identified, turning everyone around her into a threat, including her new boss. Alex is drawn into the details surrounding her predecessor’s murder and her own dark secrets begin to rise to the surface.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Alex, her past and present. Definitely a creepy- twisted read. When I found myself thinking I knew what would happen next, I was excitingly surprised that there were more twists and turns. I loved how it all came together! Thank You Netgalley and Jessa Maxwell for a very entertaining read.