I enjoyed this slow burn mystery. I was kept guessing the whole time and could not figure out who to trust.

This was a fun mystery/thriller, although altogether I find it lacking in something. It was interesting enough for me to keep reading, and the overall concept was great, but the execution fell a bit flat and the twist was pretty predictable. However, for a quick and entertaining read, I enjoyed it.

I didn't love this. I felt like there was a lot of suspense built and detail and then the "reveal" was a different story that didn't really have much to do with the original story.

I really tried to like this one. But I just felt like it was so boring. Maybe it was me and I just wasn’t focused enough. But I don’t know, the characters felt boring and so did the story line. I felt like there wasn’t enough draw to it. The stakes weren’t high enough for me.

This was creepy and darker than I was expecting going in, but had many twists and turns that kept you sucked in!

This was a compelling read that contained some darker themes. I loved the premise, setting and characters in this novel by Jessa Maxwell (absolutely loved them in her prior novel too!). There were several times I thought I had the mystery figured out, only to later be shocked by a reveal or suspicious about someone's motives. The premise with the Dear Constance advice column is something I haven't read before so it felt fresh and had me considering the dark things that people might either admit to or ask about if there was zero chance of their identity being known. I'll definitely be picking up Jessa Maxwell's books in the future!

The book starts slow and fails to grab you at the beginning. It’s well written and an enjoyable read but not as suspenseful as most and a little disappointing.

3/5 stars- this one fell a bit flat for me. I found the main character a bit frustrating at times and the story line was a bit predictable. I really enjoyed the golden spoon and will definitely read more from Jessa Maxwell in the future.

Alex escapes to New York City to escape and other than her normal coffee trips she is a loner and has a sub par job. When her childhood hero is killed her world feels like it is spinning. After dealing with the death of her hero she sees her position open in the paper and Alex decides to go for it and she is surprised when she is given the position. But things quickly start going downhill including threats and other suspicious activity.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written. It gave me the chills at times and thought it was a really good book. Also it kept me on my toes so that is a big deal for me!

A compelling read from the start!

This book centers on Alex, a woman who seems constantly on edge, but we’re not immediately sure why. She lives a solitary life by choice, preferring to keep to herself. One night, fueled by wine and a bit of spontaneity, she applies for a job to replace "Dear Constance," the advice columnist she has long admired. After Francis, the previous writer, is murdered, the column comes to an abrupt stop. Feeling lost without it, Alex decides to apply, almost as a joke, and is shocked when she actually gets the job.

From the very beginning of her new position, Alex is unsettled, and the book takes on an eerie tone. She’s haunted by the mystery of Francis’s murder, especially since the killer was never found. As Alex digs deeper into Francis’s life, she becomes more obsessed with uncovering the truth about what happened.

I really enjoyed the mystery in this one! I figured out some of the twists early on, but there were still plenty of surprises I didn’t see coming. The story was incredibly engaging, and I particularly liked the inclusion of the letters throughout the narrative. The pacing, however, felt like a slow burn. While Alex was intriguing from the start, I found her a bit naïve, especially as her backstory unfolded.

I do wish there had been more resolution at the end of the mystery. While the main storyline was wrapped up neatly, I still had some lingering questions about certain characters and their motivations.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read and definitely worth picking up!

I was so excited to get this because i really enjoyed The Golden Spoon. I did not care for this one as much as the first one by her though.This one was just ok for me. It was a decent cozy mystery. Great as a palette cleanser or a quick read to get in your monthly or end of the year goal. I do like the way Tessa writes, its just not very thrilling and the plot twists are usually predictable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of I Need you to Read This by Jessa Maxwell

**Review of *I Need You to Read This* by Jessa Maxwell**

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

*I Need You to Read This* by Jessa Maxwell is a thought-provoking novel that explores themes of communication, connection, and the ways in which we share our lives with others. The story is centered around an engaging premise, where a personal message or letter becomes the catalyst for change and introspection. Maxwell’s writing is smooth and reflective, capturing the complexity of human emotions and relationships.

However, while the central themes are strong, the pacing can feel slow at times, especially as the novel delves into introspective moments that, while meaningful, sometimes drag the story. The characters are relatable, but I found that their development felt a bit surface-level, which made it hard to fully invest in their personal journeys. Some aspects of the plot also felt predictable, which slightly dampened the overall impact of the story.

Overall, *I Need You to Read This* is an introspective and enjoyable read for those who appreciate character-driven stories, but it may not have the depth or momentum that some readers are looking for. It’s a good choice for a reflective read, but it doesn’t quite deliver the emotional punch that would elevate it to something truly memorable.

This was my first introduction to Jessa Maxwell and I will be more inclined to check out books from this author in the future. The writing was immersive and well-paced. This was a well thought out murder mystery, leaving me on the edge and wanting more as the story went on.

I really enjoyed this author's debut as I found it to be such a fun and cozy murder mystery! I was definitely expecting similar vibes going into this one, but instead it was a bit darker than anticipated with some of the themes and tone. I liked the concept though and the inclusion of the Dear Constance letters to add an extra layer of mystery and intrigue to the story. The characters too were still fun and eccentric enough to follow as well, Alex especially because she felt so real with her anxieties and backstory. There was a twist too that I did not quite see coming so was pleasantly surprised by that! Overall this was suspenseful enough to keep me on my toes and trying to guess the outcome of things, so i will definitely continue to read more Jessa Maxwell!

I was really intrigued by the cover when I saw this book and I knew I had to read it. This book was super super addictive and I am so grateful I got to read it thanks to NetGalley. I did not want to stop reading this. The characters are captivating.

Jessa Maxwell’s I Need You to Read This is a thrilling, twisty mystery that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The novel centers on Alex Marks, a woman who left behind a tumultuous past to start fresh in New York City. Her quiet life is upended when she learns that her childhood hero, Francis Keen, the beloved writer behind the advice column Dear Constance, has been murdered.

In a spur of the moment decision, Alex applies for Francis’s position, never imagining she’ll actually get the job. But when she’s hired, she finds herself drawn into a dark, complex web of mystery surrounding Francis’s death—and begins receiving strange, possibly threatening letters that make her question everyone around her. As Alex digs deeper into the murder, she uncovers unsettling truths about both Francis’s life and her own, threatening to unravel everything she’s worked so hard to keep buried.

Maxwell masterfully builds suspense throughout the novel, keeping readers guessing as Alex’s investigation takes unexpected turns. The combination of Alex’s personal struggles and her unraveling search for the truth creates a compelling, character-driven narrative that makes the story as much about her emotional journey as it is about the mystery. The tension between Alex and her editor-in-chief, Howard, adds an extra layer of intrigue, as his dark secrets seem intertwined with the murder.

I Need You to Read This is a well-crafted, atmospheric page-turner, full of unpredictable twists and dark revelations. Maxwell’s writing pulls you into a world where every character seems suspicious, and the line between friend and foe is razor-thin. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that blend mystery with character-driven storytelling, this one is a must-read.

A super quick and engaging read! This leans more thriller than cozy mystery, though the plot isn’t perfect. The protagonist, Alex, was frustratingly slow at times—I almost threw my e-reader! But I enjoyed Ray and Janice from the diner. Overall, a solid read, and I’d check out more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, author and Atria Books for the ARC.
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Alex Marks moves to New York City for a fresh start, leaving behind a past she’d rather keep buried. By day, she toils away at her mundane copyright job. By night, she devours Dear Constance, the wildly popular advice column in The Herald. But when its sharp and beloved columnist, Frances Keen, dies suddenly, Alex and thousands of fans are left in shock.

Then comes the opportunity of a lifetime—The Herald is hiring for the column, and Alex, despite her doubts, lands the gig. But as she settles into Frances’s old desk, she realizes that being Dear Constance comes with more than just answering letters. Secrets swirl around Frances’s death, and Alex might have just stepped into something far more dangerous than she ever expected.
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An advice columnist’s untimely death, a replacement who starts pulling at threads better left untouched, and a slow-burning mystery? Yes, please! This was my first Jessa Maxwell novel, and I loved the concept—there’s something deliciously eerie about stepping into a dead woman’s shoes and realizing she might have known too much.

That said, while the setup was intriguing, the execution was… a bit uneven. The pacing leaned toward slow burn, teasing out details and layering in tension, but at times, it felt like it wasn’t moving forward fast enough. The story alternates between Alex’s perspective and Dear Constance letters from a mysterious writer called Lost Girl, whose turmoil is somehow woven into the bigger picture. While I figured out the twist behind these letters early on, a few surprises still kept me on my toes.

Overall? A solid, atmospheric mystery, but not a mind-blowing one. If you’re a seasoned thriller reader, you might find it predictable. If you’re new to the genre, it’s a decent entry point.

It's a 3/5 stars ⭐ read for me.

A good, easy read—just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel!

Would I pick up another Jessa Maxwell book? Maybe. But next time, I’ll be hoping for a bit more oomph.

Just finished this thrilling gem this morning!

If you didn’t know, this is by the same author as The Golden Spoon. Which I also really enjoyed.

Lately podcast books seem to be all the rage. Which is completely understandable because all the ones I’ve read have been done really well. I liked this book though because instead of the podcast element, it has advice column letters. Unspent on that mixed media storytelling.

Although this is a fast pace, thriller. You are also going to find elements of found family.

not gonna lie I thought I had the ending figured out and oh boy was off 😂. So, if you haven’t read this, you should definitely pick it up! Jessa is definitely an auto read author for me now!!!