I Need You To Read This by Jessa Maxwell

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5
Spook Level: 🫣 🫣 🫣 / 5

Summary: Francis is an advice columnist. She's also DEAD. When Alex finds out, she is sad to hear, but finds interest in applying for the replacement role to fill the Dear Constance role that The Herald posted. She applies with a wine glass in her hand, not truly thinking of what will happen if she gets the job when surprisingly she does get it. But she soon begins to find out that Francis' killer may just be after her too. When she meets a handsome stranger on a trip to the coffee shop in front of The Herald, she is almost immediately suspicious. Will she find Francis’ killer or will the killer find her?

What I Loved: This story was a very well-planned thriller because what started to come in about 50% of the book began to feel like a full circle of small details minimally scattered at the beginning of the book. I did love the spirit of the main character, not only going into a job she truly did not think she would get and wanting to prove the innocence of someone else being blamed for the murder. It seemed like Alex was going through a lot on her own, many things she did not share with her 2 friends in this book. Alex seemed like she was in for more than what she bargained for at different moments of the book and it made me feel overwhelmed myself. Here is an important lesson I learned through this book: It doesn't matter if someone is giving you all the best advice in the world, you should ask about them and if they are going through anything difficult.

Other Notes: I wished there was more of a backstory on who Tom was, I suspected he was a police officer or something of that nature because of his "Peeping Tom" moments and now I am getting why he was named Tom in the first place. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I was surely surprised that our MC did not pull through with Tom immediately as I think it truly would have kept her out of trouble, but then the story would have gone in another direction. I will be honest with you, I truly skipped over one page because it was graphic and made me squirm a bit because I just couldn't stomach it.

Warning: This book does include themes of domestic abuse, suicide, murder, conspiracy, and rape mentioned on and off page. If any of the above triggers you, please do not read this book as there are graphic parts that depict some of the above and or off-page mentions.

Special thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Electronic Advanced Reader Copy (E-ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest, and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

An advice columnist is murdered and an ardent fan is picked as her replacement. Seems like a dream come true for copy writer Alex until it isn’t. Threatening letters and a strong drive to find out who killed her predecessor, puts Alex in a killer’s sight. An excellent thriller with just enough mystery to want to keep reading long past the time I should have put the book down.Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for an early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

This was such a fun popcorn thriller. Some other reviewers state that it was a little predictable, but what about the character study and development? I loved the flaws that our FMC had. She was scared and strong and anxious and determined. She was a fighter, and I could cheer on Alex all day every day. I loved the way that abusive relationships and love were broached throughout this crazy ride. The Dear Constance column brought forth nostalgic thoughts to a time when you listened to advice and took time to think about your actions and the consequences of same. Most of all, I enjoyed the idea that Alex wanted her advice to matter, that it was thought out and planned and that she wanted her readers to do what is best for them. She had life experience and wanted others to learn from it.

This thriller came up short for me. I liked the premise of the story and found the mystery to be unique and interesting, but it was so slow. I figured out the twist pretty early on and found myself bored and skimming at times. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t find myself immersed in it either.
2.5⭐️ rounded up

Despite its title, I think you will be okay if you don't read Jessa Maxwell's latest I NEED YOU TO READ THIS (publishes August 13, 2024).

The book blurb did pull me in, but the reading experience devolved for me from the beginning. Alex Marks leads a lonely life as a remote pharmaceutical copyeditor in NYC, and she goes to the local diner Bluebird for breakfast every morning as her only social activity. After the advice columnist Francis Keen (Dear Constance is the advice column) from the Herald passes away, the newspaper advertises the position, and Alex applies. She gets the job! It's $125,000 per year to read Dear Constance letters and reply to ONE letter per WEEK. Now, I don't know much about the newspaper industry, other than it's not high paying these days and you have to work your butt off. So the plausibility of being responsible for writing 300-500 words per WEEK for $125,000 per year, even in NYC, befuddles me. And she gets an assistant?!

Then the setting and vibe really threw me. Yes, it's summer in New York City, but the huge office building where Alex now works (why doesn't she work remotely?) is dead. Apparently she only sees the receptionist Jonathan, the head honcho Howard, and her assistant Lucy. I guess no one else works in this 45 story office building. I've never read a book set in a city that felt so lonely.

And then the dialogue bugged me. It was cheesy and amateurish.

Interspersed within the narrative, the reader finds out that Alex used to write to Dear Constance herself and that she's experienced trauma from a past partner, which is easy to figure out based on the novel itself, so it felt repetitive. Aside from Alex's new job and her traumatic past, we don't know much about her as a person. I suppose Alex's loneliness is a point the author is trying to make, but what about her family? Any friends other than the server and the other regular patron at the diner? Does she have any personality other than her past trauma?

As for the plot, it is slow, but I don't mind a slow plot. It was everything else, from the premise to the execution of dialogue and even scene structure, that made me roll my eyes. The police non-involvement in Francis's death seemed odd. There was ridiculousness toward the end that I could have taken more readily had not so many things bugged me and compounded on one another.

I really enjoyed this author's first novel THE GOLDEN SPOON. This follow-up was a big disappointment.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

Alex Marks is a ghostwriter for a company and a year after a famous columnist Francine dies they are holding an open call to try and find her replacement for Dear Constance. Alex gets the job after answering some questions asking for advice. Alex starts to investigate Francine's death and starts to get death threats as well. Alex's assistant Lucy tells her about how their boss Howard takes advantage of younger woman and Alex believes that Howard killed Francine. Alex has her friends Janice and Raymond help her investigate. Once Alex snoops on Howard she goes back to Francine's summer house to find the murder weapon. Lucy is actually the younger sister of Brian the man that Alex has been hiding from for years that almost killed her. Janice and Raymond show up to help Alex and try and help her and Lucy kills her brother after learning that he lied to her for years. Alex lives and is in the hospital and Howard's wive ends up confessing to killing Francine because her husband cheated on her with Francine for years. Alex gets to keep her job and ends up reconciling with her mom and Tom the guy she starts seeing. I loved this book it was so interesting.

I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book. It was a surprisingly quick read, very suspenseful, and the writing is great. It was a bit predictable, but that's a me problem. I highly recommend this title if you're looking for a good thriller.

3.75 stars - What a fun popcorn thriller this was. The nostalgia I felt about the Dear Constance column.. it reminded me of the advice columns in magazines I used to read when I was younger. I had such a fun time and tore through this. I did guess some aspects of this book it really didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

Alex Marks, a copywriter in New York City, is shaken by the murder of her childhood hero and famous advice columnist, Francis Keen. When Alex takes over Keen's role on Dear Constance, she begins receiving strange letters and suspects foul play in Keen's death. As she investigates, she uncovers dark secrets from her past and realizes her own life may be in danger. Will Alex solve the mystery and save herself, or meet the same fate as her predecessor?

This is the first book I have read by the author of The Golden Spoon, and I must say, I was immediately captivated. While I was able to predict some of the outcomes, the majority of the twists and turns took me by surprise. The fast-paced nature of the book, coupled with its easy readability, made it a truly enjoyable experience.

One aspect of the book that I found particularly intriguing was the exploration of toxic relationships and anxiety. The mystery surrounding Alex's background and her decision to start anew added an extra layer of depth to the story. The gradual revelations throughout the book only served to enhance my enjoyment of it.

Overall, I found this to be a well-written and engaging book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling read with a touch of mystery and intrigue.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for my digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I read over half of this book in one sitting before I went to bed because I didn't want to stop. It was so fast paced and never dragged.

The story starts right away, and as I said there were no draggy parts. I really enjoyed the chapters that ended with the Dear, Constance letters and found myself missing them when they weren't in a chapter.

The mystery was a little predictable, but it was such a quick read that it didn't even really matter. I loved the friendship between Alex, Raymond, and Janice, and would love to read more about the three of them!

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌖
Genre: 🔪 Thriller
Violence: 🔪🔪
TW: Gaslighting, Cutting

Synopsis: A reclusive copywriter’s carefully cultivated world is upended when the advice columnist whose words got Alex through her darkest days is brutally murdered. When Alex is chosen to replace her idol, she quickly proves adept as solving others’ problems. But soon she begins to receive threatening letters and her inbred paranoia makes her suspect everyone. Is her past coming back to haunt her?

Thoughts: I find the premise novel and much of the character development nuanced and engaging. Maxwell has a skill with atmosphere that makes the reader share in a sense of claustrophobia or a feeling of enchantment. The author is particularly proficient at enmeshing us in Alex’s confusion and fear as she unfurls her main character’s backstory. Certain hints made me confident I knew the culprit. But the author deftly misdirects me. Using the interplay between Alex’s history—and the resulting fear that drives so many of her choices—and her predecessor’s murder, Maxwell distracts me to the point I don't not see the penultimate twist coming. At the same time, there are places where the suspension of disbelieve required has me asking, “Is that really plausible?” One is the way basic police procedure is omitted in service of story; an incompetent cop only has so much leeway. The other is one component of the resolution, which requires one to believe in facts and behaviors that seem unlikely. While I found myself occasionally pulled out of the story by these inconsistencies, I would definitely recommend it, along with Maxwell’s The Golden Spoon.

Thank you to @atriathrillers and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley. This was a twisty thriller, which kept me guessing. There were definitely some creepy vibes, but I enjoyed it.

Is it weird to say a thriller/murder mystery felt endearing? This felt pretty endearing. I foresaw how the plot was gonna play out, but it didn’t take anything away from my enjoyment. Loved the ending and how things ended up for Alex. :)

What happens when you drink a bit too much wine? Well, if you are Alex Marks, you apply for the job of writing a newspaper column, Dear Constance. The former author, Francis was murdered, and the killer has not yet been found. Alex relied on her column for years, and even though she knows she has no chance of being hired, fate intervenes. She gets the job and is pushed out of her very lonely existence. Why Alex is always looking over her shoulder will slowly be revealed.
As Alex is attempting to read the thousands of letters that have backed up since Francis was killed, she begins to get suspicious of her boss Howard. She decides to put her amateur sleuth hat on and get justice for her idol Francis. But things aren’t quite as straightforward as they may appear, and it seems someone from Alex’s past is still looking for her. Will the newest Dear Constance writer be murdered too? All will be revealed before the final page.
There was one character that I knew from the first time we saw her, that she was trouble. I kept screaming at my Kindle for Alex to just be a little bit smarter. A good mystery, and I won’t dive into spoiler territory, but I enjoyed Alex’s growth.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Jessa Maxwell’s latest novel, I Need You to Read This, is a masterful blend of suspense, nostalgia, and psychological intrigue. This gripping mystery follows Alex Marks, a copywriter who unexpectedly lands a job as an advice columnist after the murder of her childhood hero, Francis Keen. As Alex delves into the mystery surrounding Keen’s death, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and danger that threatens her own life.

Maxwell’s storytelling is atmospheric and addictive. She skillfully balances the dark, suspenseful elements of the plot with the warmth and wit of her characters. Alex is a relatable protagonist, whose journey from a mundane existence to a perilous investigation is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Her interactions with the enigmatic editor-in-chief, Howard Dimitri, add layers of tension and suspicion, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The novel’s setting, from the bustling streets of Manhattan to the eerie summer house where Keen’s body was found, is vividly described, enhancing the overall sense of unease and mystery. Maxwell’s prose is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into Alex’s world and making it difficult to put the book down.

One of the standout aspects of I Need You to Read This is its exploration of the advice column as a narrative device. Maxwell cleverly uses the letters Alex receives to deepen the mystery and provide insight into her character’s psyche. This unique approach adds a fresh twist to the classic murder mystery genre.

I Need You to Read This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. Jessa Maxwell has crafted a story that is entertaining and thought-provoking, with a protagonist who is easy to root for and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Maxwell’s work or new to her writing, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression.

As an avid lover of both mysteries and advice columns like Carolyn Hax and Dear Prudence, this seemed to be a perfect summer read for me! Alex, a copywriter in NYC, applies to be the next Dear Constance. Once she starts the job, she starts getting mysterious letters and is also intrigued about the death of the former writer. I loved the side characters in this, showing that Alex has created a found family in such a big city. I enjoyed the story much more than Jessa Maxwell's last mystery and feel like she's starting to find her stride. This was an easy thriller to read and perfect for a beach or pool read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy!

I was a big fan of this authors debut, and this next work is just as good!

I really enjoyed the characters, as well as the plot. It was really believable and twisty. I’d call it a more mild, almost cozy, mystery, which I also thought of her first novel. It’s a really fun read for me all around!

Would definitely recommend the read!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

Quick read! I liked the cafe friends! Ray is lovely and I'm super intrigued by the Nest. I look enjoyed the letters framework formal, tiny slice of duel timelines.

I really wanted to love this a little more than I did. It was an enjoyable book with a cool premise, but it hasn't been super memorable for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it pretty much in one sitting. I loved Alex and her growth, I loved Janice and Raymond and felt I could really connect with the characters. However, maybe I read too many thrillers, but I did find the whole book rather predictable. It was still a really enjoyable read though!