This book was so twisty! I didn't want to put it down! I went in kind of blindly, which is what I tend to do with most thrillers so I can be surprised and it did not disappoint. I had such a fun time trying to solve the case along with the fmc and devoured the whole book. Really liked it!

Another fast paced twisty thriller from Maxwell! I really had so much fun with this one. It dove right into the mystery and didn’t let up once. I did figure out the culprits but that didn’t take away from the mystery and it didn’t matter because it wasn’t an immediate give away. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC. Was really looking forward to this one but it was just an average read for me. The story just didn’t grab me. I finished it but just an ok read unfortunately.

3.5 stars for this one. I was quite entertained for the majority of the book. The tension was building and the characters were all a little dubious. I enjoyed the premise: advice columnist Francis Keen has been killed, Alex sees an advertisement to take over the job and applies. After she is hired to become the new Dear Constance, weird things start happening to her, too, and she is afraid that her past has caught up to her. All of that had me turning the pages. But there were a few things that felt off - we get an encounter involving a side character that feels super random and never really goes anywhere, a connection that comes out of left field as Alex investigates what happened to Francis, and a few things that happen without explanation. As much as I enjoyed the quick pace of the book, I think it needed to be a little longer. I felt like I'd missed a few pages where some of that had been foreshadowed or explained. I also think that it would have been more satisfying to have followed the resolution farther forward in time rather than summed up in an epilogue that left too much out as well. So, overall, it was a fun time but it needed a little more. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the digital arc of this book. It's definitely one I'd recommend when you want a quick read that will get your heartrate up.

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell. Pub Date: August 13, 2024. Rating: 3 stars. I really enjoyed this author's prior novel "The Golden Spoon" so I thought I may find this one enjoyable too. Sadly, this book was not as engaging for me as her other novel. The pacing of the novel was uneven and choppy as well as slowly paced. I felt the character development was lacking. This one was a miss for me. Thanks to #netgalley and #atria for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I Need You to Read This is the newest novel of author Jessa Maxwell. Her first mystery The Golden Spoon was an light and entertaining mystery based on the idea of the Great British Baking Show.

This time Maxwell takes on the busy newsroom and newspaper advice column as the backbone of this murder mystery. Alex Marks has left the small town life behind. She is trying to forget her past and get lost in the hustle and bustle of New York City. Then she is a want ad in the newspaper that changes her life.

When her role model advice columnist Francis Keen is murdered, the newspaper puts out an ad looking for her replacement. On a lark Alex answers the ad and is surprised when she is offered the job.

Coming into the spotlight is difficult for Alex but she finds she loves the job and is excited to be the newspaper's new advice columnist. Though strange things seem to be going on at the office, Alex gives the job her all, spending long hours alone in her secluded office with her assistant answering the many letters asking for her advice. There are eerie moments, when her boss, editor-in-chief Howard Dimitri, is discovered staying late at the office and drinking too much. Then there are some threatening letters. She decides to try to figure out why Francis was murdered which takes her to her predecessor 's lake house in search of answers.

She has a skill for solving other people's problems, but can she save herself?

A twisty never-meet-your-heros tale, I adored ever tense page of this thriller. Voice and plot were spot on.

This was such an amazing read! I liked the golden spoon, but I loved this plot even more! I truely loved the side characters and the low-key romance of the book, and I had to keep guessing at where I thought the book would go. In the end I had a feeling I knew who was the person behind the notes was, and I was right, but I had no idea what the big twist was going to be and the real motive behind everything. I thought the author did a great job referencing abusive relationships, and I thought it was interesting hearing her letters from the past throughout the book as her relationship changed. All in all, it was a great mystery with some humor, and some very hard topics mixed in.

First and foremost, many thanks to Atria Books, Jessa Maxwell, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Alex Marks is a young woman who has fled to New York City in search of a new life, as well as to just get lost among the crowds of the city's population A longtime fan of Francis Keen, the true identity behind the advice column "Dear Constance", she is surprised to find an advertisement for a Keen's replacement. On a whim, she applies for the position, despite her certainty that she will never actually get the position due to lack of experience and given her young age. Alex is shocked when she is indeed given the job, and overwhelmed with the task of filling Keen's shoes. Francis Keen had been murdered, thus prematurely ending her successful career, and at the time of Alex's hiring, the case remained unsolved. So when Alex begins working in Keen's former office, located in an old, run down section of the Herald's office building, she finds the space to be creepy, eerie, even a bit haunted. As Alex begins the overwhelming task of reading every letter which comes in in order to choose one to use in the column, she begins to learn her boss is a bit strange and intimidating. She observes him drinking heavily in his office, overhears him having loud and frightening conversations with another individual on the phone, and suspects perhaps he is not as trustworthy or as safe as she initially believed. When Alex begins receiving threatening letters, her fears increase substantially as she realizes she must try to solve Francis Keen's murder before she winds up dead herself. Along the way, we meet acquaintances who become endearing, interesting, and every bit as much a part of the story as Alex herself.

A good modern read for the Agatha Christie fan, I Need You to Read This is a decent mystery novel, but left me wanting more. The premise was good, the characters likable, but from the description, I expected more from the "suspense/thriller" aspect. I feel this was more a misrepresentation of what the book ends up being more than anything else. This is a fantastic read for the individual who loves classic mysteries without the shock value many authors today feel is necessary, but despite feeling misled in the book's description, I felt myself wanting more from the character development of some of Alex's acquaintances.

This is an engaging mystery about Alex Marks, who becomes involved in investigating her childhood hero’s murder after taking over her advice column. While the premise is intriguing, the pacing feels uneven, and the focus on Alex’s personal struggles sometimes overshadows the mystery. It’s a solid read but lacks the thrilling payoff one might expect. Still a good read and I’d recommend it to friends.

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for this book.

I was so excited to receive an early copy of I Need You to Read This, as I loved the author's debut. Unfortunately, her follow up fell a bit flat. I went in blind, which I would suggest, but I didn't really love it! The characters were pretty one note and I didn't think the story was really memorable this time. It was a quick and easy read, and more of a cozy mystery than a thriller, but something just didn't work for me. I definitely look forward to seeing what Jessa Maxwell comes up with next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I Need You To Read This is a mystery/thriller novel packed with eerie letters and secrets. Be ready for plot twists as you delve into this gripping story!

The story revolves around our main character, Alex Marks. Seeking a fresh start, she escapes to New York City to lead a solitary life and, most importantly, avoid any exposure or romantic entanglements. (kinda like me tbh 😫) However, her tranquility shatters when her childhood idol, advice columnist Francis Keen, is brutally murdered. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, Alex applies for Francis's vacant position and, defying expectations lands the job (GO ALEX!!).

Soon, ominous letters begin arriving at the office, hinting at a dangerous game for her.
"Danger is not always to be found in the places that seem most predisposed to it, that it often can be found in the places you least expect it."

Overall, I liked this book! The story is filled with suspense, plot twists, and a chilling sense of paranoia as the main character tries to unravel the mystery murder and protect her own buried secrets. 🤫

The story had some interesting characters, but I found it hard to fully connect with them. I'd say the most engaging aspect of the story was its dark side. I loved the Dear Constance letters that were inserted throughout. These letters seamlessly intertwined past and present events, creating an interesting reading experience.

While I enjoyed the book, I felt the pace was slow-moving. Not much happened until the end, making the story drag a bit until the final act.
Also, my ability to predict the twists left me slightly disappointed.

If you are into murder mysteries, check this one out 🖤

Huge thanks to NetGalley, author Jessa Maxwell and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review has been posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7015051099

The characters in this book is what made it so great for me!
It did have a bit of a slow burn start but it picked up and grabbed my interest by 50% - now I know that’s too long for some people - but hear me out - it was worth it!

I loved this suspenseful read! Taking place in present day and in the past, I loved that the past story happened through a series of letters written to an advice columnist (the one who died at the beginning of the book).

The present-day story was engaging and tense even without the link to the past, and I loved guessing who the villain was (I failed), and connecting the two timelines.

Overall, an excellent read!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

Alex moves to NY for a fresh start. She is shocked when she discovers that Francis, the famous author of the Dear Constance advice column is dead. Alex ends up applying for the open job not expecting to actually get the job. Alex starts receiving strange and threatening letters once starting the new job. She starts to wonder what happened to Francis and who murdered her. Once she starts investing more secrets are revealed. This was a predictable slow burn mystery. I think this could’ve been so much more but lacked in the character development. Overall entertaining!

Jessa Maxwell’s I Need You to Read This is an intense and emotionally charged novel that looks into the complexities of communication and connection in the digital age. The story follows several characters whose lives intersect through a series of cryptic messages and letters, each containing life-changing revelations. Maxwell examines themes of loneliness, love, and the impact of modern technology on human relationships. The narrative is fast-paced, filled with suspense, and offers a unique commentary on how we share and receive vital information in today's world.

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

This story started out with a very interesting idea and then quickly lost its luster for me. I didn’t find the plot as a whole all that enjoyable and it really lacked the thrill, mystery, and excitement I’d expect from a book in this genre. I’m really disappointed with this one.