Review: I went into this book completely blind, only knowing that I enjoyed the authors last book. Wow, it was such an entertaining read!

First, I loved the whole premise of the book. It’s about a woman named Alex who lands the job of a famous advice columnist. The previous columnist was beloved by many and her murder took so many by surprise. As Alex grows in the role, she starts to become paranoid about her boss, the news building, the new guy she met and went on a date with. This anxiety is on top of what she is already facing with the constant looking back, locking her doors, and mostly keeping to herself. Weird things begin to happen while working on the column, including threatening notes and some clues to what happened to Francis.

I always loved the local advice column like Dear Abby- so this was a very entertaining plot for me. I think the book started off strong but towards the middle it did slow down. There wasn’t much action until the end. I do wish it would be more twisty and fast moving. I also wish that Francis’ murder and the mystery letters would have been better intertwined, it felt a little off.

This is way more mystery than thriller. I enjoyed the mystery along with the advice columns in each chapter, but again, I love advice columns and find them so entertaining.

Overall, good plot but a little slow to execute. If you enjoy advice columns, I think you will enjoy this mystery! Don’t go in expecting a thriller jam packed with action. I did enjoy this more than her other book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

3 Stars. After DNFing The Golden Spoon, I wanted to give Jessa Maxwell another try when I was approved for her upcoming novel I Need You to Read This. I was not disappointed, but I was also not enthralled.

When Alex Marks lands her dream job under some unideal circumstances, she can't help but wonder if everything is not what it seems. While avoiding her past, Alex discovers the dark secrets of her new employer, driving her to find the answers herself.

After reading this novel I have come to the conclusion that Jessa Maxwell's writing style is not for me as a reader. The premise of the novel intrigued me and I was interested in the overarching plot, but I did not enjoy the style of dialogue between character. Overall the relationships and dialogue in the book felt superficial and cliche. I was not invested or did not care for any character in this book. Although Maxwell delves into the main character's past, she still felt surface level. The end reveal was predictable, yet satisfying.

Overall, I think mystery and thriller readers will enjoy this novel, but may not fall in love with the characters which can be a less enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jessa Maxwell does it again!

This was a fast-paced non stop thriller that I zoomed through it in two days! I really enjoyed the premise and I was a big fan of the mixed media element of the story! Having advice column letters intermixed throughout the book made for an interesting twist and added that one more tense element into the mystery.

Alex was a great main character and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. The supporting characters were some of my favorites (I know it’s weird having favorite characters in a thriller) but Ray and Janine have my whole heart.

I didn’t guess the culprit but the reveal was pretty unexpected. It gagged me a little bit.

I loved The Golden Spoon and this book was a hit for me as well! I can’t wait to see what Jessa Maxwell writes next!

Pub date: 8/13

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I loved the author's first book, this one however fell a little flat for me and I didn't even care to finish it. That being said I would read more from this author, but this one just wasn't keeping my attention. A huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley.

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley or the ARC of this book! This book was SO good! I really, really enjoyed the overall story and the characters in this book. This book was extremely well written and was full of suspense. I really kept guessing on what was going to happen until the end - there were several loops to go around! A very quick read that I will recommend.

I really enjoyed this book about Alex Marks, who takes over a popular advise column, Dear Constance, after the previous writer of the column is murdered. The book eludes to Alex having some things from her past the she is trying to escape from.
I loved that the story was told from the alternating perspectives of Alex as well as Dear Constance letters.
I really liked Alex as a main character. I thought she was really well written. I enjoyed the short chapters, the twists, and the suspense in this book. It's one I will surely be recommending!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy to review.

When Alex unexpectedly lands the job as the replacement advice columnist for her hero Frances, she's not sure she's up to the job. Nor is she sure she wants to lose her hard-earned anonymity in the process. But as she digs through the piles of letters that have collected since Frances' murder to find the perfect start to her new column, she discovers that there is more to the story. With a new romance possibility turned sour and a boss who may be a murderer, Alex isn't sure where to turn for help in solving the murder of her idol, but she needs to do something soon or she may become the next victim.

Maxwell did a good job in creating a well-written suspense mystery. The small number of characters keeps readers guessing, while also allowing for a more closed-room type feel to the murder mystery aspect. Alex is a relatable character, and as readers learn more about her, they discover just how strong she can be.

I Need You to Read This really captivated me with its mysterious letters to be answered. I love a good whodunnit as well! I was shocked with the ending and I would definitely read more of her books. Thank you Netgalley, Jessa Maxwell, and Atria Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The day to day is all we really have control over. You can't solve wars in other countries, or end poverty, not as an individual human being. But perhaps you can mend a rift with your in-laws or help someone in need of encouragement."

After the long-running advice guru behind the famous Dear Constance column is murdered, newcomer Alex Marks gets the chance at her dream job. Young, inexperienced, and in desperate need of a fresh start after a tough past, Alex is floored when her application to be the new Dear Constance is accepted. No sooner had she joined the paper, however, that she begins receiving threatening messages. Together with her friends from the coffee shop, Alex tries to solve the mystery of what happened to the former Dear Constance while battling demons from her past and trying not to become the killer's next victim.

This book had a really interesting premise - setting a murder within the context of an advice column made for a unique setting. Unfortunately, the book fell flat for me. The characters were a little too stereotypical - of course Alex's coffee shop friends are a gruff ex-cop and a nurturing but strong mom-like character - and their conversations a little too plodding. I also think the book suffered from trying to throw too much in there. There was a murder, allegations of sexual harassment/assault, and domestic violence, all while weaving in the advice column piece. I don't feel like the advice column job was used to its full potential, and the murder was solved almost as an afterthought. The ending was too unbelievable and at one point had an almost cartoon level of villainy. I'm not saying people like that don't exist, but the way the book came together wasn't realistic.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 Stars

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this title.

This was a great, quick read, and I underestimated this mystery. It had just the right amount of twists and turns that kept me on track and interested.

This story begins with Alex (our protagonist). She's from a small town and didn’t see herself going far in her career goals. Alex saw her friends going to college and moving forward in their lives, but she felt stuck in hers. She’d worked at a hardware store since high school, and Sam, the owner, was friendly and understanding.

Then, one day, Brian walked into her store, and everything changed. He was nice and doted on her, and due to her naivety, she saw him as a genuine person who wished to give her everything she wanted in life; however, once she moved in with him, everything changed.

He became cold, judgemental, verbally abusive, and overly sensitive about everything she did. Alex didn’t know what to do, so she sought help from an advice column at the Herald Newspaper called “Dear Constance.” Dear Constance never answered Alex’s letters for help, and she felt that her family couldn't help because her abusive partner alienated her from everything and everyone she knew, making her world smaller and smaller and bringing to light Alex's insecurities, which he would then use against her.

Dear Constance would finally answer Alex’s letter, but it would cost her almost everything. Fast forward, and Alex has moved to New York and works as a copywriter for a pharmaceutical company. This job allows her to work from home and earn a modest living. Alex stays vigilant and careful about where she goes and her daily habits. She has made a few friends within the confines of her daily life. Janice, a waitress at the diner she frequents daily, and one of the regular patrons, Raymond, a retired Police Officer. They would become her extended family. However, tragedy would strike when her favorite columnist, "Dear Constance" (aka Francis Keen), is murdered while at her beach house. Francis's murder was never solved.

While at the diner for her breakfast, Alex comes across the job opening for "Dear Constance." Later that evening, after one too many glasses of wine, she decided to apply by submitting a sample essay. She thinks she will never be chosen, but again, fate sends Alex down a different path when the Editor-in-chief, Howard Dimitri, hires her for the position. She was excited and nervous to prove that she could do the job previously held by a beloved and irreplaceable person.

Alex would find the office dynamics strange and disconnected. With the exception of Howard's assistant (Jonathan) and her Assistant (Lucy) or Howard, she didn't interact with anyone. She still wondered about Howard Dimitri as she felt odd around him. She knew something was off as her assistant Lucy would get nervous whenever she thought Howard was around. Due to Alex's insecurities, she questioned if Howard had made the right choice in hiring her.
Years of being told that she was never good enough or would never amount to anything made her doubt all her decisions, but when she turned in her first advice column, it was a success.

Alex would also find that Dear Constance has a few enemies. Could this be Francis's killer, a disgruntled fan who never got their letter answered, someone in the office, or something entirely different? I could not put it down after about 40% of this title; this mystery flows at just the right pace.

I Need You to Read This is a great mystery/thriller, and it didn’t weigh me down with pages of details and character explanations. This title gave me just enough backstory as it worked its way from its origins to the current story, then detailed what happened in our protagonist's past with an ending that led me right to the killer. Well done!

Good Reads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6293405164

The cover on this got me. I've been on a big true crime kick so this felt right up my alley. I Need You to Read This felt like it had two distinct story lines running at the same time. I thought they would connect in a bigger way at some point. Without spoiling this for others they do intersect but not really.

I enjoyed reading this book and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I loved the little snippets from the advice column throughout. It's a quick read. Would recommend more as a mystery than a thriller.

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and Jessa Maxwell for the early read!

I enjoyed the author's previous book, The Golden Spoon, which was a delightful, clever, cozy mystery, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately I was disappointed. It's a bit darker and sinister, which is fine, but I found the plot very far fetched.

The writing itself is good. But for me, a mystery needs to be water tight and I shouldn't be able to poke holes in it and too many things did not add up. It's difficult to point them out without spoiling things, but for the climax at the end we're expected to believe one character is both cunning enough to orchestrate it while clearly being incredibly naive. The timing and physical logistics that brought the characters together was also incredibly implausible as well. I also found the whole premise of Alex being hired for this advice column position straining belief.

I suspect many readers will not be hung up on these details but it did not work at all for me and I wouldn't recommend.

Loved this book! Jessa Maxwell knocks it out of the park again and is now an instant buy author for me. This books keeps you guessing throughout and weaves together a gorgeous thriller. Highly recommend!

I picked the book based off the cover to be honest. The details added to my interest and I was not disappointed. I sat on this for a minute in my TBR and once I picked up, I couldn't put it down. The beginning hooked me and though the pacing slowed a bit, I just had to know what was what.

Some characters you picked up on fast and others were a nice surprise.

This was my first Jessa Maxwell read & it did not disappoint. This is a different take on a murder mystery. Although it was a little slow and predictable at times, I could not put it down!

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and Jessa Maxwell for the early read!

US pub date: 8/13/24
Genre: suspense/mystery
Quick summary: Alex Marks lives a small life - until she applies to replace her favorite advice columnist and, against all odds, gets the job. But investigating her predecessor's murder will place her in danger...

If you enjoyed THE GOLDEN SPOON, I think you'll like this one too! I read all sorts of mysteries, from cozy to dark, and this one falls on the cozier side. I think a lot of the negative/meh reviews are coming from people who wanted a grittier story moving a mile a minute - this is not that story, but it doesn't mean it's not fun! I read it over 2 days and really enjoyed my armchair trip to NYC. I didn't see the twists coming, and I found myself satisfied with the ending. I also enjoyed the coming of age aspect of the story as Alex worked to build herself a new life.

If you find yourself inside on a rainy day, snuggle up on the couch and pick this one up! Or take it to the pool for a lazy mystery-filled day.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After really enjoying The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell last year, I was very excited to have the opportunity to read her follow-up novel! I don’t think I’ve heard the term “cozy thriller” before, but I think it’s a perfect description of what you get in this one. If you’re looking for a slow-burn, clever story that keeps you guessing, while also not making you try too hard, I Need You to Read This will be a great fit.

The story follows Alex Marks, a young writer who relocated to New York City for a fresh start in life and just landed her dream job of being the advice columnist for “Dear Constance”, a long running article in a famous New York newspaper. It’s bittersweet though, since the previous writer of the column, Francis Keen, was murdered months prior and the mystery is still unsolved. Soon after Alex starts her job, she feels a sense of responsibility to figure out what really happened to Francis and takes it upon herself to find her killer, while also still running from her own demons of her past.

I really enjoyed following Alex as a character, and I think there will be various pieces of her personality that readers will be able to relate to. Through Alex, the author paints an excellent picture of mental health struggles like anxiety and OCD, shown through things like ordering the same thing for breakfast every morning (guilty!) and systematically checking all of the locks in her apartment, and also feelings of imposter syndrome and little self-confidence as she starts her new job with big shoes to fill. There were other great side-characters as well that added a little more depth to the story.

While I enjoyed the reading experience as a palate-cleanser type of read, it landed in the middle of the road as far as overall rating for me. Even by the end of the book, it seemed like the storyline following Alex tracking down Francis’s murderer and the storyline of Alex escaping her past life never really intertwined like I hoped they would, and instead felt like two completely disparate plots that just happened to be happening to the same person at the same time. I enjoyed how the story kept you guessing as you turned the pages, but I also felt like the ending/twists were almost a little too predictable by foreshadowing. And while there were a few letters from the “Dear Constance” forum scattered throughout, I really wanted more of them!

All in all, I was entertained by this easy, slow-burn novel, and would encourage readers to suspend their disbelief and just roll with the story for maximum enjoyment. I think it would be a good introduction to “thrillers” for readers looking to dip their toe in without being too scared, but I do think readers should be aware of a trigger warning for domestic violence. Even though this one didn’t necessarily blow me away, I’ll still certainly continue to read this author knowing that I can expect a cozy, compulsively readable, palate-cleanser of a book when I need it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This read was an ARC received by NetGalley and Atria and will be published August 13, 2024!

The idea of this was SO interesting to me! Taking over a job where the last person was murdered? Sign me up. Unfortunately, it ended up falling flat. The first half was so slow and nothing really happened. It did pick up in the second half. I liked some of the small characters, but the main ones I didn’t love! Overall, it was just okay, but not bad!

The title is also my advice: I need you to read this book. This one is a beauty and I love it. Funny, creepy, a little but grimy, its a writer suspense fantasy that I highly recommend.

I read Golden Spoon by this author and enjoyed it. The premise of I Need You to Read This intrigued me, but felt underwhelmed with the delivery. The self detective angle fell flat and some of the dialogue was unbelievable.

That being said, I appreciated the character development, the advice column angle was fun and the mystery was intriguing. I recommend looking up trigger warnings prior to reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6385788226