I was a huge fan of Jessa Maxwell's debut mystery, "The Golden Spoon" and this one was a good follow up! It did not suffer from the sophomore slump, though I must say I preferred "The Golden Spoon" simply because it was set in a baking competition and that combined my love of baking, reality tv show competitions and mystery/thrillers.

This one did feel like more of a slow burn compared to "The Golden Spoon" but I did enjoy that we were trying to solve the murder of a popular newspaper advice columnist. This book switched between past and present timelines and they were easy to follow. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of letters written to the now dead advice columnist.

Thank you to netgalley, publisher and author for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Alex Marks is living in New York City and working from home as a copywriter for a pharmaceutical company. She lives her life very much under the radar, with her only regular interaction being at the diner across the street. She goes there every morning for breakfast, where she is waited on by Janice and sits at the counter next to Ray, a former detective.

When the writer of the incredibly popular Dear Constance column in the New York Herald is murdered, the crime goes unsolved. The column also goes unwritten until many months later when an open call is held for a replacement. Even though Alex prefers to live a life of quiet solitude, she was an avid reader of the advice column, and a big fan of Francis Keene, the former writer. She applies on a whim, gets the job, and quickly discovers all is not as it should be at the Herald.

I really enjoyed the descriptive writing of the building that the Herald is housed in. It is a central part of the story, and Jesse Maxwell adds just the right amount of detail and mystery to the skyscraper to turn it into a creepy character that takes a big role in the story. Alex is a relatable character both in her uncertainty about her abilities to take on such a big job, and in her issues with trusting those around her.

Alex finds threatening notes left behind in Francis' old office, and starts receiving threatening notes of her own. Many of Alex's co-workers are not who they seem to be, in ways both bad and good, and solving the mystery of what really happened to Francis means she has to trust at least some of them to help her get to the bottom of things before it's too late. Overall, I thought this was a really enjoyable read, and definitely worth picking up a copy of when it comes out in August.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored Jessa Maxwell's debut 'The Golden Spoon.' It had intrigue, mystery, dynamic characters. Pretty much everything you want in a thriller with a pinch of charm thrown in for good measure. So maybe that's why I'm so disappointed with this book. It lacked all of that.

I was intrigued by the advice column premise. It's unique and interesting. I though it would make for a good thriller. But, unfortunately, it didn't. It lacked the charm and wit of her debut. But it also lacked the character depth. The MC, Alex, was as dull of drying paint. That seems harsh, but it's true. I didn't enjoy being in her headspace throughout the whole book. Even the Dear Constance letters were lackluster and didn't add the layer of mystery they were supposed to since it was pretty obvious what the conclusion of those would be. The red herrings were... there... but nothing really jelled. And I wasn't shocked at the conclusion.

As a thriller, I think this book failed. It's more of a character study than anything. But if you're a fan of Maxwell's first book, I encourage you to read this one and judge for yourself. You may have a better experience than I did!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Dive into "I Need You to Read This" for a journey that’s part haunted house, part office drama, and entirely unexpected. Our protagonist, Alex Marks, bags the job of her dreams (or nightmares?) as the advice columnist for "Dear Constance," only to find her new role comes with a side of mystery and ghostly whispers from the previous columnist, Francis Keen, who was murdered. The atmosphere? Perfectly spooky.

Jessa Maxwell tries to lead us through a suspenseful narrative filled with letters to the deceased columnist, paranoia, and a guessing game of whodunit that would make Scooby-Doo proud. But if you're here for a heart-racing thriller, you might want to keep your expectations in check.

Supporting characters pop in like delightful plot Easter eggs, but the major players sometimes feel like they’re still reading their lines. The novel’s use of the advice column as a narrative device shows promise but ultimately feels underexploited, leaving us craving more.

In essence, "I Need You to Read This" earns three stars for its attempt to blend mystery with a touch of the paranormal, wrapped up in the everyday. For those who enjoy a tale, that's more quirky curiosity than chilling saga. This book might just be worth a read. Just maybe keep the lights on for ambiance if nothing else.

**I was given this book by NetGalley for my honest review **

Sophomore slump? Absolutely not! Oh this was such a perfect mystery. While the pacing was definitely more of a slow burn, the twists kept me turning the page. The level of intrigue was unparalleled and the way everything came together as the book progressed was so beautifully executed. I also really enjoyed the interwoven advice column letters, they helped to tie the story together in such a unique way.

Overall, this is the perfect read if you want a "lighter" thriller versus something super fast-paced that will still manage to grip you and keep you guessing.

I am a big fan of Jessa Maxwell. I absolutely LOVED the Golden Spoon, and “I Need You to Read This” was just as amazing!

The whole concept of this book was so different than anything I have ever read before, which really kept me hooked. I really enjoyed the letters throughout the entire story as well & felt like it added such a nice touch to the past & present storyline.

Alex was such a likeable main character and so easy to relate to and understand. The writing was so good I actually felt like I knew her and was there traveling to work and looking over my shoulder everyday with her LOL

About 70% into the book it took a total twist, and while I did suspect the ending (just a bit) it was still so enjoyable to read and to have all my questions answered & explained at the end.

So excited to read future books by this author!

I Need You to Read This is a thrilling murder mystery which kept me hooked the whole time. There was not a dull moment with these characters! I loved the relationships and how it all unfolded over the course of the story. I love how detailed everything was and I ended up flying through this. I did correctly guess the murderer and most of the twists which kind of took me out of the story :( I loved the writing and the plot was wonderful, I just wish the twists would’ve been a bit more unpredictable. I am super grateful for the ARC!

This one sadly didn’t work for me. I enjoyed Maxwell’s debut, The Golden Spoon, and I was prepared for another slow burning, cozy-ish mystery with her newest release. Sadly, this was way too much of a slow burn for me.

The story is intriguing and I loved the advice columnist element! Unfortunately it just wasn’t a plot I personally found entertaining and the big twists/revelations towards the end were either predictable or fell in the category of silly as opposed to shocking.

Overall, not for me but that’s not to say many other readers won’t enjoy this. I do think the author did a great job representing mental health struggles such as OCD, anxiety, and perhaps PTSD.

4.5 ⭐️

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley!

Now this is a thriller! I’ve struck out so much lately with thrillers, but this one has redeemed them for me. I definitely need you to read this if you like thrillers. Not a 5 star because some little parts are predictable, yet there’s still a twist that caught me off guard.

📚 Book Review 📚

Title: I Want You To Read This
Author: Jessa Maxwell @jessamaxwellauthor
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**TRIGGER WARNING: domestic abuse/violence**

Wow! This novel had me planted in a chair, not moving, for hours at a time. I seriously couldn’t put this one down for anything.

This story centers around Alex, a woman living in NYC. On a whim, she applies for a position to replace a beloved newspaper advice columnist who was killed months earlier. Alex has a special connection to the late newspaper writer (I won’t describe how in an attempt to avoid spoilers). Alex gets the job, and a slow burn of a mystery begins.

This book played out in a surprising way; not one that I expected. It was unique and original- my favorite type of story. It was cleverly thought out and plotted, with rich and interesting characters. I can’t say much more about the plot without ruining things…just pick this one up and dive in! I loved every minute of this reading experience, and highly recommend it when it hits shelves on 8/13. I hope it gets in many readers’ hands!

**Side Note: I started my review with a trigger warning for domestic abuse. I would imagine someone who is a victim of this would have a very difficult time reading this book. On the flip side, however, it may actually prove to be comforting and therapeutic. To anyone that’s a victim of domestic abuse, you probably want to tread lightly with this one.

*Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this advanced copy. This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: 8/13/24.

A fairly interesting thriller. It reminded me of reading a Mary Highins Clark book when I was young. Did feel like a bunch of 'stuff' just tossed together. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This was such a nice thriller read. Definitely an easy read I scooped it up quickly, but I enjoyed every second. Some of the twists I saw coming and some I did not at all especially the biggest one (if you know you know) the romance was cute, and it was fun to read something set in my city in a corporate world. I would definitely recommend this book and don’t understand the criticisms. I think it kept me intrigued and gave me that slight anxiety of a suspense throughout. The pacing was fine and I genuinely enjoyed this.

The protagonist is a copywriter in NYC who takes a drunken bid at becoming the next advice columnist for the ersatz NYT, only to try to solve the murder of her predecessor, which is complicated by the protagonist's own ghosts.

The suspense novel in this is better than the mystery novel, and the author lays out some excellent scenes of ordinary terror. The mystery is incredulous and the romance is perfunctory, though cute enough that I'll allow it. The most unrealistic thing in the novel is the city itself, which seems to be populated by only twelve people. That and the way that the author describes buildings as composed of extra-spacial Lovecraftian geometries gives the impression not of someone who has not been to New York itself, but has hear tell of these things called 'cities' and the wondrous legacy media that emanates from them.

I liked the twist, but I also think that this book is an odd example of providing too much and too little information. The core secrets are downright telegraphed in the character descriptions, while the proverbial ticking bomb itself is never shown, making the finale a sort of diablo ex machina.

Still, the strong scene work carries the book and makes it a good read, even as I think that it ought to have picked a lane and stuck with a singular plot with the others as flavor.

My thanks to the author, Jessa Maxwell, for writing the book, and to the publisher, Atria Books, for making the ARC available to me.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

(Link to be edited in when review is published closer to publication date.)

This second novel from Jessa Maxwell is another hit! I quite enjoyed it and could definitely see this one making it to the screen as well. The reveals didn't blow me away, but I also wasn't able to guess them either, and I felt satisfied with the direction things went and how the story played out. The short chapters made it a quick and easy read, and the plot was fun just like her previous. I very much look forward to future releases from this author!

Thank you to Atria Books for the advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Altria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by this idea of having a story revolving around an advice columnist's murder. Alex Marks (with secrets of her own) sees that her childhood hero, Francis Keen, is brutally murdered with the murderer never found. Francis was the woman behind the famous advice column, Dear Constance, and her words helped Alex through a dark time in her past.

When a job posting seeks Keen’s replacement, Alex impulsively throws her hat into the ring, never imagining she’d land the position. Against all odds, she secures the role. Almost immediately she begins to receive strange letters at the office, and starts questioning what is really going on here. With some sleuthing on her own, she comes to the devastating realization of what happened.

This was an enjoyable quick read, although the pacing was a little slow for me at times. I would consider this to be a slow-burn mystery or a cozy mystery. For those of you who like to read books where something just doesn't seem right and like the suspense of wondering how the story line is going to play out, this one will be for you.

Throughout this book I kept thinking of the fantastic 2003 romcom Down With Love, a wild fantasy in which a girl moves to New York City, gets her book published to fame and fortune, moves into the most spectacular apartment I've ever seen, and gets to bang Ewan McGregor in his prime. What Down With Love had going for it was that it acknowledged the candy-colored wish fulfillment of it all (it also had Ewan McGregor in his prime). I Need You to Read This, on the other hand, has a girl get a job in which she gets $125,000 a year to write one (1) advice column weekly, and then she hooks up with a hot banker, and then she runs around with her two weird friends from the diner she goes to every single morning for breakfast (what? girl get yourself a toaster and a Keurig) to try and sort of desultorily solve a mystery, and we're supposed to be all like "a series of normal events is what I'm reading about here for sure". She then works incredibly late every single night, I guess spending 10+ hours a day reading letters because she has to pick the PERFECT ONE or she'll get fired and die, or something. Also her taking over this advice column is absolutely huge news, because you know how the millennial and younger demographic is out here buying newspapers because they are all utterly lost without Dear Abby.

So with regard to the salary point, this also made me think of E. Jean Carroll, because I remember reading that, at the time of her leaving in 2019, she made $125k a year to write one advice column a month for Elle magazine, a job she held for 26 years. And I wonder if this author also read that, and was like, "Ah yes. That, obviously, is the standard base salary for a print media advice columnist. That is the salary that a writer in her late twenties would receive starting with her very first day on this job she has no prior experience doing. This is at least partly because of how relevant newspapers are. Journalism: the career for people who want to make absolute piles of cash."

There are some interesting plot elements here, I kept turning the pages, and the pacing wasn't terrible. I have just been cursed lately with a run of novels wherein I'm asked to suspend disbelief so egregiously that it's like, maddening. They say you have to read good books to write good books, but I think it's also actually important to have...basic experience, like...existing in the modern world. They also say write what you know, and I'm not expecting these novels to have protagonists who are novelists (please, let's actually not do that), but if you're not drawing on your own life experience at all you at least need to go to google.com, type in "advice columnist salary", and go from there. Glassdoor if you're feeling fancy and you're trying to log in (Glassdoor, quit hassling me to log in!!). God. Whatever. Anyway!!

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This one was a quick and fun read. The protagonist, Alex Marks, and some of the minor characters were endearing. The writing varies from surprisingly expressive for a run-of-the-mill mystery novel to weirdly convoluted ramblings. My main issue is that the plot was unrealistic (even for a mystery-thriller), and I guessed all of the plot twists. Usually, I mark mystery books that suffer so as a 1-star read - *however* - the story is cute and cozy enough for me to judge it slightly more favorably. This is definitely a book for people newer to the genre, looking for quick and light stories, or cozy mystery fans.

Rating this as a 2.5 stars rounded down to 2. Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

I wasn’t a huge fan of this author’s previous book, but I definitely enjoyed my time with this one. The plot really kept me engaged and I enjoyed following all of the characters through it. Definitely will be recommending!

Fast paced mystery! Kept me guessing until the end. Although it only got a 3.5 ⭐️ from me. It’s worthy the read!

Thanks to Netgalley for access to this ARC. I really enjoyed this story by Jessa Maxwell. The twists and turns were a mix of predictable and very surprising, so I liked that I could solve some of the mystery myself, but still had twists that I wasn't expecting. The pacing was good throughout and the various layers of the story aligned nicely for the main character.