Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Jessa Maxwell's debut The Golden Spoon was one of my first ARCs through NetGalley and I really enjoyed it so I was excited to get to read her next novel. This mystery was exactly what I was looking for- twisty and unpredictable with a hint of romance, it kept me guessing the whole time. Alex was the perfect character to lead us through the story especially with her own mysterious background and I loved the way that the "Dear Constance" letters were scattered throughout. I couldn't put this one down and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about. Highly recommend for your next mystery read! I chose it for my book club pick for this month and can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks of it

This book was addictive and I was unable to put it down. I was on vacation while reading this one and it really locked me in from beginning to end. What a unique story!

Enjoyed it although I did like this author’s prior book a lot more. It almost felt like two different books in one, we spend the majority of the book with Alex, a copywriter who somehow gets a coveted job writing a popular advice column, along with two other characters she befriends at her local diner, try to figure out what happened to Constance, the writer who has her job prior & was murdered, the two friends are not very well developed and left me with some questions.

All the while, after all this meddling & investigating she ends up getting attacked by her ex’s sister who didn’t even know her brother was abusing Alex & that’s why she fled? I dunno I dunno. It just didn’t work for me.

This was a fun, quick thriller, with a few high's for me (I don't think I've ever considered the lives of advice columnists before!), but unfortunately I found the low's to be a bit more prevalent. The main character was woefully lacking in personality, and character development was underwhelming across the board (although I did find Janice and Raymond to be fun!). I think the pacing was a bit slow for my taste, and it seemed as though not much happened until the ending, which felt a bit rushed and out of left field. Unfortunately, this was a bit of a miss for me. 2/5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for providing an ARC for review.

Awesome read! I loved going on the journey with Alex to figure out Francis's murder. I feel like the story was well-written and I could easily follow along. I would definitely recommend this book to friends. It was fun and entertaining!

I loved Alex as a character and related to her a lot. The way the story flowed felt very natural. The writing was good, but not exceptional. I did figure out the twists before they happened though which left me feeling a little disappointed.

*I Need You to Read This* by Jessa Maxwell is a clever and introspective exploration of the relationship between authors and their readers. The story centers on a writer’s struggle with her identity and the pressure to be understood, all while navigating her personal life. Maxwell's writing is sharp, insightful, and full of emotional depth, making the characters feel real and relatable. It’s a thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone who’s ever grappled with the desire for connection through words.

I Need You To Read This by Jessa Maxwell is the second book I've read by this author. and won't be my last.
A novel told in part via Dear Constance letters? Sold! Good premise, but ultimately predictable! It was still a fun mystery, and I wanted to see how it played out!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Grabs you, then a slow build as it sets things up, to rather a page turner as it finally all comes together. More about the characters and their interactions than actually solving a murder.

This was a fun thriller read! I didn’t guess the big twist and definitely gasped at the reveal! The story does end rather abruptly with a few loose ends not tied up, overall still an enjoyable and fast paced read!

Alex takes on the job of her idol writing advice as Dear Constance. One problem, her predecessor was murdered and she’s now receiving threats in the mail. It was a medium paced thriller that I found a bit predictable but none the less good.

This was definitely a slow burn, but I liked the characters and the buildup of mystery. There's a variety of characters to be suspicious of, and I enjoyed the clues left along the way through the story. The ending was a little flat and predictable, but this was still a great read! I would especially recommend this one for those who are new to the psychological thriller genre.

I’ve read this one twice now! I loved Jess’s Maxwell’s first book and I’m so looking forward to reading more! The advice column aspect of the book is so unique and I loved reading about life at a newspaper. Not to mention the thriller aspect is wonderful!

This book was completely impossible to put down, so much so that I finished it in one afternoon. I had to know what happened to Francis, had to make sure Alex would be alright, had to know what more Lucy wasn’t telling us. There are so many compelling characters here and it’s impossible to trust any of them. Highly recommend for fans of a good thriller.

What I liked: This mystery is an edge-of-your-seat page turner with some great twists at the end. A young woman, trying to leave her past behind, takes over a newspaper advice column for a murdered writer.

What I disliked: The quirky side characters, Janice and Raymond, were confusing. The reader must suspend belief for the roll played by these two people, who are supposedly barely acquaintances to Alex.

I NEED you to read I Need You To Read This! It's a flawless example of a perfect thriller! With an outstanding plot, mysterious characters and clues, you will be kept on your toes by this all-consuming story. It truly check marks all the ways which make for an amazing read...murder, mystery, secrets, thrill and a gasping ending!

Advice columnist extraordinaire Francis Keen has been murdered. Alex Marks who is a copywriter by day and a hermit by night in New York City is devastated. Alex grew up with Dear Constance and feels like she survived her childhood through reading her column.

Alex tries to stay under the radar. She goes to the same coffee shop every morning, then to her job and then home. Her only friends...the waitress and a customer at the diner and she only sees them for five minutes a day.

But something happens to Alex when she sees the job announcement for a replacement for Keen's Dear Constance column. She feels something she has never felt before. And so, without thinking she applies for the job. Surprisingly she actually gets it! Ah, but always be careful what you wish for!

After meeting with the editor in chief Howard Dimitri she begins what she considers a new life, with a new purpose...to help those in need. But, unfortunately, someone does not feel the same way as Alex. She begins to get threatening notes. She believes it's just a reader who is angry that they have replaced Keen, and she is now Dear Contance.

As she settles into the office, she discovers the editor in chief has a few secrets and then discovers there are some shady goings on in the office. Her mind starts to wander, and she begins to think perhaps someone who worked with Keen could possibly have killer her. But, why?

As Alex tries to discover what exactly is going on in the office, her past which she left behind suddenly begins to collide with her present! Now Alex is frightened! Just as she believes she knows what happened to Dear Constance, well, let's just say she's wrong! And now she could be the next dead Dear Constance!

I Need You To Read This is an absolutely enjoyable read with so many layers and hidden secrets it will make your head spin! The twists and turns are impeccable, but scattered within the story are new friendships and trusts and trying to create a new life. But mostly it's a downright great murder mystery!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #JessaMaxwell #INeedYouToReadThis for the advanced copy.

Really created some ambiance and kept things suspenseful. I had an inclination about the twist. But didn’t guess it fully.

very well written!!! a great thriller for those who love to be on the edge of your seat and submerged into a story!!!! 5/5 stars!!

** spoiler alert ** This book was middle of the road for me. I thought it was unrealistic at how quickly and easily Alex got the job, especially such a high profile one. Did no one in HR do a background check? I was also confused at how overwhelmed Alex seemed at the job right off the bat. She literally only has to choose one letter to respond to, and that's it. And all that for $120,000 / year salary? Just . . . no.

I did like Alex's relationship with Janice and Ray and would have liked more back story on that. How is it that she's been having breakfast with them multiple times a week for years and the relationships are so superficial (until they are not and Janice tracks her down via her work number when she can't reach Alex on her cell. This seemed highly unlikely - normal people would leave a voice mail or two or send multiple text messages, but I don't think anyone would call someone at work because they didn't answer their personal cell phone . . . while at work. Rant over.)

The choices Alex makes towards the end aren't in line with how her overly cautious, paranoid character presented throughout the book. And I just didn't understand the reveal as to who was after Alex; what child would care that much about what happened to her (much older) sibling to harbour a grudge for all those years? And, while I get that the newspaper probably employed a bunch of people and that Alex's office was out of the way and isolated, how did Lucy manage to get around unnoticed?

This wasn't the worst book I've read; it was a quick read and did keep me going until the ending, but it sure wasn't the best.

I would classify this more as a mystery than a thriller, because the slow burn was really slow.

2.5 stars rounded up to three. Thanks to netgalley for providing me an advance copy for review.

This book was a little more involved that I expected going into it, which may be why I didn't like it as much as I expected - you have to be in the mood for literary. The prose is well crafted and the characters are well-developed.