My first book by Jessa Maxwell. I absolutely loved the cover but I didn’t find this book to be creepy at all. I would even put it on the lower category of being a thriller. It had its moments of suspense and the story did keep me engaged but I needed/wanted more. I felt like the story didn’t really take off or become intense until the very end which is a bummer for me. When I read a thriller I want the thrills from the very beginning and for them to be non stop. Overall a good story if you’re looking for a who dunnit kind of storyline.

3.5 stars
I have read many mixed reviews on this book. While I wouldn’t classify this as a thriller, I didn’t find it boring and loved the premise. Haven’t read her first novel, The Golden Spoon, I am new to Jessa Maxwell’s work. Alex changed her name and moved to New York looking for a fresh start. The advice columnist, who Alex loves, is suddenly murdered. When they post the job looking for a new writer, Alex finds herself applying not expecting anything to come of it. But to her surprise she is hired for the spot. She soon starts getting unsettling letters in the mail. This position is not what it seems. Alex keeps digging further and the more it seems like her life might be in danger.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

"I Need You to Read This" by Jessa Maxwell had me hooked from the beginning. I really enjoyed how the mystery unfolded and how the author developed these characters—they felt so real and complex. Even though I figured out who the killer was pretty early on, the journey to get to the resolution kept me glued to the pages. The twists and turns along the way were so well done that it didn’t even matter that I’d already guessed the ending. Overall, it was a fun, satisfying read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review <3

I really enjoyed this one! I personally loved The Golden Spoon more but this was a great second novel by Jessa. It was creepy at times and flowed nicely. Jessa is really good at writing page turners.

Wowzers! I loved this book! From start to finished, it kept me wanting more. And the title and cover I really love too. Alex was such a fun character! I am hoping her journey continues

Jessa Maxwell writes an addictive mystery about Alex Marks, who takes on the job of her childhood hero, Francis Keen, who writes the famous advice column, Dear Constance. However, Francis Keen didn't just quit writing the column she was murdered. So when Alex Marks surprisingly gets the job to take over for Francis, she discovers some disturbing things that might link the column to Francis' death. Will she discover the truth before she ends up like her hero? That's all I want to tell you about this wonderful book because too much information will ruin the book and all the twists you have in store for you. After looking at Jesse Maxwell's other books and reviews and enjoying this book so much, she is definitely an author i'm adding to my one click list.

A gripping thriller with an accessible premise for readers new to the genre. Come for the unique ‘ Dear Constance’ premise, stay for the twisty, propulsive plot. 5*.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

I enjoyed this book the entire way through. I liked the main character and the plot was enjoyable. My rating was really hinging on the ending. Unfortunately I predicted who I thought was the kill and it turned out that I was correct. I was a bit disappointed that I had figured things out. I really loved Jessa Maxwell's first book and gave that 5 stars. I was hoping for a bit more grit and gutsiness with this sophomore novel. It was ok. It was fun but it could've been more developed.

This book is gripping, thrilling, and a complete page-turner that I devoured in one sitting. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and the shocking twists were exciting. I had previously enjoyed Golden Spoon, and I have to admit this book is even better.

Jessa Maxwell’s The Golden Spoon was a surprise favorite of mine last year. I usually prefer my mysteries dark, but her GBBO-inspired caper was the perfect balance of creepy and cozy. It was such a hit that her sophomore novel instantly earned a spot on my ‘must-read’ list this year.

I Need You To Read This is a bit different from Maxwell’s debut. Instead of a group, we follow a single protagonist, Alex, who fills the shoes of a murdered advice columnist, despite having secrets of her own.

The tension in this one is perfect! There are a bunch of mini cliffhangers that keep you turning pages, and there’s something about the story that’s just a bit unsettling, but not in a way that will give you nightmares.

While I really enjoyed this one, there were a couple of things that kept me from giving it the full five stars. First, I wanted to know a little bit more about the main character, Alex. I understand that she was hiding secrets, but a tiny bit of background could have helped in understanding her motivations. I felt the same way about the side characters. They were clearly very important to the story, but felt a tad flat. Also, while I’m OK with a little bit of predictability in my mysteries, this one was a tad too predictable, until the end where you really had to suspend some disbelief.

Despite the summer pub date, this feels like a great read for the crisp days of early fall. I Need You To Read This is out now. Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A vibey, creepy thriller that definitely had me jumpy! I guessed some of the twists but I had such a good time reading this, I loved the newspaper setting and how the main character grew over the course of the book. It all came together in such a satisfying way, definitely a perfect book for fall!

This book had me hooked from the start with its engaging mystery plot! The story starts when Alex, impulsively applying for a job as a replacement for the deceased Dear Constance writer (Francis Keen), gets pulled into the mystery surrounding Francis’ death.

The sleuthing adventures with Alex and her quirky diner crew, Janice and Raymond, gave off some fun Only Murders in the Building vibes. The newsroom setting was also a highlight—one of my favourite backdrops, though I wish we had spent more time there. The ending was super satisfying, but I won’t spoil it!

I loved how the Dear Constance letters were seamlessly woven into the story. Jessa Maxwell balances serious topics with humour, giving the mystery a lighter vibe and keeping the readers entertained and emotionally invested.

After this one, I’m excited to read the author’s debut, The Golden Spoon, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you Atria, S&S Canada and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

Alex Marks is named the new advice columnist after the death of the long-serving beloved Francis Keen writing as "Dear Constance". But then things start happening, and people are acting weird, and Alex wonders if she's gotten in over her head.

This was a fun, fast thrill ride of a read with alternating chapters between the action and letters to Dear Constance. I would definitely recommend this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell is an excellent second adult novel from the author. The setting of a old school newspaper's office gave me a greater appreciation for communications, especially in a world of forced technology. The anonymity of letter writing leads to more suspense within the novel.

When the previous Herald's advice columnist was unexpectedly murdered, her replacement, Alex, is understandably nervous. The reader soon finds that Alex is an unreliable narrator and you are not sure who exactly to trust.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I had a really difficult time connecting to this story and the characters. I found the mystery to be okay, nothing super engaging but enough to keep most readers interested. The ending was okay, it was mostly lackluster on the surprise end of things. The main character felt disjointed and I really just did not enjoy learning about her and following her on this journey. I just overall was not a fan. It think fans of cozy mysteries or lighter told thrillers will love this story and should pick it up.

This dark mystery could maybe be considered a slower paced thriller; I did end up reading it in one day. While the main character, Alex, did have me wanting to bang my head against the wall sometimes, I did enjoy this book. There is a sprinkling of the found family trope for those (like me) that like that sort of thing but if you are triggered by domestic violence you might want to skip this one.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me this arc the publisher was Atria Books. I read Golden Spoon by and I know I had to read this book. In the past the second book, by an author has disappointed me but, not this book. This book was a quick suspense read. The setting of the book was a newspaper office where the main character had to become the new advice columnist. This book ties in mystery, love, and suspense. I am looking forward to reading all books by this author.

I enjoyed this book. The pros: It was very readable, it was well-written, and I enjoyed the interludes of the letters. The cons: Alex was quite annoying at times (of course, Francis wasn’t perfect and she didn’t actually know her?!), and some of her internal monologues didn’t match her backstory. This book’s New York didn’t feel like a real place, but more like a cliche. 3/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for letting me read an ARC of this book.

This is the first book that I have read from the author and I can say that after reading this I will definately be looking into picking up more from her! I really enjoyed everything from the writing style, to the characters and felt the entire story just was done very well. I would highly recommend this book, the shorter chapters also made me fly through it. Could not put this one down!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell in exchange for an honest review. Note: I got this before publication but it is out now so you can read it.

Alex Marks has just gotten her dream job: working for the New York Herald as the new Dear Constance advice columnist to replace beloved long time icon Francis Keen after the latter’s (unsolved) murder. But Alex is hiding something, too …

With an eclectic cast of characters, this is a unique murder mystery cloaked in a second mystery: what’s going on at the Herald? Who can (and can’t) Alex trust? What is the big secret she herself is hiding? And who is sending threatening letters to Constance?

It took me a while to get into this one, which didn’t grab me as quickly as Maxwell’s previous novel, The Golden Spoon. Still, it was entertaining and kept me guessing until almost the end.

Three stars.