📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

I Need You To Read This By Jessa Maxwell
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Atria Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

Whoo-ee, Jessa Maxwell gave us an anxiety-provoking and suspense-filled thriller with I Need You To Read This!

This murder mystery features one of my favorite things, an unreliable narrator, who has a backstory that isn't fully revealed to the reader till the book begins its procession to its twisty and shocking conclusion. In this story, nothing -- and no one -- is quite as you think as it is.

Short chapters and a fast-paced plotline across multiple timelines really made this a quick and fun suspense read! The supporting cast of characters was a lovable bunch, which was a nice dichotomy with the unknowns around our female MC, Alex. I struggled with the believability of some of Alex's choices at times, but I think that was because I didn't have her full back story yet. Once I learned more about her history, some of her behaviors became more understandable... It just took a while to get there. All in all, her unreliability really kept me on my toes as I read this one.

There were a few parts of the plotline that I wish had been developed more and some subplots that didn't really go anywhere (and I kinda wished they would have). Overall, the twists and turns of the mystery kept me turning page after page and kept me guessing until the very end about how the story would ultimately reach its conclusion.

If you love fast-paced thrillers with unreliability and secrets that aren't revealed til the book's very end, this one needs to be on your TBR list for sure! A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review!

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My favorite part of this book is the fantastic atmospheric vibe. New York City, a diner, newspapers, advice columns, letters, and a slightly unsettling newsroom. I loved all of that so much and it really made the book for me.

The story itself was good. It was a little creepy and mysterious, but I pretty much knew where it was going, so it didn't blow me away. But overall, the good writing and the fantastic atmosphere of the story won me over.

I definitely recommend it if any of that sounds interesting to you. This would also be a good one for you if you're new to the thriller genre and not a huge fan of overly scary books. This one gives a little bit of the thriller creepiness without being too much.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book

This story follows Alex who recently gets hired as the new advice columnist Dear Constance. The previous columinst Francis Keen was found dead and the case remains unsolved. Alex loves her new job because she feels such a connection to Francis when she was alive. Alex starts to get suspicious of people in her life after starting her new job and she starts investigating the murder. This book kept me on my toes until the very end. The ending had a twist I was not expecting!

This was such a great read! I was invested in the main character, and I did not see the plots twists coming at all! There were several characters I was suspicious of the whole time but I also several reveals that I couldn’t have guessed! The letters being throughout the book was a neat added aspect and when it was revealed who they were written by, I was shocked in the best way! I really enjoyed this book!

I Need you to Read This is the perfect pre-spooky season read. It was tense and atmospheric and enjoyable. While some of the situations Alex finds herself in felt like a bit of a stretch, the plot was incredibly compelling. I won't give anything away but I thought the ending was very satisfying.

I Need You To Read This is such a clever story that unfolds with well paced scenes and compelling details. I loved the two main POVs with one written from letter form. And it was so interesting to follow the discovery of what’s happening in present tense while discovering the secrets of the main character’s past.

This is a great book to pick up for those who love thrillers and domestic suspense.

I also listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done by a single narrator. I listened at 1.7x speed (my normal is 1.75-2x speed for audiobooks).

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy.

Special thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Jessa Maxwell wrote The Golden Spoon whi h I have to admit took me a few times to get started. Once I did, I really enjoyed it with the food and the big cast of characters. But this one missed the mark for me.

It is about a girl who loved a column that was one of those columns where you right in like a Dear Abbey article. Only the column writer's name was Francis and was Alex's favorite column. When Francis dies, Alex puts in for the job and gets it. Very excited, she does the job well and is soon getting threatening letters.

The plot sounds good but this book was very slow for me and Alex was so slow on the uptake, it was infuriating. I did not care for this book, but it wasn't terrible, just very slow. 3 stars.

4 solid stars - a VERY QUICK read (and don't we all love that?!) This is more of a thriller than the author's cozy mystery debut, but I did find it very engaging, if not perfectly plotted. I did, however, find the protagonist, the new advice columnist, Alex, rather slow and frustrating & I nearly tossed my iPad at the wall a couple times at how slow on the uptake she was!! I also enjoyed secondary characters Ray & Janice from the diner. Overall, very serviceable & will look for more from the author.

**3.5-stars**

Alex Marks moves to New York City, hoping for a fresh start and a place to disappear into. Her copy-writing job is low key, and otherwise she keeps to herself. When her idol, Francis Keen, the woman behind the famous 'Dear Constance' advice column is killed though, it's the impetus that uproots Alex's carefully planned quiet life.

Keen will need to be replaced. Her column is so beloved. They can't let it die along with her. On a whim, Alex applies for the job and to her absolute shock, she gets it. Shortly thereafter, Alex begins to receive strange letters, threatening in nature. She wonders why Keen's killer was never caught and then begins to suspect those around her, including her new boss.

Unable to leave well enough alone, Alex begins her own investigation into Keen's death. Will she be able to solve the mystery, or will she die trying?

I Need You to Read This is a solid story. I feel like it had similar traits to Maxwell's previous novel, The Golden Spoon, in that it is a slow build really focused on character work. It took me a while to get into The Golden Spoon, but once I did, I was hooked. I was so intrigued by that full cast of eccentric characters, the setting and the backdrop of the cooking competition.

Unfortunately, this one never ended up hooking me. It felt a lot more subtle and Alex's character was just less enticing to me, as compared to the full cast in the last book. Additionally, the set-up and setting itself, although I love New York City, wasn't as captivating either. These are simply personal taste items though and just because I was never truly keyed into this one, doesn't mean you won't be. Give it a go!

This is a solid story, with an interesting overall mystery. It did nothing off-putting and had solid characters. I would recommend it if you enjoy more Literary Mysteries, or anything set in the newspaper, or publishing worlds. I did feel like, because of the newspaper setting, it had a film noir feel to it as well, which I do enjoy. If that's something you like as well, it's another reason to pick it up.

Overall, it's a sold story, just not necessarily my bag. Maxwell is interesting, she sort of toes the line in between Cozy and Literary. Her stories have a unique feel and she definitely shines with her character work.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While not blown away, I definitely enjoyed this one and am looking forward to more from Jessa Maxwell!

This was a quick read. It was easy to get into and had a few skeevy, creep moments that you look for in a thriller. I think the advice column and supporting characters could’ve been utilized better to really flesh out the story.

A fascinating premise! I felt like this book read more like women's fiction for most of it, until about 75-80% into the book. At that point, it did become more of a thriller. I figured out the ending, but it was still a very enjoyable read. I would maybe say 3.5 as a thriller but round up to a 4 as a solid fiction read. Interesting characters.

Very different from my normal read(s)!

I’ve been determined to get more into thrillers this year, and what a great option for that!! I found myself gripped from the start to this absolute page-turner and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next!

I liked this book, not as much as The Golden Spoon but I still enjoyed it! There is a good amount of suspense in two different mysteries. I did think a few scenes were hokey and clearly meant to be red herrings but didn’t work but outside of that I did think it was worth reading!

I love this cover and premise, but unfortunately this was a miss for me. Since it’s on the shorter side I was expecting a lot of action throughout but it was really a slow burn. I did not like the main character, but did enjoy her friends Janice and Raymond and wish they had been in it more. I wish the big reveal of who murdered Frances lasted more than a couple of pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessa Maxwell and Atria books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

What a great premise for a novel! I loved the dear Constance letters and I was constantly wondering what was happening or who the letters were from. This was really compelling read and I can see why so many people are loving it.

Jessa Maxwell's I Need You to Read This provides a blend of suspense and intrigue, making it a fantastic entry point for readers new to the mystery/thriller genre like myself. While the story starts off slowly, it steadily ramps up in intensity, keeping your interest without feeling rushed. The unpredictable plot twists add layers of excitement and depth, making it a satisfying read. The characters are lovable and you get to know them well which I always love, if you're looking for a mystery that gradually builds tension and keeps you guessing, this book is well worth your time.

In "I Need You to Read This," Jessa Maxwell cozy murder mystery with a powerful emotional core. The story follows Alex Marks, who leads a monotonous life in New York City, working a job she dislikes. Her world is jolted when she learns of the murder of Francis Keen, the beloved advice columnist behind "Dear Constance," whose writing had once offered Alex solace. In a moment of impulse, Alex applies for the column’s position and is unexpectedly hired.

Maxwell excels in creating a compelling protagonist in Alex. As she navigates her new role, she discovers a talent for solving others’ problems but soon finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue. Her boss’s suspicious behavior, the antagonistic attitude of his assistant, and a series of threatening letters add layers of tension and uncertainty. Alex's past begins to resurface, intertwining with the murder investigation in unexpected ways.

The secondary characters add depth and flavor to the narrative. Alex’s interactions with Raymond and Janice, her café acquaintances, bring a touch of levity and offer a push toward personal growth. Tom, a complex figure who oscillates between a potential love interest and a suspect, keeps readers guessing and adds to the suspense.

The murder mystery itself is absorbing, but the novel’s most haunting elements are the letters from “Lost Girl,” featured as interludes between chapters. These letters vividly portray the slow unraveling of a young woman’s life in an abusive relationship, offering a poignant and disturbing look at the cycle of abuse. Maxwell handles this subject matter with sensitivity and depth, providing a stark contrast to the surface-level intrigue of the murder mystery.

However, the depiction of abuse is intense and may be challenging for some readers. Maxwell does not shy away from depicting the grim reality of emotional and physical violence, which might be difficult for those with personal experience of such trauma. The book avoids romanticizing or trivializing these issues, presenting them with the gravity they deserve and holding characters accountable for their actions.

As the narrative builds toward its climax, the interconnected threads of Francis’s murder, Alex’s recent experiences, and the disturbing "Lost Girl" letters converge in a dramatic and intense finale. While some plot twists may be anticipated, others offer genuine surprises, leading to a satisfying resolution.

Overall, "I Need You to Read This" is standout thriller that combines intricate plotting with psychological depth, making it a gripping read for fans of the genre. Maxwell’s ability to craft a suspenseful and emotionally resonant narrative ensures this book will linger long after the final page.

I’ve never been drawn to cozy mysteries. But I thought the premise of this book would offer me more than just your regular murder mystery. And I was right!

Alex is a longtime reader of Dear Constance, a regular advice column in a New York newspaper. When the author of the column is murdered, the position becomes available and Alex applies on a whim. Much to her surprise, she is offered the position and quickly learns that the job entails so much more than she thought.

The characters made this book. Raymond and Janice were such a lovely complement to Alex, and it reminded me a bit of Only Murders in the Building. There were plenty of characters that ended up distracting me, wondering whether they were involved. That to me is the mark of a good mystery writer, one who makes you question everyone you meet in the book, curious as to their purpose for being in the story.

Alex’s past is revealed slowly and done quite tastefully - not for shock value or to infuse drama, but to highlight the all-encompassing nature of the situation she found herself in, and how difficult it can be to extricate one’s self from it permanently.

While I had a hunch at about 35% in that the character who was ultimately the subject of a big reveal was up to something, I did not in any way expect it to be in the way that they were.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a deeper, darker tone, look no further!

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

I Need You To Read This by Jessa Maxwell

* Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for providing the ebook in exchange of a honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3,5⭐️)

The first half of the book felt to me almost like a five stars read but than I started to think that maybe I already had the twists... turns out I did managed to find 2 of the major twist which was a little bit disapointing (and I never find them out!). Things I absolutety adore : reading about people who writes for a living, the friendship between Alex, Janice and Raymond and there little breakfeast routine and finally the journalism universe and all the columnist letters.

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Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell!

Alex Marks gets her dream job. But, with hidden secrets, death threats, and her own past coming to haunt her... is it really all it's cracked up to be?

The premise of this book sounded interesting! Reading about writers is always one of my favorite tropes.
The beginning half of this story felt more like literary fiction, and it was slow-moving to get to the mystery of it all.
Once we got into the mystery, I started to lose interest.
The ending felt rushed and my head was spinning with plot holes. I was not a fan of our main character in the latter half. When things got rolling Alex became super incompetent and things weren't adding up for me.

The writing in the story was great! But, I wasn't a fan of the mystery aspect-- which sadly, was the point of the book.

2.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)