Wow! What an interesting and disturbing book. I’ve never read anything like this but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A really well done twist on a ya thriller. Several themes explored that I enjoyed like LGBTQ+, friendships, cults.

It's only fair to state upfront that I read several titles about the "wellness" industry and cult-y beauty brands over the last year, including Glow by Jessie Gaynor, Rouge by Mona Awad, youthjuice by E.K. Sathue, and the nonfiction tale of Glossier in Marisa Meltzer's excellent book Glossy. Most recently, I read Ling Ling Huang's novel Natural Beauty, which is my favorite of the bunch.

Because I've read the books listed above, I couldn't wait to get my hands on You Belong to Me by Hayley Krischer and I was thrilled that it centered a romance between two teen girls. It seemed like the recipe for a perfect YA novel.

Unfortunately, You Belong to Me is far, far from perfect. It has an excellent premise, but the novel's issues start in the beginning when Frances Bean (yup, named after that Frances Bean) is matched with her crush Julia for a literature project. There's no tension between the girls--Julia makes it as clear as she can that she has a thing for Bean. Then Bean goes to the famous Femme party (an influencer program for teens who love the beauty products by DEEP, created by Julia's mother Deena Patterson, an obvious take on Gwyneth Paltrow.) And--tada!--Bean and Julia are girlfriends. It was too easy.

I can see where the author's plan was that the bulk of the tension be saved for when Bean was ensconced in Julia's world of Femme and DEEP, but even that tension wasn't given time to cook. It seemed like as soon as Bean went to the Femme party she was on the outs with her small group of goth friends. Then Krischer throws everything from a Goop-like company to the Manson Girls to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and who knows what else into the book. It had too many references and parts to other stories for it to be its own story.

There were too many characters, too: Bean, Julia, Bean's friends (Ivy, Brooks & Nico), Bean's mom, Deena Patterson, Kai, Harmony, and about six Femme/DEEP girls. No one had character development. Julia starts with promise but ends up being treated as a brainwashed victim. Ivy comes the closest to being a complex character, but even she seems to be defined by one thing.

If the novel had fewer elements and fewer characters, it could fantastic and really dig into the (very) juicy subject of "natural" beauty and how companies engage with/create teen influencers. The e-galley had quite a few errors in it, so maybe the published version of the novel will have gone through another edit. Regardless, I'll definitely keep an eye out for what Hayley Krischer writes next.

I struggled to get into this book. The premise was great and I loved seeing LGBTQIA+ representation, but I lost interest in the plot pretty quickly.

Thank you to Net Galley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC. This wasn't bad, I like the concept, it just got a bit boring and predictable in the middle and end.

Gwyneth Paltrow who??????? Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! I wasn't expecting the way this storyline to play out the way it did, but I'm not mad about it. I'm a sucker for a YA romance mystery, and this is no exception! It wasn't a 5-star for me because it was still relatively predictable, and the pacing was weird at points, but overall I enjoyed it! It was a nice October read for spooky season

Book:
YOU BELONG TO ME by Hayley Krischer
Thank you PenguinTeen and Netgalley for the Earc (April 15)

Review:
4⭐
After being paired with Julia---daughter of Deep founder---Frances Bean receives and invite to a party to learn about Deep. There, she falls under the spell of what Deep stands for and joins the group where she uncovers harsh truths about some of the members---one of which takes a dark turn.
I devoured YOU BELONG TO ME. From page one, there was something enticing about an secret---but not so secret---club. But not really a club: a cult that no one sees as a cult until it's too late.
I really enjoyed this book. It felt like a fresh take on a mystery with the addition of something that felt really realistic for today's time (social media being a big part of people, followers, etc.)
I appreciated the short chapters that kept YOU BELONG WITH ME moving. There wasn't a huge info dump, and that made this book refreshing...though the heavy topics do dwindle that thought. Nonetheless, YOU BELONG TO ME is a thrilling tale of social media and followers coupled with a slight mystery and everything in between.

4 stars for this strong YA read.

Frances Bean (yep, she’s named after Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love’s daughter, and, yes, I immediately knew that. They don’t just hand out honorary degrees in Us Magazine to anyone, people!) is a teenage goth girl on scholarship at a fancy high school (such a trope. You’re either on scholarship at the fancy private school and the book’s hero or your parents are paying full freight and you’re the villain. I get that being poor is noble and all, but, damn, if you have to shell out all that money shouldn’t you have a chance at being the MC? Anyone? No? OK, my bad.)

She gets paired up with beautiful Julia, daughter of Deena Patterson, founder of Deep, a famous wellness line. This is perfect as Bean has a crush on Julia and it turns out that Julia feels the same. Oh, young love!

Julia invites Bean to Femme, the teen offshoot of Deep and Bean loves it and loves the sense of being a part of something. But eventually things take a dark turn and Bean doesn’t know who she can trust.

This is some quality YA right here and I enjoyed it. I hope it finds a wide audience.

God, there really is something to the cult intrigue of it all.

Frances Bean has always been comfortable as an outsider, until a class project pairs her with Julia, her crush and the wealthy daughter of wellness guru Deena Patterson. Initially indifferent to the luxurious world of DEEP, Deena's wellness brand, Frances finds herself drawn to Julia and the empowering Femme program for young ambassadors. As she navigates this glamorous life and begins a romance with Julia, her outlook brightens. However, when a DEEP party takes a troubling turn, Frances begins to question whether her desire to fit in was a dangerous distraction from her true self.

The author really did a good job at pulling off this cult-set YA thriller. The slow unfolding of it all was done oh-so well, and I did love the meta commentary done on the wellness industry throughout. Extremely well executed in terms of scene setting, but I think the resolution after the climax fell a little short--still a spectacular read and I look forward to future novels from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this was a good YA novel about wellness cults and how easily you can fall into them. I found some of the things they were saying impactful and I'm like dang... could this cult have gotten me? Maybe! I definitely did have to remind myself that this was YA as some of the writing styles and characters were bothering me. The ending also felt rushed in a sense and I kind of wish we would've gotten more closure? I would've loved to see more of that.

"You Belong to Me" by Hayley Krischer is a compelling exploration of obsession and the intricacies of teenage relationships. The author skillfully captures the intensity of youth, balancing moments of vulnerability with darker themes of control and identity. While the pacing occasionally lags and some characters feel underdeveloped, the gripping narrative keeps readers invested. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read that highlights the complexities of love and belonging, earning 4 stars for its emotional depth and engaging storyline.

Francis Bean takes pride in being on the fringes of her super-exclusive prep school, until her crush on Julia pulls her into the mainstream, popular crowd and their lifestyle cult.

Three stars because the book felt uneven to me, making it hard to keep my interest up. Some things - the school cliques, portrayal of luxury lifestyles, and the danger of letting emotion override common sense - felt predictable. There were good twists, though, and I think teens will see themselves in some of the characters.

Getting the opening chapters of a psychological thriller right is crucial. The author needs to set the tone and hook readers quickly, or they risk losing them. This is especially true when the novel is geared toward a young adult audience, as YA readers often have different expectations and shorter attention spans. With so many other books or activities to move on to, they’re quick to abandon a story that doesn’t engage them. It’s a challenging task, but when an author succeeds—like Hayley Krischer does in You Belong to Me—the book can have a powerful impact.

Right off the bat, Krischer intrigues readers. She opens the narrative with a shocking event, or at least one that feels shocking in the eyes of a teenager: geeky goth Frances Bean, or “Bean” to her friends, finds an invitation to an exclusive Deep party wedged into her locker door at school. She’s been invited by an elite group of girls—people who have previously mocked her and her friends—to a fancy soirée. It seems entirely out of the blue. Her goth friends are skeptical of the embossed invite, yet their curiosity is piqued. For Bean, however, the invitation stirs something entirely different—nervous excitement. Julia Patterson, her current crush, has invited her to an extravagant party at the home she shares with her mother, Deena Patterson, a wealthy and famous wellness/beauty guru. While Bean doesn’t fully understand why she’s been invited, she feels compelled to go, wanting to impress the girl who once called her the “coolest person she ever met.”

It’s clear that Krischer understands YA readers; she gives them flawed, complex characters they can identify with, ones that are accessible and relatable. Readers don’t have to stretch themselves to connect with Bean, Julia or their friends. Krischer immerses them in a high school drama filled with intense, fast-paced intrigue, recognizing YA readers need strong visuals and action-packed scenes. YA audiences don’t want lengthy exposition or slow-paced buildup; they don’t need time for things to marinate. Krischer paints a picture they “get” right away, demonstrating she has what it takes to craft a compelling YA novel.

Besides knowing how to draw YA readers into her story, Krischer also understands how to keep them engaged. She does this by developing a relevant and emotional character journey, filled with high stakes and tension. Readers see parts of themselves in Bean. Her motivations, fears, and feelings feel genuine and relatable, especially her emotions around Julia. As they watch Bean grapple with her sense of identity and belonging in Julia’s opulent, over-the-top world, readers resonate with aspects of Bean’s experience. Even if they can’t relate to wealth, they understand the desire to belong, to be accepted, and to be loved. This makes the storytelling compelling and strikes a real chord with readers. Krischer also delves into contemporary issues within Bean’s journey—social class, wealth, beauty standards, and authenticity—making the narrative not only entertaining but thought-provoking and meaningful.

Even though You Belong to Me includes themes of romance, it’s ultimately a psychological thriller, and readers never lose sight of that. There are ominous and unsettling events happening behind the scenes at Deep. Krischer uses short chapters and intense scenes with rapid shifts, keeping the energy high. She also makes Bean an unreliable narrator at points in this twisty, suspenseful tale—a commonly used device in thrillers, which adds complexity and keeps readers on edge. As Bean struggles to know whom to trust, the stakes get scarier with each unsettling discovery. Her vulnerability and doubt build suspense in a way that YA readers can handle, and the story thrives on this carefully timed tension, keeping them eager to read on.

Final Remarks…

Krischer has done an exceptional job with this YA psychological thriller, taking readers on a compelling journey. By the end, she resolves major plot points and delivers a suspenseful, emotional experience, but she also leaves readers with something to ponder. There’s room to re-examine Bean and Julia’s actions, and while some may not appreciate an open-ended resolution, it’s a hallmark of YA psychological thrillers. Young adult readers appreciate it because it allows them to interpret key parts of the story on their own, reflecting on themes of loyalty, friendship, identity, self-discovery, and love. This open ending makes You Belong to Me feel personal and heightens its emotional impact. Most importantly, it leaves room for a sequel—and I, for one, would love to see that.

Strengths….

Filled with twists and turns
Relatable, well defined characters
Reliable, immersive storyworld
Solid story development
Intense and page-turning

4.5 stars rounded up because this book deserves it! A super fun and unpredictable YA thriller that had me on the edge of my seat! I think this book could’ve benefitted from like 100 more pages and some more context, but I really did enjoy it.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!

The story follows Bean, a teenager with a unique Goth persona and a solid group of friends who suddenly finds herself pulled into a wellness cult led by her new girlfriend, Julia. The relationship between Bean and Julia feels rushed, more like instant love than a slow build, which leaves their connection feeling shallow and underdeveloped. However, the relationship also felt realistic as teenagers often experience the falling too hard too fast dilemma, which is common in younger relationships. Despite this, the LGBTQ+ representation in the book is a positive aspect, and it's clear that Krischer aims to explore themes of identity and belonging through Bean's journey.
*You Belong To Me * -By Hayley Krischer is a thought-provoking YA novel that delves into the unsettling world of cults, manipulation, and the intense desire to belong. This book paints a vivid picture of how easily someone can be drawn into a dangerous group under the guise of love and acceptance. It offers a gripping concept and a realistic portrayal of cult dynamics while also showing the realistic desire to belong.

A slow burn for sure. I had no idea what to expect going in and mostly came from the sapphic relationship at the center. Expected a more sci-fi horror element with the beauty company but found myself digging the more male power and corruption over younger and impressionable females angle way more.

Some characters did feel kinda flat and the "Loving myself" theme was a little on the nose but kinda expected it considering this book relies so heavily on unnatural beauty standards and the faces of famous beauty brands being a little off.

This book played right into my grievances with the wellness industry and their often cult like behaviour. I was a bit annoyed with Bean in the beginning and I felt like the resolution was a bit rushed and not as satisfying and vindictive as I would have liked, but this is a YA novel so I'm not that mad about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! The writing was creative, the characters compelling, and the storyline exciting. This book takes your classic cult tropes and makes them engaging for a younger, more tech-savvy audience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of my favorite parts that really enhanced my involvement in the story was the present tense first-person POV narration. It allowed the reader to solve the mystery along with Bean, while looking between the lines for things that our narrator may have missed or presented differently to us. When writing from a first-person POV, we as readers often expect our narrator to share the truth as the world sees it, and I love that Krischer's writing exemplifies that the truth we read is Bean's, no one else's.

A perfect young adult thriller! I think it explores its topics very well and had me crawling out of my skin at times, it was great. It discusses cults, class status and manipulation which I think is very important for younger readers. Perfect mix of relatable (and LGBTQ+) main character, great writing style and plot, pick this up when it releases! Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A different twist to a common teenage feeling of finding a place to belong and how the influence of peers can change personalities in a blink. This was quite a page-turner once I got to understand all the characters involved. Several topics covered - LGBTQ+, class status, friendships, struggling with right and wrong, loyalty, dealing with adults, and the grooming that goes into becoming a cult member, to name a few. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

This story was so good! It hit so many notes of beauty, youth, groupthink, and hero worship. I adored Bean and thought the characters brought the whole story together. They were fully fleshed out without the descriptions being boring and overly done. This book just reeled me in and didn’t let go until the very last page! I’d love to catch up with Bean and see how she’s doing a year later. Sequel maybe? Great book, highly recommended!