Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz!

There are some memoirs that I read and think "ok, cool", then there are those like this that really leave me with my jaw on the floor.

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz is her account of falling backwards into a religious cult and losing her autonomy. The way she weaves her saga is easy to see how herself, or really anyone, could fall victim to such a cult. It's was an eye open account and made me really think about what goes on in the lives around me.

Bethany write with such rawness that her story really resonates with anyone. The whole account is extremely vulnerable, and the bravery it took for her to tell this story is outstanding.

This book was raw and honest with hints of humor that I loved. I have always been a One Tree Hill and experiencing Joy’s story was truly something I wont easily forget. I journeyed with her through her younger years and felt her emotions right from the page. Truly an intriguing read.

An incredibly powerful story that shows how easy it is to fall victim to the evils of this world and how people you love don’t always have the best intentions for you.

I absolutely loved the rawness of the author, and how she talked about the highs, lows and everything in between. She was real about how everything made her felt, even if that wasn’t the “right” way to feel.

I think this book does a fantastic job at highlighting that the way people treat each other in the name of Jesus isn’t always the way Jesus would treat you. That’s a message that a lot of people could really need, and Joy did a great job at saying that from experience.

I never watched One Tree Hill growing up, I never knew anything about Bethany Joy Lenz, but for some reason I was drawn to this book. I could not put it down. I was fascinated and heartbroken at her story. What a read!

As a huge fan of One Tree Hill I was super excited to receive an early copy of this book and I was not let down. However, I think this may be one of those books that I would rather listen to it - because it is read by Bethany Joy Lenz herself!! It was incredible to read this story and see how much adversity Lenz faced and to see how she is now in a much better place. I would highly recommend to all OTH fans!

A fairly in-depth look at Bethany Joy Lenz entrance into and time in a small religious cult. We also get a peek at how she left and what's happened since. Lenz has done some real introspection since her time in the cult and gives interesting and thought provoking commentary along the way. It's easy to sit here and say, "I can't believe you fell for that", especially because she had family outside the cult trying to get to her and her friends who left the cult during her time there. But I imagine the idea of having to believe the people you have been living with, your closest friends and family at this point, who are intrinsically tied to your religion, are manipulating and taking advantage of you would be really hard. And I also think the fact that Lenz was gone for a significant portion of the year filming One Tree Hill, probably made seeing the full scope of what was happening harder. Because she wasn't actually involved in the day to day for most of the year. So I sympathize, even if I was jaw-droopingly shocked by some of the red flags.

I thank Lenz for being vulnerable enough to give us a look into this time in her life, so hopefully others will be able to spot red flags sooner. It's good to remember cults aren't always massive, strange conspiracy groups. I am an NC native, so I knew Lenz from One Tree Hill, and I did not find out about her being a cult until this book came out. Obviously, I would have liked even more details about filming OTH, especially given the revelations about the show runner over the last few years. But I understand that was not the topic of this story. All in all, a good read.

I hate to give a star rating on a memoir but it’s rated more about how it was told than the actual events.

This was TEDIOUS for me. Please know going in to this book that at least 75% of it describes her spiritual journey and her struggles with God. I guess I was hoping for it to be more entertaining like other memoirs I’ve read / listened to. There was very little in this about her life in Hollywood or on One Tree Hill. The cover really confused me - life on a cult tv show.. there was really nothing spoke about the show at all!

It was exhausting to hear her describe situation after situation where it was so obvious those around her weren’t genuine. It would have been HELL to be her parents. I wish there was more reflection about looking back on it as opposed to just reading off a timeline of events. As well as what her spiritual journey looks like now after what she went through.

I’m so glad she was able to escape the abuse - emotional, financial, spiritual etc. I’m also grateful she felt the courage to tell the story and hope it helps others heal. Just was looking for more about the show as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the arc of this book.

As a fan of One Tree Hill, I was keen to hear more about Joy’s experience on the show. I appreciated her candor throughout the book, calling out her own attitude of judgement at times, as well as giving insight to how someone stays in an abhorrent situation. Growing up immeshed in Christianity, it’s hard to read how manipulative religion can be. I was glad to hear how those she worked with on the show tried to be supportive. Overall, I found this memoir transparent, vulnerable, and cohesive. Recommend for fans of One Tree Hill or those interested in cult happenings. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4 stars- enjoyed my time with it, would recommend to a particular reader.
I have never watched One Tree Hill, but I did enjoy this culty pop culture memoir.

As a diehard One Tree Hill fan, I was really excited to read Joy's story. She starts off telling us about the day she left the cult, and then flips backwards to explain what in her life led her to this path.

Joy did a great job of easing us in -- it's easy to be like "wow I would never end up in that situation" but she reminds us that it's a gradual thing, and you are often in far too deep by the time you realize.

It was a very emotional story, and I'm really glad she shared it with us.

I have been a passive One Tree Hill fan, meaning I watched the show but didn't dive into the fandom. When I saw this book was being released I knew I had to read it as a lover of memoirs and a fan of OTH. I am glad I read it. Bethany is so strong and gives no apologies for her naivete and is so pragmatic about her experience.

I thought this book would be juicier. I know a lot of people enjoyed it but I felt like something was missing in a way.

I have always been a One Tree Hill fan so when I found out Bethany Joy Lenz was releasing a book I absolutely had to get my hands on it. I had no idea that this was her backstory. She's lived a wild life!

This felt similar to I’m Glad My Mother’s Dead, but a little less gritty. Very interesting story, much more so about her time with the cult than her time on the show, which I am not sure I’m expecting. Absorbing memoir.

i have conflicted feelings about this! joy's story is compelling, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. she was a victim of unfathomable abuse of power. which is why it's all the more perplexing that she is still deep within organized religion, dedicated to causes in line with the far right. how can you escape a religious cult and then align yourself with a developing oligarchy? my heart breaks for what she went through, but i can't reconcile with what she stands for. and while i was able to compartmentalize while reading, i can't shake it upon reflection.

What an unexpected delight! This was not a conventional memoir like I am used to reading…it was funny, heartbreaking, and the writing really took me by surprise. Not another Hollywood memoir that was ghostwritten to make the “author” seem cool. Joy is authentic, profound, and inspiring.

I love a good cult story! I was not familiar with OTH and I enjoyed Bethany Joy Lenz’s story. I am happy she found the strength to break away and start a new chapter in her live for her and her child.

#Netgalley #BethanyJoyLenz #DinnerForVanpires

I love cult documentaries and One Tree Hill, so this book was a match made in heaven. I've always enjoyed Bethany Joy Lenz's acting and One Tree Hill is one of my all time favorite shows. I had NO idea that her life was so complicated and difficult. Her writing was so good and vulnerable, and I really enjoyed hearing her story and how she made it out the other side. I also want to listen to the audiobook because I love her voice. For anyone that loves One Tree Hill and stories of overcoming difficult situations (especially cults), definitely read this book. I received a free copy from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book! I did not watch One Tree Hill but boy the stories I have heard. So bad. But I love her Hallmark stuff. I appreciate all you shares with us. Would recommend to anyone. Very interesting from start to end!