I was immediately hooked and interested in her story. The middle slowed down a little bit so it became hard to pick back up but then it grabbed your attention again.

I never watched one tree hill so I might have been missing some of the needed context or knowledge of the author, but I still enjoyed reading this memoir. It really shows how you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors and you never know what’s the truth. Cults are very real and very insidious and it’s so isolating to find yourself in that situation, and there isn’t much grace given to those who find themselves there either. I think Lenz makes a lot of interesting points and has a great story to tell.

I could not live this book any more. As an avid lover of all things cults and mix that with one of my favorite TV shows and I am sold. Fans of the show will live this book as it does talk about Bethany's time in the show but it also deep dives into her faith and how she was able to be a target for the cult.

In Dinner for Vampires, Bethany Joy Lenz is a personal story about her life in the film industry and secretly living in a religious cult. She is most known for her role in One Tree Hill as, Haley James Scott. She also has guested stared in Suits, Charmed S.H.E.I.L.D, Dexter, Greys Anatomy, and much more. Most of the book was collected in her personal journals from 1999 to 2015. She shared how she was struggling in her marriage and the topic of divorce finally came up. They had a daughter Rosie who was just a baby. He would throw things and he threatened her with the dreaded if you leave me, he will win full custody. She stayed a long time because she was supposed to follow the Christian rules and be a submissive wife. She explained how she was falling into the methodical plan of being isolated from her family. He made her honor her bio-family and this consisted of members who God has called them into relationship with and for a purpose. We are here to please God. This group was called, The Big House Family. She shared how she chose to be a shining light on One Tree Hill and she refused to do any R rated scenes. Her manager was constantly having to run everything by her husband for approval. This affected her first music album which never saw the light of day the cult rumor led her to being dropped from the label. In the book, she explained how she had to fight for custody and go to court to fight for her. Her dad was a big part in it when he researched and collected data from others and how her ex-husband treated others. A lot of folks wouldn’t speak out because of fear.


This is mind blowing in the cult ways and how religion trapped her from living her life freely. While I agree there were positive aspects from the Christian teaching it took this religion to the extreme. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of her acting and they enjoyed her mostly on One Tree Hill since this was her biggest hit to date. It was very interesting to read about her life story and honestly, I never even picture she was living the cult lifestyle. This story will leave readers speechless and connect with her fans.

Reviewing memoirs is difficult because of how close this is to the author's heart. Lenz wrote her memoir in a way that almost made it feel like fiction rather than a piece of non-fiction which did help make it easy to get into, but that was probably the easiest part of this memoir.

Her time in a cult was not easy to read about. Being able to see how she was being manipulated was heartbreaking. They were really able to figure out her vulnerability so fast and use that to isolate her made me want to scream and hug her.

This memoir spans numerous years and only gets more exhausting to read as it continues to get worse and worse. I wanted to keep reading to see her get out of there, but there were times I wanted to stop because it was just a lot of religious trauma.

One thing I do wish we could have seen in this memoir is more of how she deconstructed everything after that and her healing process. Joy stops her story not too long after she was free. Being under their control for that long, I would have loved to have seen some of that healing process especially since after that she still seems to be religious. I would have just liked to see how she healed enough to even possibly come back to believing.

The text on the cover for this memoir “Life on a cult tv show… while also in an actual cult!” says it all. Actress Bethany Joy Lenz describes how, as a young actress in Hollywood, she finds community in a worship group that eventually leads to her becoming part what is basically a small charismatic Christian cult. Even when cast in One Tree Hill and filming across the country, she still remains part of the group and very unfortunately gives them control of her money too.

I have never watched an episode of One Tree Hill and had no idea who Joy (she goes by her middle name is), but I had heard from other readers that it didn’t matter to enjoy the book, and they were right. It’s a fascinating and thoughtful memoir. Joy does a great job of explaining her thought processes and how she got sucked in, managing to point out her mistakes while also being sympathetic to her young naive self. Glad she managed to extricate herself, and glad she wrote this book which I hope was therapeutic to her.

I usually read non-fiction slowly, but I tore through this one because I couldn’t put it down.

As someone unfamiliar with One Tree Hill or Bethany Joy Lenz, the memoir felt like stepping into a story already halfway told. It assumes a level of familiarity and emotional investment that I didn’t have, which made the narrative feel disjointed and at times distant.

While it’s commendable that Lenz chose to share such a personal experience, the execution lacks depth and cohesion. Without an existing connection to her, it’s hard to stay engaged, and the book doesn’t offer enough substance to stand on its own as a compelling memoir.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Dinner for Vampires is a true glimpse into cult mentality. Joy Lenz describes how she was manipulated into losing savings, her sense of self, and her relationships with her family by cult members. All of this is happening while she is on the hit show, One Tree Hill. She was able to extricate herself from the cult and this book does help show that there is a way out and a life after.

I really wanted to be able to get behind this book more. Bethany Joy Lenz is an adorably engaging actress and "cult stories" are (almost by definition) fascinating. I wanted more though.

Lenz went through a terrible experience for years. At the beginning, the Bible group Lenz found in LA was the only place she felt she could belong. She wanted to give back of herself (and of her wallet) when she could. But the strings being pulled were dark and finally she felt them without knowing how to get out. Pressured into a relationship and marriage, manipulated in many ways.... sad but none of it felt so unique that it was a story that needed to be told. Perhaps that's my jaded standpoint from seeing advertisements of way too many true crime and "my life in a cult" shows. While none of Lenz's book felt overly-sensationalized, it also didn't grab my attention and make me want to stay up all night reading.

Fans of One Tree Hill may enjoy knowing more about the happenings on the other side of the screen where Lenz is concerned, but this doesn't seem to have much broader appeal I do hope that her growth as she's finally taken the reins herself will lead her to a much happier future.

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz deconstructs the strategic manipulation, grooming practices, and events that lead to her being indoctrinated by a cult. What started out as an innocent in-home Bible study, was meticulously and methodically overtaken by a man masquerading as a an ordained pastor and certified therapist. Seeking to remain in good standing with “The Family”, Lenz adhered to the advice of her “wise council” and began isolating from friends and family, surrendering her autonomy, and relinquishing her finances. That is until, she became emboldened to peel back the curtain and see the group for what it truly was, a cult.

If you were a teen in the early aughts, you more than likely were familiar with the WB show, One Tree Hill. Bethany Joy Lenz captured audiences hearts week after week as the resident good girl, Haley James Scott. After seeing her on our screens for nearly a decade it is difficult to differentiate her tv persona from her real life. Thus, it was shocking to learn the moral compass of the show was in a cult the entire time!

I applaud Lenz for bravely baring her soul in this tell-all memoir. Comprised of never before heard stories, she displays immense vulnerability when discussing every facets of her life. This is an inspiring story that challenges readers to understand their belief system and warns against the dangers of wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster, and Bethany Joy Lenz for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

*After discovering that Lenz narrated the audiobook, I immediately downloaded it on Audible. I highly recommend listening to Lenz as she relays her story in her own words.

**While I received a complimentary electronic version of this book, I enjoyed it so much I bought a physical copy to keep for my collection.

***I hope the story doesn’t end here. I would love for Lenz to write another book picking up where this one left off.

I picked up this book only for the title. I had no idea who the author was. I have never seen One Tree Hill. I’m sure, now, that I’ve seen shows with the author but I wouldn’t know her if I ran into her.

So this book took me by surprise. I know how easy it is to fall victim to church mentality. All religions are a cult. Hearing all the dreams she gave up or lost because of her ‘family’ and all the money that was stolen from her. I just can’t fathom having to endure that.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an advanced copy.

I was not able to read and review this book before its publishing date. However, now that I have I gave it 3 stars.

this book wasn’t for me but i’m sure other readers will love it and it will find the right audience; it just wasn’t me

Poor Joy! I can’t imagine starting off at a home Bible school and then it’s switching to be taken over by the strange not even charismatic leader. She was right that they wanted them to stay apart because they had nothing in common and they wanted to keep taking her money it’s awful. She had to give up Broadway. It’s frustrating how they couldn’t be prosecuted for all the money they stole from her. The book was a quick read, but I felt like we learned a lot about what happened why she thinks it happened and what steps she took to get out.

Lenz has managed to craft an authentic and thoughtful memoir about her time in a cult and her way out of it. Sharply written and deeply confessional, she details her struggles with her self-image and faith even while navigating the pressures of Hollywood, a crumbling marriage, and an increasingly controlling church community. Probably best suited for established fans of Lenz or those who have a voracious appetite for books about cults, this is a slow-paced, reflective look into the life of one actor. Some readers might struggle with the amount of religious content, but it all feels relevant to what Lenz believes and has endured.

I’ve always loved One Tree Hill, and Bethany Joy Lenz’s character was my favorite. So, I was shocked to learn she was in a cult during that time. Reading about it was both heartbreaking and frustrating. I kept having to remind myself that when all someone wants is to belong, they’ll go to great lengths to make it happen, even to the detriment of themselves. Dinner for Vampires felt a little surface-level, but I respect that maybe she didn't want to dive too deep into her emotions. She is better than I am, though. I would have burned them to the ground.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was such a One Tree Hill girl, so I knew I had to read this book. Add in the cult aspect, and I couldn't wait to dive in. I did the Audible version because I love her voice so much. I have so much more respect for her now that I know everything she went through. Highly recommend

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for honest feedback and a review. Full review to come, but I found myself very engrossed in this story - especially as a fan of One Tree Hill. Truly a story of stardom and survival.

I am obviously a huge One Tree Hill fan, but to hear what she was going through in her personal life wild filming was wild! She overcame so much and I loved listening to some parts as well since she read it.

I never really watched One Tree Hill on a regular basis. I may have been too busy with kids at the time, but it was on my radar. When I saw this book, the first thing that grabbed me was the title, Dinner for Vampires. The second thing that grabbed me was that author and actor Bethany Joy Lenz was in a cult. Both those elements drew me to her story of getting involved in and extracting herself out of a cult. As she mentions in the book, it wasn't some large sexual cult like NXIVIM or anything run by a figure like Charles Manson, but it was more sinister in a way due to its small size and the way it developed from a harmless bible study. You're along for the ride.

I don't know what it is, but I've always been fascinated by cults. I feel like it could be so easy to become part of one. The elements for Joy, as the author likes to be called, came together slowly and innocently. Her parents were young, moved around a lot, and, sometimes, seemed more interested in their lives than Joy's. Once Joy became an adult, she was on her own. In New York, she had friends and a good job on Guiding Light, but she wanted more so she went to Los Angeles. There, she was alone, away from her acting associates, and in the hard, cold industry, which eats many meeker people alive. She was also a devout Christian, so she wanted to find like-minded individuals who would share in her faith. So, she joins a bible study.

Throughout the book, you will be charmed by Joy who narrates the story in a friendly, non-judgmental way. She's funny at times, and insightful and thoughtful in others. You just want to be her friend and help her feel less alone. I was impressed by her writing, which I hope she continues. But the cult, which originally was an innocent bible study, becomes her family when Joy is at her loneliest and drags her down in a gradual way that she didn't see coming. She lost so much with her involvement although she gains her daughter Rosie whom she treasures.

I loved hearing about her relationships with her friends, family, and One Tree Hill cast members. Her involvement in this group interferes with her ability to truly connect with the cast specifically, a group that could have been just as supportive as the cult but in a healthy way. Paul Johansson becomes a confidante and close friend, and she fondly remembers palling around with Hilarie Burton who was fond of antique-hunting like Joy. But, again, the cult and her subsequent marriage to one of the cult members infiltrates everything she does. It's so frustrating to see how she could be enjoying her time as a young actress on a successful teen drama, the fruits of her hard work since she actually was a teenager when she began her career, and the potential to pursue even more challenging and rewarding roles.

The only issues I had with the book was that the end and her departure from the cult felt a little rushed. I felt there could have been more to that. Obviously, it was difficult and fraught with anger from her former "family" members, but it ended a little too quickly. Also, I would love to know what her life is like now, how she's handling the challenges to her Christian faith, and her dealings with the family, since her daughter is connected to key members of the cult.

Even if you didn't watch One Tree Hill, this is a cautionary tale for anyone who feels lonely and may be searching for something more. The book is a good read and tells a satisfying story for the most part. While the cult isn't as crazy or detrimental as some, it still damaged many aspects of her life, including her own faith. I'm glad to hear that she was able to get out of it fairly unscathed.