A compelling memoir that I am grateful to the publisher, author and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Joy tells a captivating timeline of events about her personal past in alignment with her professional happenings. A fascinating read that I would recommend to any OTH fan!

For better or worse, I am a big One Tree Hill fan. So, the first thing to note is that if you're looking for a detailed account of Joy's experience on the show- nostalgic or entertaining behind-the-scenes stories, her take on the accusations against the show's creator or intimate tales about or with her co-stars- you're not going to get it. Considering the current re-watch podcast, "Drama Queens" which I faithfully listen to, I at least expected more commentary on the evolution of her relationships with Sophia and Hilarie, but nope. (I can count on one hand the number of times their names were mentioned.)

This book title and subtitle should simply be reversed: Dinner for Vampires- Life in a Cult: While Also Being on a Cult TV Show!

She gets the role on One Tree Hill about 35% into the book and the show ends around 80%. And within those chapters, the show is mostly a parallel timeline to her real life and the escalation of her bible study group to a high demand "family" aka cult. Very little of this book highlights the cult following the show had and still has to this day.

That said, it so happens that I am also extremely interested in cults, so I was still very engaged with this book. She tells the story slowly and sincerely, the way I imagine it happened and felt for her. She found a group where she felt accepted, loved and safe, a family that felt stronger and more peaceful than the one she was born into. I understood why she fell in love with these people. I'd want this feeling too, especially as a young actor essentially alone in LA. The alarms don't really start to go off until you find yourself isolated from your family and friends, losing your autonomy and millions of dollars. Oh, and you're married to the leader's son. Yikes.

I'll be interested to see how this is received when it's officially out in the world. I think people who've been or are in a similar situation will make a lot of connections to Joy's story. I think those fascinated by cult stories will want to understand how this one played out. I think general One Tree Hills fans will think it misses the mark in terms of it not being a balanced story of the show and the cult. But Bethany Joy Lenz fans will appreciate her insight and vulnerability in sharing her story.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Not rating her experience but the writing and organization of the book.

i’m not a huge fan of one tree hill, i actually watched it for the first time last year and i really enjoyed it. i loved nathan and haley so i decided i wanted to give this a read. especially because im very fascinated by cult memoirs. i read a lot of fictional books but for some reason they don’t capture cults very well in my opinion. obviously because this was based on someone lived experience i felt it was captured well. this book was quick and i liked the timeline it talked about the events because some memoirs go back and forth. anyway i definitely recommend

Wow! I devoured this story in less than 24 hours.

If you have any interest in cults, this is for you. It’s common to hear about the before life of someone in a cult and then the aftermath of them getting out. This book does a great job at explaining in detail the before, during and after life in a cult.

The authors story is so relatable in terms of how/why she stayed in this “family” for so long. It’s easy to say that something like this would never happen to me. Or that the people that are in cults are uneducated and stupid for not realizing they’ve been sucked into a crazy world. Aside from the author becoming a famous actress, her story could be the story of anyone just looking to belong and have a family.

I would’ve loved to hear this as an audiobook with the author as the narrator. However, this is a book that I would highly recommend.

Thank you to #netgalley and the author for providing an ARC for my honest opinion.

As a huge fan of One Tree Hill, I was so excited to be selected to read an ARC of this book. I was seriously so impressed by the way Lenz tells her story, through a mix of both comedy and tragedy. Her story is exhilarating and shocking, especially after watching OTH so many times and never noticing what was going on behind the camera.

I knocked off one star because I felt like there was no connection to the “cult” part of a “cult tv show”. I enjoyed every time she talked about the show and anyone involved, but being considering the title, I thought we’d get more of an insight to how cult tv show fans act & interact with stars, etc etc. Regardless, I am so elated I got to read this and I think that people are going to be surprised to listen to Bethany Joy Lenz’ story.

Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC :)

I was totally riveted by Joy’s account of her faith journey and involvement in a cult. I flew through this book because it was so intriguing, especially as a fan of One Tree Hill (which she was filming while many events of this book took place). She writes so candidly and with the added benefit of hindsight. Hearing her retrospective take on the cult leaders and behaviors was so interesting because many of us are probably inclined to wonder how someone could possibly fall into something so nefarious.

I do wish that two things had been featured more prominently: 1) her experiences on the set of OTH (they were mentioned briefly but not very much—I expected more from this angle because of the subtitle and 2) her faith journey after leaving the cult.

At the beginning, she notes that much of the information came from her own personal journals, and the book read very much like a journal. It was easy to read, but the prose was not necessarily exemplary. This did not detract from my enjoyment of the content, however. There was also some language (several uses of s*** and f***).

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was an avid fan of one tree hill and I loved reading this about BJL’s life. I had no idea she was going through all this during filming of the show. Easy read and gives a good inside look at cults and how they work.

Wow this book automatically 5 stars from me. I loved everything about this and how Joy truly opened up with her readers to discuss her journey to self realization and finding her value. I loved her acting on OTH and I love the podcast the girls have so I was thrilled when I got to read and review this book. Sharing a part of your life with readers is so hard and she did it in the most thoughtful and eye opening way. I can’t wait to own a copy of this book.

Thank you for the chance to read this book! I first discovered Bethany Joy Lenz when she was on “Guiding Light” as Michelle and loved her storyline with Danny. This is the story of her life as a young adult who is looking for connection and joins a religious group brag is a cult. It’s heartbreaking reading of the way she loses control of her career choices, family/friends outside of “The Family,” and her hard-earned money. Thankfully, she is able to break free for herself and her daughter. One Tree Hill isn’t the main plot of this book, but we do learn how some of the parents on the show play a part in helping her rebuild her life after her divorce.
It’s sad everything Joy had to go through as she truly seems like a wonderful person, but she showed her strength in overcoming everything she had to.

I generally try not to rate autobiographies with a star rating - but since Net Galley and Simon & Schuster gave me a chance to read an early copy I will make an exception. I always hold a great amount of respect for people that are brave enough to speak their truth which is why I normally shy away from rating books of this nature.

The people that read this book hoping for lots of material regarding Joy’s experiences on One Tree Hill will probably be disappointed - cast members and moments are definitely mentioned, but this book details how Joy found herself a member of a cult and how she eventually climbed her way out of it. What she got wrapped up in and how it progressed was sad and even scary at times… she was emotionally manipulated and the cult ‘leader’ basically saw a naive young woman that he could control. The cult twisted the way Joy saw herself and other people and I’m just proud of her for finally finding the courage to break free so her daughter wouldn’t be raised in that environment.

I sincerely hope that this is not the last book that Joy writes because she absolutely as a talent for it. Her story captivated me and held my interest all the way through and I continue to be a fan!

I enjoyed reading Joy’s memoir and was equally fascinated and heartbroken by her story. The story is better than the writing, but my main complaint is the title and cover. It wasn’t until the end of the book that the title even remotely made sense. It should have been a theme throughout the book or called something else entirely. The cover is not good and not fitting. Still, it takes immense courage to share what she did, and I hope — despite the lacking title and cover — that putting this out there heals her a little more each day.

this was different from other memoirs I have read before. This was more like a story about her life within the cult and working in Hollywood and realizing that you are in a cult. She married the wrong person , and the cult drained her money. She was able to get back to working and taking care of her daughter. she also repaired many relationships. Yeah for her dad . Great book. I did watch one tree hill too.

A heartbreakingly beautiful and emotional tale about Joy’s decade long experience inside a “religious cult.” Thanks to her years of keeping journals, we are able to walk alongside Joy as she fights to discover who she is and where she belongs in the world. And let me tell you, Joy is a brightness in this world, indeed.

This book was incredible. I wish I had a word better than just ‘incredible’ to use. Stunning? Spectacular? Phenomenal? All of the above. First, I read it all in a single day. Once I opened it, I didn’t want to stop. Second, I think I’ve only cried over three books in my lifetime, but this one got me to shed a tear or two. “…that stupid sweatshirt became the heaviest thing he ever threw.” What a POWERFUL line. Had me wiping my eyes before chapter 1 even started.

My favorite thing about this book was being able to follow it from the beginning. We see her first starting to explore different bible study groups, then going to the meetings, then inviting friends, and then having strangers come into the group, and the next thing you know they are leading it. We experience the inner turmoil she faces as she struggles between what she feels is wrong, but is being told is right. We follow the rise, and eventual fall, of this cult. Or, as Joy so hilariously called it, “a bible study gone wrong.”

This was easily, without a doubt, a five star read.

Joy, I want to offer you a high five (i feel the same way about hugs) and tell you how strong, powerful and inspiring you are. What an incredible mother you are as well. Thank you for sharing your story!

Dinner for Vampires is everything I expected and wanted from this memoir but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a good time or a new Lestat story.

Growing up with One Tree Hill, I was absolutely enamored with our big three (Brooke, Peyton, and Haley) and it shaped my ideal for female friendships before Sex and the City ever could. It was so disheartening to see how those relationships weren’t able to transcend into the real life (on set) of Bethany Joy Lenz and to experience her first hand account of living in a cult.

I identified with this story more than I ever hoped also living in a very distinct branch of Christianity and the wild similarities between this religion and cult like mentality. We get to see how anybody can be targeted, coerced, and then ruined by these vampires especially when that someone is a growing star on one of the most exciting shows on television.

This story focuses a lot more on Joy and her time in the cult, her experiences that were shaped by them, and her struggle to get free. Don’t go into this thinking it will be like The Drama Queens Podcast at all or even Hillarie Burton Morgan’s memoir because the topic and her life is vastly different than what we have gotten to hear from these beautiful and strong women. But don’t let the heavy topic dissuade you from reading either. Through an incredibly strong voice, Joy is able to convey her story without begging you to understand but is still able to elicit so much empathy and kindness for survivors of all types. And the insights to her and Paul Johansson’s (evil Dan Scott’s) dear friendship was one of my favourite things to come from this recounting.

Thank you so much for this ARC as this was one of my most anticipated books this year and I was THRILLED to get this months before I had to start my countdown. I can’t wait for everyone to hear her story and all collectively give her a giant hug.

<i>**no star rating for memoirs**</i>

Don’t let my lack of rating mislead you — I really liked this memoir. Normally, I’ll start a book and read just a chapter or two, but this book pulled me in instantly and I read it in one day. The writing style is very easy to read and the subject matter was so outrageous I forgot for a moment that I wasn’t reading fiction.

I can’t believe everything that Bethany went through. One of the worst parts (for me anyway) was how innocuously it started. It was supposed to be a group of friends doing a Bible study/meeting up to talk about their Christian lives and it devolved into <b>THAT</b>!

A lot of it was hard to read (especially the estrangement from her parents and friends not in the cult) but I liked that she found her strength. I also can’t believe they stole $2 million from her! I was sad she didn’t get it back, but I understand why she let it go. They really were vampires, sucking money instead of blood.

I’m glad she did what she had to do for the sake of her daughter.