I'm going to echo another reviewers statement. This book is tedious. That is not a reflection on Bethany Joy Lenz herself. I never watched One Tree Hill. My encounters with Bethany on the screen have mostly been with Hallmark movies. As cheesy as some people think Hallmark movies are, they are made worse when the acting is phoned in. I would never say that about her. If she's in a movie, I'm watching it. No matter the story, she truly brings life to her characters. But this is not about her outstanding acting skills. Bethany Joy Lenz was emotionally and mentally abused by predators who use religion as their shield, an excuse, and a mechanism for torture. The eArc I was given by #netgalley divides the chapters into 3 sections. The first discusses her childhood and her search for God and Godliness. The desire to find others who share her beliefs and faith. And the balance of her creative side while practicing that faith. The people that built the cult and recruited Bethany Joy preyed upon her faith and loneliness. The 2nd section reflects more on how they continued to hold on to her and her own validation to continue with the family. Even when she had doubts. The 3rd section shows her break from the cult, her husband and her recovery. Sections one and two are definitely about seeking out religion. There are snippets of her life with her family. And life with her friends. But it is definitely about her faith and practice of that faith. So I find this hard to call a biography. It is a biography, but with more focus on one part of her life. A big part. A part with huge impact. But I found I wanted to know more about the little snippets.

This is a real life story. Her life. Her family. Her friends. Even the lives of the abusers. And it is hard to understand. A young woman with so much hope, dreams, confidence, talent, artistic desire and support from loving and caring people and even support from the entertainment industry. And she is convinced at the same time that she is not worthy of it. And it happens to a lot of people. Not always in a way that screams cult. But always someone wanting to control another person. I wish there was a big superhero ending. Her cape is invisible but she is a superhero for her. For her daughter. And for anyone who is reading a little bit of their own lives in her story. We don't always get to see the bad guy punished. But sometimes it's more about the good guy winning in their own way. I hope she always feel that she did win. And continue to find that balance of hope and dreaming and creativity while still seeing the faith and love don't always mean sacrifice and pain. Thank you #SimonandSchuster for the eArc.

I grew up watching One Tree Hill so when I saw this book was coming out I knew I needed to read it! I learned so much about the characters and the show.

i have never seen one tree hill so i was unfamiliar with bethany joy lenz prior to reading her story. i found her story so engaging and interesting and hearing her motivation for public sharing her time in the cult made me enjoy my experience reading that much more.
I understand the focus of the book was primarily to highlight her time in the cult but i would have liked to see a little bit more of her life after, though when she was explaining the cult and its intricacies she included realizations and further explanations from her future self i still would have appreciated less of a time jump in the last chapter.
dinner with vampires is definitely one of the most unique and interesting celebrity memoirs i have read to date and would definitely recommend if you have any interest in reading about real life cults and some of the longtime effects on former members.

This book was wild. And so sad. As a big fan of One Tree Hill, I had no idea this was the life than she lived. So happy she got out!

As someone who watched One Tree Hill growing up, this was a truly fascinating read. Holding up the events of this book next to seasons of her life and the show really makes each one of the events hit hard. It's a perspective I don't know that I wanted, but I needed to hear. This is an important read for adults/people in the industry.

I love digging into a juicy celebrity memoir, partly because I just love gossip and partly because I just really enjoy learning about people’s life stories. Dinner for Vampires checks both of those boxes and is a must read for anyone who loves the memoir genre.

This book covers actress Bethany Joy Lenz’s life, spanning from her childhood and Broadway dreams, to her time on One Tree Hill, when she was also a member of a cult. I was a little hesitant about how much I’d enjoy this one since I’ve never seen One Tree Hill, but the book is really accessible for all readers, regardless of how familiar you are with her career.

When it comes to cult stories, it’s often easy from the outside to wonder how someone could get involved with groups that are so clearly problematic. But what Lenz does is really humanize the experience and show how getting involved could happen to anyone given the correct circumstances. She’s very open about her experience and doesn’t hold anything back, which makes for a really engaging and emotional read.

If you’re interested in memoirs of any kind, be sure to pick this one up! Dinner for Vampires is out now. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Truly a unique reading experience. I never watched One Tree Hill. I was in the demographic but TV is hard for me. Jumping into this solely on title alone. It was incredible. I was never lost. It was a new look at cults.
I loved her message near the end. Everyone always thinks it would never happen to them. But no one really understands for easy it really is to get sucked into something when it's disguised as love and family.

This was a very enticing read! I found myself reaching for it again and again to find out what happens at the end. Although I knew of the show, I hadn't really watched it myself but I was still able to follow along and be engaged in the story. I was angry for the main character, heartbroken for the manipulation of all the victims, and an eye opener for red flags in church/bible studies.

I recommend this read for anyone who loves. memoirs, books about cults, or the One Tree Hill show.

This was so good!! It’s wild how easy it is to get sucked into a cult without realizing it and Joy’s journey through it is a prime example. From the outside looking in, the red flags are so obvious but I can’t imagine actually being in that position and trusting people that are knowingly hurting you. Just such a good look into her life and I’m so glad she’s able to heal and talk about her experiences now!

I very much enjoyed this book by Joy Lenz. I've been a huge One Tree Hill fan for years, and it was so interesting to get this perspective from her. We never knew that she was going through this at the time One tree Hill was filmed...and I appreciate her openness and candidness about this difficult time in her life. It was a very quick read, I finished it in less than 3 days.

Bethany Joy serves up a wickedly fun and darkly romantic tale in Dinner for Vampires. With sharp wit, captivating characters, and a fresh twist on vampire lore, this book is a delectable treat for fans of paranormal romance. Prepare for a feast of suspense, humor, and sizzling chemistry!

Loved this raw and touching memoir! This was such a moving story and I applaud Bethany Joy Lenz for sharing it. It takes a lot of courage to do so and it showed in her words. Definitely recommend whether you’re a fan of one tree hill or not!

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz is a raw and powerful memoir that reveals unexpected and deeply personal sides of the actress, best known for her role as Haley on One Tree Hill. The book takes readers on a journey through Lenz’s struggles, notably her time in a cult, and explores themes of personal growth, self-discovery, and the harsh realities of Hollywood.

While fans of One Tree Hill will appreciate the insights into the show and Lenz's experiences with her on-screen relationships, the heart of the memoir lies in her candid account of living under the control of a cult-like religion. Her story is both heartbreaking and eye-opening, shedding light on the coercion, manipulation, and trauma she endured. The memoir doesn't shy away from the difficult moments, and her honest voice provides a poignant and empathetic narrative for anyone who has faced similar struggles.

While the first part of the book may feel slow to some, once Lenz delves into her OTH experiences and the profound realizations she had from the show, it becomes impossible to put down. The book offers not only a glimpse behind the scenes of a beloved TV show but also a profound reflection on relationships, family, and self-acceptance. It’s a must-read for those seeking a deeply emotional and empowering memoir.

4.5
As a big One Tree Hill fan, I was so excited when Bethany Joy Lenz announced her book! I’ve found cults fascinating for years so it was interesting reading about a small non-famous one. I’m not religious at all so I struggled a little bit at some parts. I was hoping for a little bit more detail about being on OTH, but I completely understand that it was a difficult time both for Lenz and it was a difficult set behind the scenes with the creator. It's fascinating to see these religious groups just slowly manipulate people without them realizing. Lenz’s resilience and determination to move forward and get herself out of that situation was inspiring. It's heartbreaking what the group did to her. I’m glad she was able to get her daughter and herself out of there. At the end I would have liked a little bit more information about where she is now and her current relationship with The Family and her ex-husband, but I understand that is sensitive information. This was a compelling and honest account that I highly recommend to anyone fascinated with cults.

What a way to start the year! I couldn’t stop listening. A big fan from OTH it was fascinating to see behind the curtain and hear about how Bethany fell prey to a manipulative religious cult. Who would have guessed. I highly recommend.

Where do I even begin to “review” someone’s life and experiences? That seems so cruel. So I will say this- I am deeply saddened by the experiences Lenz had to go through, and I love the compassion in which she wrote about them. As a Christian, I wish more Christian’s would read this to see what their actions can do when they are not following Jesus, but rather following religion. But I loved that Lenz was so gentle and yet graceful in her own standing up. I commend her greatly for making the choices she did to survive and to protect herself and her child. The is is a heavy read, but so so worth it.

This wasn't a happy read, but Bethany Joy Lenz did a really nice job of balancing the serious with the nostalgic. Her story is heartbreaking, but her resilience and determination to move forward was definitely worth the read.

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.
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’m glad she is out now, but would she be if others hadn’t acted first? Makes you wonder…

I became a fan of OTH after the series had completed, but I had NO idea about any of this until promo for this book started coming out!

It’s truly awful the amount of manipulation she went through with these people, but I am so glad Bethany Joy Lenz got herself and her daughter out of there when she did ❤️

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
As a one tree hill fan I was so excited to read this book. WOW this was so much more than what I expected. Bethany Joy Lenz is an incredibly strong woman who went through an insurmountable trial with grace and grit. This story was incredible and just so fascinating