As a fan of One Tree Hill and Bethany Joy Lenz as an actress, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when starting this book but was intrigued by her story. Throughout her time on the show, you never would have realized all of this was going on in her personal life.

This book dives deep into helping the reader understand how one can be coerced into joining a cult without even realizing it. The isolation, the destruction of one’s own self image and beliefs were all so real and heartfelt throughout. It took real courage to tell her story, and you can feel the compassion she has for her younger self.

It’s important to note for other fans of the show, she doesn’t delve into much of her experience on-set of the show. I wish there was more focus on this, but it didn’t completely deter from my enjoyment of this book. It’s an important story that definitely needed to be told, and I hope the author experienced some healing from telling it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a memoir that I knew nothing about the author before reading and that did not affect my understanding of the stories at all. I was immediately interested in the story of a young woman who got roped into a cult. The writing was really well done and was compelling right from the start.

Every time we hear stories about cults and the people who fall prey to them, we often wonder "how could they be so gullible?" Lenz does a great job of outlining how the cult manipulated her Christian beliefs and slowly twisted them to result in her brainwashing. It was clear to see how she began as someone who really wanted to do and be her best, in a Christian way, and this group of predators manipulated and took advantage of her right from the start.

What an incredible story.. I picked this up because One Tree Hill was one of my favorite shows in my early 20s, but I fully was not prepared for this. This memoir is not centered around Joys time on the show but more so what was going on behind the scenes in her life. The fact she had the courage to be able to write her story shows how much she has grown from a time where she felt so distanced from everyone in her life and God to now.
I also listened to her speak on the Call Her Daddy podcast and I agree, most people probably cant relate to being in a cult, but even while reading I felt like I could relate to different situations that she experienced.

It’s one of those things that you want to hold a grudge for the rest of your life and get mad every time you think about it, but it also shapes you into the person you become. We all have regrets, but it’s a choice to either let it consume you or use it to your own advantage.

Fascinating inside look at life in a cult and life on a cult tv show. I was never a big One Tree Hill fan but I’m still nostalgic for that era. Thanks to netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of One Tree Hill, I was shocked to learn that Joy experienced such terrifying emotional abuse while being a TV icon. I used to watch One Tree Hill in high school and wished I could be like them. I also grew up in the church, so I've seen how people can misuse the Bible out of context to control and scare others into a version of faith that isn’t true to its intentions. I appreciated Joy’s openness and the grace she allowed herself while going through such traumatic events, especially since not everyone can be as empathetic. I wish the very best for Joy and her child, and I hope to see her in more TV shows soon. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This book really show you how you never know what all is going on in a persons personal life. She is such a joy and her light just radiates.

I have been a fan of One Tree Hill for years, especially Bethany Joy Lenz. I watched everything she has ever been in and downloaded all her music. Maybe I was a little obsessed. So when I got the chance to read this book I was soooo excited.

This is a powerful book. The things that Joy had to deal with seems like another movie. I know most people say it could never happen to me, but...the way she describes how it happened and the things she was being told, I understand now. My heart goes out to her but at the same time I'm proud of her for having the strength to get out for her daughter. I would have never guessed watching her on TV that she was going thru so many emotional rollercoasters. That's what makes her an amazing actress. Get this book! You will not regret it!!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I am a huge OTH fan, and Hailey James has always been one of my favorite characters. When I found out Bethany Joy Lenz wrote a book about filming while she was in a cult, I needed to read it! Wow, it was so great! I appreciate how Bethany did not leave anything out and was honest and vulnerable throughout. I'm so proud of her for getting out safely. I highly recommend reading this memoir. Thank you, Bethany Joy Lenz!

This was so good! More about the cult than the cult TV show, so if you’re only reading to find out about OTH, that’s not the focus. If you’re a fan though, I still recommend this one as a Bethany Joy fan myself!
I want to thank her so much for her vulnerability in telling this story. Sadly it’s one we’ve heard too many times. As a Christian, I find it so disheartening the way the Bible and God are used to control people. The manipulation and abuse is just horrendous. It makes me so angry to hear these stories! Just heartbreaking at times. And hearing all this about what was going on during OTH, we had no idea.

This is a great and important warning for readers. Anyone can be manipulated. Anyone can go through this. It’s easier than you think.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

What a story! I love me some Haley James Scott and was thrilled to read her memoir. I had zero knowledge about Lenz’s personal life prior to this book’s announcement and was shocked to see this cover for two reasons: 1) it’s STUNNING and incredibly chic and 2) a cult!?!?

As a medium sized fan of the show, I had hoped for a lot of juicy bits about One Tree Hill and sadly (but understandably) we got very few. In fact, Lenz doesn’t even touch on the show until halfway through the book. The nostalgia was great and I think what I found most interesting was hearing how the cast, in a pre-social media age, really had no idea how famous they were becoming.

About 75% of the memoir is heavily focused on religion and Lenz’s journey with her faith. I think anyone, religious or not, will find her story unbelievably frustrating and will hopefully walk away with a lot more empathy for anyone who finds themselves in such a difficult position. It’s so easy to say “I’m not dumb enough to join a cult” but Lenz’s story proves that no one is immune.

This was such a heartbreakingly, well-written memoir. Joy showed her growth and perspective in the way she retold the events of the past, seeing what was right in front of her all along. Like so many, I connected very deeply to One Tree Hill and learning all that she was experiencing while being on the show broke my heart. I hope she has peace and happiness in her life today.

Growing up I loved One Tree Hill but I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that Bethany Joy Lenz was in a cult. Wow! I enjoyed seeing this different lens and really admire her courage. Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

✝️Book Review✝️
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Summary-
In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show’s millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult.

Only when she became a mother did Lenz find the courage to leave and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help of a One Tree Hill superfan), she finally managed to escape the family’s grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered her relationship with God and her understanding of faith.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- thank you @simonandschuster for the advanced copy this one came out on Tuesday and is just fantastic. Even if you’re not familiar with one tree hill, I think this really read live a proper novel versus a traditional memoir. It has such rich stories and was a super addicting cult story. I loved getting in the mind of someone who joins a cult rather unintentionally while being on a hit teen show from the 2000s. I did wish for a bit more of the one tree hill drama and casting stuff. This one doesn’t really talk about some of the controversy or behind the scenes drama thats been revealed by the press lately. It was a great read overall just lacks the behind the scenes of the show that I was hoping for.
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QOTD- did you ever watch one tree hill? What is your favorite show from when you were a teen?

Wow, what a ride this story was! I was intrigued when I heard that Bethany Joy Lenz was a member of a cult. Especially as I have admired her. Now I admire her even more for getting free and doing what is right for her daughter! I hope many young women read this and use her story to make sure they don't find themselves in a similar situation.

Thank you to Bethany Joy Lenz, Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for the ARC. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook while reading along since she narrates it herself and I love that. Hearing her story of all she has been through was so eye opening, sad, and heartbreaking but her story is also so empowering. It shows how fortunate and lucky she is now to be on the other side of it. This story was wild and it was heavy. Christianity was weaponized and twisted and manipulated by these "vampires". It was used to take advantage of young people searching for love, acceptance, and a sense of belonging. The leaders of this group ultimately wanted control, power, and money. They got close to young people who were trying to figure out who they are and find themselves. And then they took them under their wing in the harmless form of Bible study, and began to groom and mold them into who they wanted them to be, submissive, helpless, and dependant on the group. She thought they were Christians who would help her relationship with God and become a better Christian. But they gained her trust through Christianity and then took advantage of her and took control of every aspect of her life, including her finances, while secretly stealing millions of dollars from her. This was written so well, the timeline was easy to follow, you felt like you were right along side her experiencing what she was going through. She showed how cults aren't always these easy to spot clichés, but actually how harmless it started out and how easy it was to fall into the trap of something like this. Her faith and relationship with God is now stronger and better than ever, she has a beautiful daughter, and is truly happy now. She is an actress I look up to and admire, she was so brave to tell her story, I will forever be a fan of hers. ❤️📚

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of Dinner for Vampires, in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. This is definitely one of the more interesting celebrity memoirs. I never watched One Tree Hill but I definitely knew people who did, obsessively. Bethany Joy Lenz grew up in a home that was stressful due to divorce. She had a strong Christian faith that manifested pretty unhealthily and that left her vulnerable to the home “Bible sturdy” that she joins after moving to LA on her own. The “Bible study” turns into a creepy cult that takes up ten years of her life and two million dollars of her savings. There were so many times that I wanted to throw the book across the room because of her decisions but I also did understand that this was a cult because it made people give over their control. So, this is an interesting study of a smaller cult and the havoc the situation can cause on a person’s life. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Bethany Joy Lenz was a member of a small religious cult, The Big Family House, while she was starring in the CW hit “One Tree Hill” for its nine year run. She writes that the millions that she made supported the Family’s various endeavors, including a motel, a restaurant and, most importantly, a ministry. She normalized abuse and handing over her autonomy until she split with the group and her husband, the group leader’s son, in 2012 after the birth of her daughter.

Lenz’s parents came out of the “Jesus Revolution hippie era,” and met at a big Bible College. Her parents had trouble maintaining employment leading to multiple moves and parental tension which led to divorce when Lenz was in high school. Both of her parents began new relationships when Lenz graduated and she was on her own at 18. She worked on a soap opera in New York, and made friends in the city’s music scene, but she writes that her deepest friendships were in church.

When Lenz found her way to Los Angeles, she joined a Bible study for Hollywood aspirants. Eventually the group began to revolve around a visiting pastor Lenz refers to as "Les.” The group was grateful for Les because he was older and an actual pastor: “We were honored that this church leaders with such wisdom and experience chose to consort with a bunch of random young artists in LA.” Lenz’s father did raise questions to his daughter about the group, but his concerns were allayed when he attended a Saturday night Bible study when Les was conveniently in Idaho. With Les at the helm, the group became smaller, as several members whom Les sensed lacked the vulnerabilities that he needed in a victim were excluded. The group also became increasingly insular, with Les persuading many of the members to move into a commune-esque community in Idaho which would isolate them further from loved ones.

Lenz explained why the group appealed to her at the time. "We crave that kind of intimacy," she said. "The idea that someone out there says, 'No matter what you do or how badly you might behave or what dumb choices you make, I still love you, and I'm here for you.'” Lenz says that protecting her child was a motivating factor for her to detach from the group, but she also credits the production schedule of her show which kept her away from Idaho for extended periods of time and her One Tree Hill co-stars who tried to intervene. Thank you Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for an insider’s look inside a cult.

I watched One Tree Hill when it first came out, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Dinner for Vampires. I had no idea that Joy (aka Bethany) was in a cult, and her story was saddening, maddening and quite heavy.

As a young woman, Joy was in search of a place of belonging, and found one in her bible group upon moving to LA to pursue her acting career. She had a tough upbringing and wasn't close to her family, so when her bible group took her in, she willingly became part of a new family. Joy describes how the leaders of the group took advantage of her by exposing her faults and making her believe that they loved her unconditonally. However, that love did come with conditions and she allowed them to control her career moves and eventually her finances. Eventually, Joy realized what was going on and clawed her way out.

This book was really eye-opening. I had preconceived notions about cult members, yet this memoir really shined a light on how intelligent and shrewd people could get caught up in groupthink. I loved how Joy not only shared her personal experiences, but also described some of the science and psychology behind the deception she fell prey to. It was fascinating to read, but also quite sad. I'm glad she came out of it and turned her life around!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read. I have always loved Joy from her days on Guiding Light and then on to Tree Hill. I had no idea all of this was going on while she was acting on all of these shows. It was so sad to hear some of her stories when it seems like all she ever wanted was to feel loved. I also listened to the audiobook and it felt even more powerful with her reading her own words. I really enjoyed it and binged this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for my copy of this ARC which published 10/22/24.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for this ARC! Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!) by Bethany Joy Lenz offers an intriguing and raw look into the actress's experiences on a supernatural-themed TV show while simultaneously being involved in a real-life cult. Lenz gives readers an insider perspective on the chaos behind the scenes of a hit series, while also grappling with the manipulations and psychological control she experienced off-screen. Her narrative is both dark and enlightening, as she unravels her double life in the entertainment world and the harrowing journey of breaking free from cult influence. With a candid, vulnerable voice, Lenz sheds light on themes of control, identity, and personal growth. The book balances humor and heartache, making it a gripping memoir for fans of both TV drama and true-life survival stories.