In the early 2000s, while she appeared on our television screens each week in one of TV’s most popular teen dramas, Bethany Joy Lenz’s life off camera was anything but glamorous. As a 20 year old working actor living in L.A., Lenz found herself searching for a place to belong, a group to join, a family. After a childhood bouncing from town to town and her parent’s divorce when she was a teenager, Lenz yearned for people with her same mindset and faith in God. She found it in a small home bible study hosted by another charismatic actor and his family. But this welcoming congregation slowly morphed into something much darker as an older, former pastor took control of the group’s leadership. Lenz was becoming famous for her wholesome, wise TV character, but behind the scenes her life was devoted to a high control group that ran every aspect of her life. They guided her career choices, controlled her finances, and even steered the decision on who she married. After almost a decade living in a cult, Lenz finally found the clarity and strength to leave. This is the story of her journey from naive teenager to loyal cult member to liberated woman.

Lenz’s memoir is riveting. She doesn’t sugarcoat the choices she made or paths she took that lead to her life in the cult. She lays everything bare with brutal honesty, detailing her every thought, emotion, and mistake. This honesty allows us as readers to understand the inner working of these high control groups or cults. How they draw in members, the methods they use to keep members ensnared and isolated, and their tactics for hiding the true nature of their groups from the world. Lenz rips open her personal life to show readers how anyone can become a victim to these predators, not just the young, lost, or down on their luck. Highly successful, driven, motivated people are often prime targets for these bloodsuckers. It’s a testament to Lenz’s faith and strength that she was finally able to untangle herself from this toxic nest of narcissists. A truly fascinating glimpse into Lenz’s life behind the cameras.

I was so excited to get my hands on this one! As a HIGE OTH fan I loved getting to read this. It was heart breaking seeing what Joy endured. But so inspiring she made it out on the other side.

Thank you to Netgalley, @simonbooks , and @simonandschuster for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It's no secret that I'm a huge One Tree Hill fan. I've been hooked since it first aired on The WB when I was in 8th grade, and here I am in my mid-30s, still as devoted as ever. So naturally, when any of the cast members write a book, I’m eager to read it. You can imagine my excitement when I was approved for this one!

That said, if you're expecting juicy One Tree Hill gossip, this isn't that kind of memoir. For behind-the-scenes tidbits, you’re better off listening to the Drama Queens podcast. This book is more of a personal journey—an eye-opening story of a young, impressionable woman who was manipulated by a group of people who preyed on her insecurities and loneliness. It's a chilling reminder of how abusers can isolate their victims, but in this case, it was an entire group doing that over the span of years.

As I read, I was stunned that all of this was happening during the production of a show I love so much. I even rewatched the pilot episode, feeling a mix of anger and sadness as I reached the parts about her toxic marriage. I used to love her performance of "Halo" on the show, but I never fully understood the lyrics until now. Realizing it coincided with her marriage, the song’s meaning is much clearer, and I’m so glad she found the strength to walk away.

Dinner for Vampires releases tomorrow, and I can’t wait to experience it again through the audiobook!

All I can say is wow. This was nuts. I absolutely loved One Tree Hill & getting to read what Joy was going through the entire time she was on the show is just wild. It made sad to see the way this cult drove a wedge between her and literally anybody who wasn’t a part of it. All the opportunities she lost. Ultimately she got her beautiful daughter, but to know that someone you’ve watched on tv for years went through all of this is mind boggling. It really is true how people can be so dismissive about “how stupid you must be” to end up in a cult, but it’s a slow burn. Little by little they take more control & they exploit your weaknesses. It’s really empowering that she was willing to share all this with the world.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.

As a One Tree Hill fan, I was excited to read this book because I had absolutely no idea about Joy's experiences at the same time. From the start, I was immediately sold on the book. Each chapter brought a new dimension of the balance between Joy's personal life, her involvement with a cult and her career. I thought it was well-written and while it felt like it was written with a bit of "Looking back, I see what it was" you could also see the appeal of the "family" Joy was a part of though at the same time, harmful with perspective.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley!

As a lifelong One Tree Hill fan, I was eager to read Bethany Joy Lenz's new memoir Dinner for Vampires. I listen to their rewatch podcast Drama Queens, and she's alluded to not having great memories off camera while filming the show, but this dives into her experience with a cult.

She highlights her childhood and the loneliness of growing up as an only child who moved a lot, and eventually finding community through a bible study in Los Angeles. She shares her experiences with the group, their influence on her life, and her struggle to get free. If you're looking for a lot of One Tree Hill behind the scenes, this book isn't going to give you that, but it is a wild story that will leave you both shocked and empathetic.

I loved seeing her strength and compassion for her younger self and those who have been in manipulative or abusive relationships. I wish we got a bit more on her present life like how she's rebuilt her relationships and how this experience shaped her faith.

I'd recommend OTH fans pick this one up!

An absolute wild ride. I was glued to my Kindle. It's not the memoir I was expecting but it's SUCH A STORY. Bethany Joy Lenz's memoir focuses mostly on her upbringing and time spent in a religious cult. It's fascinating to hear cult survivors stories; how one ends up in one and why it takes so damn long to leave even while seeing red flags everywhere. This book does touch upon One Tree Hill (Bethany's fame-making role) and some of her other work and a teeny bit of tea but we are going to need another memoir that gets into all of it (or just listen to her podcast?). I hate rating memoirs and Bethany's is important for her to share and for others to read. I went with 4 stars because it's missing, for me, more reflection and a deeper connection to Bethany, her walls are still up and it shows. I am left with so many more questions after that wild ride. Bethany needs to be a huge star, she's talented and gifted and deserves it.

Like most college aged girls, I watched One Tree Hill with my friends in their dorm. I read Hilary Morgan's book and was interested in this book.
This book is different though, and focuses on Bethany Joy Lenz time in a cult. She grew up as a child actress and then got a part on a soap as a high schooler.

After high school, she decided to move to LA to get bigger parts. She roomed with a fellow a actress and started going to a Bible study with her in order to meet people. She fell into a group of friends and eventually moved into a house with them in Idaho when she wasn't filming One Tree Hill.

After 10 years and an arduous time in family court to win custody of her daughter, Rosie, Joy has been able to move on with her life.

From being on set from a young age, and her parents moving her from one state to another, I could see how this could happen to someone like her.

Anyone who enjoyed One Tree Hill or autobiographies would enjoy this book.

If you’re looking for all of the juicy details on Bethany Joy Lenz’s history of being in a cult - this is for you.

If you’re going through a situation of manipulation or emotional and mental abuse, this also may be for you.

If you’re a OTH fan and enjoy hearing insight to an actress’s time on the show, this could be for you.

Joy spills all of the not-so-glamorous details of her time in a cult and how she feels looking back. It was filled with so much information about how she got to where she was, and how she got out of it. As well as the people she connected with during her time on OTH. She shares the things she sacrificed, the things she gained in her career and in her life (her daughter, most importantly), and how she got out.

If you’re not into religious talk - this book is heavy on it because the cult was a religious one. However, I think it’s a great opportunity to see how easy it is to slip into manipulation and how isolating it is.

Inspired by her vulnerability and openness to finally release this from the bounds of her mind and share with the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the early read.

Release date: 10/22/24

In Dinner for Vampires, Bethany Joy Lenz reflects on her early life, the choices that led her into a religious cult, and the courage it took to eventually leave—particularly from a marriage that anchored her within it.

I initially requested a copy of this book because of the author’s connection to One Tree Hill, but what I found was a deeply personal and unexpected story that challenged many of my assumptions about cults and those who find themselves sucked into them.

Dinner for Vampires was fascinating and thought-provoking, and I admire Lenz for sharing her story. Her openness and vulnerability made for a powerful exploration of identity, faith, and resilience.

I loved One Tree Hill - a true show of my youth. I love a celebrity memoir, so was really excited for this one.

Unfortunately, it fell very flat for me. Books, particularly memoirs that are so dialogue heavy are never my favorite. And here I think the dialogue actually hurt the storytelling - the beginning was quite confusing, and hard to follow.

I never did watch One Tree Hill, but I was interested in this book because I first watched the author on Guiding Light. It was challenging to read this at times because of the subject matter. It’s hard to imagine going through all that and coming out the other side. I respect how she didn’t want to make this a tell-all and blast everyone. I thought it was organized well and was easy to read. I admire her courage in telling her story. I recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I loved this memoir. I am a huge fan of choosing this format to tell the world a story they may not otherwise understand. We got to see into the life of Bethany Joy Lenz, best known as Haley on One Tree Hill and see what she went through all while appearing on our screens. She wrote so eloquently and took so much time and care explaining her relationship to God and how this shifted and changed while being morphed by a cult leader. This is a must read!

I absolutely ATE THIS UP. It hit such a metal intersection of Christian cult trauma + peek behind the Hollywood curtain + humor + vulnerability. Lenz's voice immediately captivated me, her vulnerability drew me in, and the grace and clarity with which she tells such a complex story left me solidly in awe of her. Easiest five stars I've given to a book all year.

There was so much I appreciated about this book. I LOVED the way she recounted the past and coupled those stories with small inserts from her future self (as opposed to telling the full story chronologically and offering all of her reflection on it at the end). This format really allowed her to dig into the messiness and manipulation, be vulnerable about the things she was thinking at the time, and bring the clarity of healing and hindsight all at the same time. She got to really tell her story without leaving the reader under the impression at any point that what she went through was normal or good.

As a Christian myself, I know how easy it is to manipulate God's character and voice, and use that to shame and control people. I am devastated to hear about all of these different people who build their platforms and following off of a false understanding of a God who, I believe, genuinely loves them and has good things for them. I appreciate how Lenz holds in tension the manipulated view of God that she was presented with and the pure knowledge of God's goodness and existence that she also experienced throughout her life.

Sharing a story like this, especially as someone who is already so well known, is no small thing. Lenz's vulnerability gifts us the means to more deeply understand the dynamics that trap and manipulate these victims, as well as challenges us to offer them unabashed compassion. I cannot say enough good things about this book. 11/10, pre order immediately, devour in one sitting.

Honestly, I didn’t know much about Bethany Joy Lenz until reading this book. I’ve never seen One Tree Hill but picked this up because I’m interested in cults and I was pleasantly surprised by this book!

I usually avoid celebrity memoirs but this was excellent! I thought it was very self aware and honest. She captured the trusting innocence of young adulthood and showed how powerful people can take advantage of their friends and family.

The prose was really good as well! There are a lot of religious aspects which I found interesting. I enjoyed Lenz’s exploration of her faith and would recommend this book to fans of One Tree Hill or anyone like me who is “cult curious”.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers for the ARC!!

Bethany Joy Lenz writes a captivating and poignant memoir on her life in a religious cult. She was so candid in her descriptions of her early life with her parents that led her to fall into the cult. I resonated deeply with her need to find family and love, and my heart aches for her as she worked so hard in her career and with the cult to ultimately earn acceptance and love.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read. It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I did it had me hooked. Bethany inadvertently ended up in a cult by attending a bible study, and the group pulled her further in from there. I watched One Tree Hill while on maternity leave with one of my sons, and it was very interesting and sad to know what was going on behind the scenes in real time. This is also a bit of a redemption story; even though the cult took a lot away, Bethany was able to see through the facade and get out. I would certainly recommend this book.

Memoirs aren’t easy to review because it’s not easy to review or comment on someone’s life story. Thankfully Bethany Joy Lenz makes it so easy because this book was written so well. BJL mentions that she writes journals during her time in the cult, and it’s so clear that she did, because the visuals, the details, and so much information comes through so that you know it’s all from a recollection or memory of a first hand experience.

Also the writing style is done so well, with perfect little hooking one liners, the little details, the small snippets of life on OTH, everything about this book is hooking. I also feel like the journals did such a great job at letting the reader see how she fell into a cult, just by looking for acceptance. It wasn’t one red flag after another, it was small things that added up to a big issue, but only for outsiders to see, otherwise it was easy for the person to justify the reasoning behind it using their own insecurities. Just a great reminder overall not to judge those in terrible situations and to lend kindness and Grace so that one day they have the courage to leave.

This shit is wild. Cults have always interested me, and finding out that one of the actresses from a favorite show of mine was in a religious cult I was shocked. I had to read this. I knew I would devour it. Absolutely mind blowing what this group did to her and how they manipulated her. The use of religion to manipulate happens more often than people think and I always wonder just how it gets to that point. It was so interesting to be able to read about her full experience from how she came about being a part of a cult, to how she thankfully escaped it. There were moments that had me literally gasping at some of the shit they did. The trauma and manipulation she endured can be hard to read about, but it’s so necessary that she tells her story. It’s vulnerable and shocking and inspiring all at the same time.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Dinner for Vampires
By Bethany Joy Lenz
Publication Date: October 22, 2024
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

First, I want to give a massive thank you to Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and Ms. Lenz herself for the free advanced copy of this book.

Dinner for Vampires, from Bethany Joy Lenz, is an incredibly powerful and compelling memoir, detailing the juxtaposition of Lenz's incredible career in Hollywood and her incredible experiences within a religious cult. I wasn't at all familiar with her story and I found myself emotionally moved, multiple times within the book, as she vulnerably shared the ups and downs of her life.

This memoir was poignantly and beautifully written, with an authentic voice that made it effortless to see the author's world through her eyes. Lenz laid herself bare in such a raw way, I couldn't help but feel connected to her as I read her words. Her story pulled on my heartstrings in such polarizing ways as I read. At times, I cheered her on during the happy moments of her life and felt joy alongside her successes. Other times, my chest tightened as I implored her to get out when the red flags kept waving in the hands of some of the people around her.

I imagine, as the reader viewing her life from the outside in, I was experiencing the same feelings her parents and close friends felt as they watched her experiences in real time. Part of what made this book so beautiful was Lenz's ability to share her perspective as she felt it at the time of these events, while simultaneously acknowledging the way she views those experiences now. What was clear in her story-telling was the grace and the empathy she has for the person she was during those times. There was no trace of self-judgment in her words, only love for who she used to be and love for the person she is still becoming.

Lenz's introspection contained in these pages is captivating, brave, and absolutely brilliantly well-written. Whether you have been a huge fan throughout her career or don't know much about her time in Hollywood, I promise you this is an important memoir you don't want to miss. It was my honor to read this book and share my thoughts in this honest review.

#DinnerForVampires #BethanyJoyLenz #SimonandSchuster #SimonBooksBuddy #FreeGift #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #memoirs #fivestarreads #booklover