Hello, Juliet is a dual timeline, fast
-paced thriller set in the glamorous and cut throat world of teenage television dramas. I was fascinated all the way through. The twists were superb. There was one loose end I didn’t believe tied up, so I gave it four stars but it was definitely a great book.

Hello, Juliet- Samantha M. Bailey
Pub Date- 4/29/25
Rating - 3.5/5 rounded up to 4
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. The premise of this book looked very interesting - young adults, Hollywood, and murder all come together so well in this new book by Samantha Bailey. Ivy Westcott returns to Hollywood after 5 years after the end of a hit young adult series called Hello, Juliet. Ivy lost her closest friends, her acting career, and so much more all those years ago. She comes back to LA at the request of her director, Mack, who wants to film a reunion with all the cast members. Little did Ivy know, she is stepping into a murder of her best friend.

I really liked the flip between past and present, divulging more and more information to the reader as the story progresses. Normally YA stories put me off since I can't relate, and while this one had certain parts where I rolled my eyes, overall, I was impressed. The ending is what sold this book to me - I was not expecting it to end the way it did, and I thought I had it figured out for sure. Definitely pick this one up April 29 for a fun ride through Hollywood!

For some reason, this is my first Bailey book. Now I get the hype! This was as addictive as chocolate! I flew through it! Anything with fame/celebrities always gets me hooked. When this started off, I thought I knew where it was going, and I thought it was pretty *predictable* but I was SO wrong, and I loved it. Booksta peeps don’t usually steer me wrong, and I knew that this was going to be wild. It was darker than I expected, which was a surprise. Now I better bump up those Bailey books I have on my shelf because I need more ASAP! Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy!

Thank you so much to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted book!

As far as the story goes, it was very fast and entertaining! I was shocked by the ending! Even though the middle dragged for me at certain points, the twists in the ending made up for it.

I did find most of the characters to be pretty insufferable, but I think that was the point- LOL!

Overall, a fun and quick read but not very memorable!

3.5 rounded up for GR

What is it about reunions? In this case, it's a reunion of the stars of Hello, Juliet, a drama about teens and Ivy, who left Hollywood, decides to join in because she can use the money but one of the other cast member is murdered and she becomes a suspect. This moves back and forth between the show and the present to tell a tale of envy and anger, among others things, that lingers. There are some good twists and (if you've watched these sorts of shows) a few chuckles. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Would make a good travel or vacation read.

I loved that this book takes place in Hollywood and you get to see what happened 10 years ago on the show and present. I loved the alternating time lines, it made me fly through the book. It’s definitely a fast paced, edge of your seat, entertaining thriller. I would definitely recommend!

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter. and trying to solve a murder

Ivy Westcott played famous the famous star and namesake of popular series Hello, Juliet but tragedy hit and caused Hollywood and fans to turn from her. Now she’s been called to a reunion but it starts with a dead costar.

If you enjoy behind the scene Hollywood stories, give this one a try. Personally I had a hard time connecting with the main character and it was difficult for me to tell the past from the present, but there was a good mystery behind the story. My favorite past was the paparazzi, TMZ like articles that represented the public commentary at the time.

“I chose that life the moment I auditioned for Juliet Jones and lost myself.”

Hello, Juliet comes out 4/29.

I’m always a sucker for a Hollywood story and this delivered on every count! As a kid who grew up on The OC and in the era of the teen drama, Hello, Juliet was absolutely a winner and I'd recommend this fun thriller to anyone who ever loved their teen drama stars!

This was such a fun read! Hello Juliet flips from the past, to the present to different types of media surrounding the story itself. I honestly can’t pick which timeline I enjoyed more.

After loving Bailey’s debut but disliking her last two books I was hesitant to read this but I’m so glad I did. More of a 4.5 but I can’t round it down when being surprised at the ending (apparently ignoring any breadcrumbs Bailey left)

Highly recommend this soapy mystery is added to your TBR when it comes out on April 29. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this advanced copy of Hello Juliet. All opinions in this review are my own.

SYNOPSIS
- Ten years ago, Ivy Westcott was the breakout star of Hello, Juliet, a hit teen drama—until scandal blew up her career and shattered her inner circle.
- Now, she’s back for a top-secret reunion episode—broke, desperate, and still searching for the truth about what really happened.
- But when one of her former co-stars turns up dead, Ivy’s forced to dig into old betrayals while staying alive in the middle of a twisted Hollywood whodunit.

MY THOUGHTS
- Told in dual timelines (past & present), which kept things moving and added layers to Ivy’s story.
- Everything is from Ivy’s POV, which worked really well—she’s flawed but likable, and you’re totally rooting for her.
- The short chapters made it super bingeable—I flew through this in basically one sitting.
- Loved the mix of traditional narrative with fake media snippets (tabloid articles, social posts, interviews, etc.). It made the Hollywood world feel so real.
- This book has it all—twists, lies, backstabbing, murder. And just when I thought I figured it out? Nope.
- The “who can you trust?” tension is real. I changed my mind about every single character at least twice.
- The ending? Totally satisfying. Wrapped up the main mystery in a way that felt earned, but didn’t tie every bow too perfectly.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Dark Hollywood vibes meets teen drama reunion with a murder twist. If you like messy friendships, unreliable characters, and stories about fame gone wrong, this one’s for you.

THANKS: Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on April 29, 2025.

This book follows Ivy Westcott in a current timeline and a past timeline. She was once given an acting job in a teen drama that ended and now is coming back for a reunion. After finding a dead body we see both timelines of past and present as we try to solve the murder. I liked the way this was written with getting little clues in both times that lead you to the end. I didn’t guess the ending and thought it was done well. Loved ivy as a character and her strength throughout the book. Overall a good read.

I may have read a different book than everyone else based on reviews.

Ivy Westcott is thrust into fame when she lands the lead role in an upcoming teen drama, but things end tragically and the friendships and relationships she made on the series collapse, and all that is left is hashtag PiosinIvy.

Present day, Ivy goes to attend a secret taping of a reunion show, when her ex best friend and fellow cast mate is found dead. Who killed Lauren, and was Ivy the true intended victim? A look into the life of a Hollywood starlet, the glitz, the glam and all of the secrets.

Ivy was flat, flatter than flat, she had no depth or character to her. Her supporting cast were no better. The overall plot was intriguing, but the path to get there was messy at best.

Hello, Juliet is part murder mystery, part Hollywood drama, and it totally sucked me in. The story flips between the cast’s teenage TV drama days and a reunion years later, and both timelines were equally messy in the best way.

Ivy was an interesting main character and I loved the little touches like fake gossip articles and social media posts. It made it feel even more real and relevant to today’s world

If you’re into stories with drama, secrets, and a little murder on the side, this is a solid pick.

I didn’t like the main character Ivy and that made it tough to like the story. I did enjoy the mix of past and present timelines and the narrator did a good job.

📚: Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

Hello, Juliet, a soapy teen drama from the 2000s could slot right next to Gossip Girl, Dawson’s Creek, or The OC. With a cast bringing just as much drama in real life, it was no surprise when its star, Ivy Westcott leaves LA after a particularly devastating fight with her costars.

A decade later when she’s asked to take part in a top secret reunion, she reluctantly agrees, only to find her former best friend and costar, Lauren, dead. Who’s behind Lauren’s death, and what really happened all those years ago?

This book hooked me early - I love a read that has a dose of 2000s nostalgia. The mixed media does a great job of narrating the past, and calls back to the US Weekly era so well. That said, the ending came across flat, with a rushed reveal that feels thrown together.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Hello, Juliet is out on 4/29.

Usually I FLY through Samantha M Bailey’s books. They’re always autobuys for me. This one missed the mark though.

The biggest issue I had with this book is the main character acted far more like a teenager than a 22 year old and later 30ish year old woman. I don’t understand nor did I like the characterization of her. I think the plot could have worked even if she had even remotely acted her age. I also didn’t feel the tension. Maybe it’s because Ivy didn’t jive with me that I wasn’t invested in what happened. I also saw the plot twist coming. The foreshadowing was pretty blatant.

I love Samantha Bailey. She writes the most perfect popcorn thrillers. This was no exception. I love sinister reunion thrillers and I loved the tv aspect. If you liked in my dreams I hold a knife, you’ll live for this.

3.5 stars

Hello, Juliet was a fast paced mystery that focuses on the 4 actors in their early twenties starring as high schoolers in the new Hello, Juliet series. It was filled with all the drama you'd expect there to be on a film set, with a then/now timeline and lots of secrets.

None of the characters were particularly likable, which was expected. The story kept me hooked the entire time, however, some of the twists were predictable. Overall, this was a good mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy!

A juicy blend of Hollywood drama, second chances, and murder mystery, this suspenseful page-turner follows Ivy Westcott as she returns to the spotlight—and the scene of her greatest heartbreak. A decade after scandal shattered her career and friendships, Ivy reluctantly joins a secret reunion of her once-beloved show Hello, Juliet, only to find herself entangled in a deadly mystery when a former castmate turns up dead. With sharp twists, buried secrets, and a simmering romance, this is a compelling whodunit set against the glitzy, cutthroat world of fame. A perfect pick for fans of celebrity scandals, dramatic reunions, and murder with a side of glam.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer for a copy of this!