A well-written thriller with a entertaining plot. This is high-quality thriller material and it's not all twists - no plot.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

Holy Shooty Balls!!!! This book was pure perfection!

Glitzy, sinister, and jaw-dropping—this book felt like stepping onto a Hollywood stage where every shadow hides a secret, and the spotlight exposes everything.

I was completely swept away by HELLO, JULIET by SAMANTHA M. BAILEY. From the very first page, I was hooked—utterly consumed by Ivy’s story and the world she was forced to return to. The Hollywood setting was intoxicating, with its glossy façade masking so much darkness. It drew me in, just like Ivy, and wouldn’t let go.

I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters. I formed such strong feelings for every one of them—some I rooted for, others I couldn’t trust, and a few absolutely broke my heart. They felt so real, so complex, and I found myself completely entranced by their tangled relationships and the betrayals that defined them. Ivy, especially, stole my heart. Her resilience and vulnerability made her someone I rooted for so fiercely, even when the odds felt stacked against her.

The alternating timelines pulled me even deeper into the story. Seeing Ivy’s past unravel alongside the present made the tension almost unbearable—in the best way. And those social media excerpts? They hit hard, adding this sharp, chilling realism that had me glued to every page.

And the twists… I’m still not over them. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Bailey threw in another jaw-dropping twist that left me reeling. Each one was so clever, so shocking, and yet they all fit perfectly into this story.

I was totally entranced—not just by the characters, but by the entire world of Hello, Juliet. It’s glitzy, dangerous, and impossible to escape. This is one of those thrillers that will stay with me and be unforgettable, pulling me back into its orbit long after I reached the end. I can't praise this one enough-it was that good and completely mind-blowing!

Expected Publication Date: April 29, 2025

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy—I loved every second of it!

I loved this story! By far my favourite from this author thus far. This book kept me engaged from the start and the twist and the end I did not see coming! This book had a bit of a nostalgic feel for me, made me think of some shows I used to watch while I was younger, like the OC. Highly recommend!

Another banger from Samantha M. Bailey! This thriller grabs you from the opening chapter and doesn't let you go until the shocking twist. The two timelines of a group of actors coming back for a TV show reunion—only for one them to be found dead—alongside the same cast as young celebrities trying to navigate set life and fame was pure pacing genius. Bailey has solidified herself as a master of thriller with this one.

Hello, Juliet has a fun premise - Ivy was part of a teen show years ago that might be more well-known for the antics of the stars and the death of one of the foursome. She agrees to do a reunion ten years later, and another costar is found dead, sending Ivy reeling and unsure of who to trust.

I loved the way articles and social media chats were interspersed between the chapters, and enjoyed the dual POV going back to the time the show was filming. This one feels like a true popcorn thriller, bingeable and easy to read.

Ivy's character drove me absolutely insane with her immaturity. While I understand she was supposed to be very sheltered, this is a 32 year old woman who still can't figure out how to function without her mommy and man was it annoying. I also found the final answers to the mystery to be told in such a surface level way that felt like it was more about shocking the reader than about making the story make sense.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

this was a fun and thrilling read, and i liked the plot twists. it really gave dark, mystery, teen dramas from the early 2000s, and i loved that. did not absolutely loved the MC, but that's alright - it's pretty rare for me to really love the MC usually - but i would recommend this book!

I love a good Hollywood themed thriller.
Hello, Juliet is addicting, fast paced and full of twists. Told in past and present timelines along with mixed media.
Ivy Westcott finally makes it big and lands the part of the main character in Hello, Juliet. It’s a popular teen drama series that ends way too soon with a casting fallout. Ivy gets blamed and ridiculed by fans. Years later, Ivy gets an invite to be apart of a filmed reunion. But when she arrives, no one is in the studio but the dead body of a cast mate….
Such a roller coaster ride! I could not stop reading and can definitely see why it’s getting all the buzz at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse!

I loved this book!! Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this one.
I was hooked from the beginning and there was so much happening throughout the whole book. I enjoyed the dual timelines when Ivy was casted in the show and 10 years later. Can’t trust anyone in this book until the very end!
This book comes available on my birthday ☺️ 4/29 and you should absolutely add this to your 2025 TBR!

Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey is one of those books that grabs you from the first page, and you just know it’s going to be an insanely fun ride. Bailey always delivers on twisty, fast-paced thrillers, and wow—she really outdid herself here. The story follows a reunion of former co-stars from a hit TV show, but what should be a celebration quickly spirals into a web of secrets, betrayal, and danger. No one is trustworthy, and nothing is what it seems until the very last page.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how it dives into the dark side of Hollywood. It explores how the pressures of fame, the constant scrutiny, and the false promises of glitz and glam can shatter someone young and new to the industry. Bailey captures the allure and the cracks beneath the surface perfectly. The characters are layered, each hiding something—and the twists will have you questioning everyone’s motives. It’s the kind of book that keeps you guessing and gasping right up to the finale.

If you love a thriller with glamour, intrigue, and a hefty dose of betrayal, Hello, Juliet will not disappoint. It’s sharp, suspenseful, and deliciously deceptive—everything a great psychological thriller should be.

I absolutely loved this book. It had everything!
Secrets, lies, deceptions , murder, mystery!
Hollywood in 2014 four young stars are picked to star in a new TV series that fans love!
Ivy has picked for the star, and beats out seasoned actress , Lauren for the role.
Lauren and Ivy become best friends, which is a new concept as Ivy has never had friends and for Ivy this is truly a rags to riches to rags story !
Lauren , Ivy, Caleb and Jesse become the friends and family they all need, however, this is not without its secret, lies and deceptions!

Fast-forward 10 years, Ivy is working as a grocery clerk, when she gets an email about a top secret reunion show, she needs the money and she would like two mend fences with her costars. When she arrives at the scene all she finds is Lauren ‘s dead body.
It is time for all those secrets, lies, mysteries, past life’s, to become uncovered.

Wow - Bailey really knocked it out of the park with this one. If I hadn't had to 'real life' this past week, I would have finished this in one sitting: it was that addictive! As a teenager in the 90s in the height of the "I Hate Brenda" 90210 craze, this gave me a wonderful, nostalgic blast from the past feel. I did guess the "villain" pretty early on, but it didn't take away how fantastic the storytelling was. So happy to start the new year off with a 5 star read!

Hello, Juliet is a twisty and bingeable read with an endearing main character named Ivy Westcott, dubbed #poisonivy, after a brief stint of fame in a Hollywood sitcom. Told in dual timelines, the plotting is masterful as it unravels the mystery behind the murder in the present of Ivy's former best friend and costar. The secondary characters, including Ivy's castmates from the sitcom and her mother, are distinctive and play a vital role in tying everything together. Fans of Hollywood mysteries and psychological thrillers will love this book.

Hello, Juliet is a twisty thriller mixing the past with the present, friends and lovers, fame and infamy. I loved the dual timelines and the intimate look behind the scenes on the making of a hit television series. The drama, relationships, gossip, and overall cutthroat nature of the industry was on full display and well executed.

Generally, I liked Ivy's character - she felt relatable and I was rooting for her. There were times I questioned her decisions and also got frustrated by her always feeling like the victim when she finally had achieved the success he had been trying to achieve. But overall, she felt like a normal girl who wanted to make her mom proud and was just too naïve to understand all that could come with being in the spotlight.

It was hard to know who to trust in this novel. Everyone was an actor so I was never certain who was genuine and who was playing a role or manipulating a situation. The red herrings totally threw me and I will admit, I was completely surprised by the outcome of the novel. Many things weren't even on my radar and I loved how completed surprised I ended up being.

Samantha Bailey has been a fan favorite at THE PULSE and there is no doubt that Hello, Juliet will exceed expectations for thriller fans!

Out April 29, 2025, this should be on your most anticipated for 2025!

📖 ARC Review

PUB Date : April 28th 2025

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 3 Underwhelming Stars

🍿 This is your typical popcorn thriller of who done it .

For fans of Pretty Little Liars & Gossip Girl , and I adored these TV series , …but I didn’t adore this .

I know my opinion is unpopular on this book , but I started reading this book the end of December and struggled to finish it,not only that I guessed the plot at the very beginning which I try not to typically do, but was very obvious from the get go and maybe the was the author’s intentions?

Read this if you like ;
🎥 Dual Timelines
🎥 Hollywood Drama
🎥 Mystery
🎥 Unlikeable Characters
🎥 Popcorn Thrillers

Ivy has been sent an email to do a reunion of Hello Juliet , 10 years after her acting career fell through the cracks and was nobody .

The money would really help out her and her mom , so it was an instant yes to do take this opportunity and make a come back !

The curvy red head makes her way to the studio only to find it deserted and the first one there .

Where is everyone??

What is that hanging in her dressing room closet ??

If Ivy isn’t careful she could find herself not only out of a career but , buried 6 feet under 👀

Don’t let my review stop you from reading this one if it sounds like your jam !

QOTD- If you could have lunch with one author who would be ?

AOTD- Mine would be Stephen King the author who gave me passion for reading in the 80’s 🫶🏼

Thank you NetGalley ,Thomas & Mercer and Samantha M. Bailey for this gifted ARC. In return for my honest review .

A quick read that passed the time just fine - it read a bit like a Nickolodeon documentary and I didn't mind that at all. Thanks for the free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/29/25

I loved this book! The twists were amazing and the unreliable narrators made this story a page turner. I had to find out what was happening. The shocking ending was perfect! The buzz going around from #thepulse is real ya’ll! @thrillerbooklovers.thepulse never lets me down with her book choices! Thank you for letting me read and review this one early! I read this in a day, trust me when I say this is binge worthy!

Fame and fortune playing a teen in a hit tv show, Ivy had a great life! She was friends with the biggest stars and making her mom proud. Little thing begin happening that seem like someone is trying to sabotage her. When a cast mate dies, the show is canceled before they shoot the finale. Years later, Ivy receives an email from the director’s assistant to film a reunion, along with $20k venmo’d to her. She only agrees because her mom has health issues and she can pay for treatment this way. When she gets to set, she finds a dark surprise.

ᴴᴱᴸᴸᴼ,ᴶᵁᴸᴵᴱᵀ
By Samantha M. Bailey
Release Date 04/29/2025

Keeping this review short and sweet since the book doesn’t come out for another 120 days!
#addthistoyourTBR Because this book is GOOD!

The story is told between two timelines: the present day and 2014.
From the beginning, you realize Ivy Wescott is a bit of a wallflower… However, She learns to find her voice while gaining a lead part on the hit new show нello, Jυlιeт. The press gives Ivy hell, all the while glamorizing her costars.
ᴴᴱᴸᴸᴼ, ᴶᵁᴸᴵᴱᵀ is a show about high school students who seem good on the surface but battle demons underneath; the audience never knows who to trust and who to root for.
The fans love the drama between high school students Juliet, Skylar, Hudson, and Logan, but they are all close friends behind the scenes. That is until something happens within the group that forever changes these young actors' lives.
(I give this book 4.5 🌟s—only because I guessed the ending right around 50 pages in —but did not skip to the end; it was worth reading it all the way to find out!!)

4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

From the book -
Ivy Westcott fled LA as her acting career imploded. In a flash, she lost her first love and chosen family—her Hello, Juliet castmates. But she never discovered who turned her closest friends against her. Now the whole world knows her as #PoisonIvy.
A decade later, Ivy is horrified when a celebrity exposé thrusts the Hello, Juliet cast back into the limelight, dredging up the old scandals she hoped to escape. Desperate for a fresh start and some financial stability for her mother and manager, Ivy agrees to participate in a top-secret reunion episode.

#thomasmercer #samanthambailey #hellojuliet #amazonpublishing #bookreview #2025bookrelease #thrillerbooks #pageturner #thrillerbookstagram #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookshelf #booklife #hellojulietbook #upcomingbookrelease

Hello, Juliet
By: Samantha Bailey

Another wicked novel by Bailey. When a scandal rocks Ivy’s world she leaves Hollywood. She has lost all those closest to her and is known as #poisonivy.

Years later she has the chance to find out what really happened and who betrayed her. Oh what a wicked tail that will keep you guessing long into the night. Will she live to tell her side of the story?

Hello, Juliet is a thrilling novel that grabs you right from the start, told in a past she present narrative with social media snippets thrown in throughout the novel as well. Early on in the book an incident occurs and you are then given snippets from the past about the characters while a present tense investigation into the incident is taking place. Twists and turns leave you suspecting so many of the crime and ultimately the ending was unpredictable and shocking.
I found this to be a fast bingeable read that you’ll find hard to put down, as you are piecing the story together trying to figure out what happened and who was behind it all. With a mind blowing ending!

This is a great twisty thriller that will have you guessing until the very end! Reminiscent of the teen shows of yesteryear the dual timeline bounces between current day and a decade ago when Ivy Wescott, a relatively unknown, was cast in the much-anticipated teen drama, Hello, Juliet. The drama isn’t confined only to the show though. The cast brings plenty of drama offscreen as well. Their fierce bond is intertwined with love, friendship, romance, suspicion, hurt and jealousy until it’s broken in the most devastating way.
Now years later, Ivy is still reeling from her fall from grace and in dire need of money, she’s presented with the chance to film a reunion show. Unfortunately, when she arrives on set a murder is discovered, placing Ivy high as a suspect.
The story includes a cast of characters that you will waiver between loving and hating! Bailey masterfully interweaves the dual timelines and use of Hollywood Gossip Columns to unfold the story in such a way that you will feel totally immersed and won’t want to put this one down!