While the book started off strong and promising, it ended up going down hill and I did not enjoy the last 40%. The premise was a great idea but I think it failed to pull through at the end.

Bartz plots a great cult story that tests even the most logical mind of a social worker. The ride here is emotional and harrowing - a fantastic spring thriller.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of The Last Session in exchange for an honest review.

This started as a solid 4 for me. I was intrigued by the premise, which felt somewhat unique. Some of the reveals in Part 1 made me more interested, and by 40% I was fully invested to find out what was happening next.

Part 2 is when things start falling off for me. I understand that this resort is supposed to be full of cult like behavior, but that doesn't mean I want to be subjected to reading chapter after chapter of their delusional thinking. It gets more and more convoluted and makes less and less sense. By Part 4 my eyes are fully stuck in rolled mode.

I found the subplot surrounding the religious and sexual trauma that Thea experienced to be completely unnecessary. There was also a VERY misplaced spicy scene that I was not expecting, and felt gratuitous.

The last 80% or so dragged on and on and by the end I wasn't satisfied. I was just glad it was finally over.

I personally think that books that discuss really heavy and triggering topics like religious and sexual trauma should be handled with care, and I don't think it was here. There is something icky about the way it was done and while I appreciate the triggers warnings by the author, I think these could have just...not been here and she would have gotten a similar story.

Random fact that has been bugging me: Many people in their reviews say that Thea is a therapist and she is not. She is a psychiatric social worker, which is a very different thing.

The Last Session
by Julia Bartz
Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat, a white-knuckled locked-room thriller about a social worker who, after coming face-to-face with her dark past, must infiltrate a mysterious wellness center in the deserts of New Mexico.
This book was a let down for me.
Although this book will grab you at the beginning, it does slow way down at about the halfway point, and so many parts of it are too far-fetched for me. It is definitely an interesting plot that I would label as a dark thriller, and I’m sure there’s a huge audience for that, but I struggled a bit.

3.5 rounded up! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of "The Last Session" in exchange for my honest review.

I loved "The Writing Retreat," so I was thrilled to have the chance at an early peek at "The Last Session." It truly had everything I crave in an escape: locked-room setting, unpredictable narration, and new-age cult-iness. Reading this was like binging a wild cult documentary and it definitely has all the makings of a "Nine Perfect Strangers"-esque series. I loved all of these aspects, plus the way that Bartz subtly dropped quarantine into the story of the early appeal of the retreat.

I did have some trouble believing the coincidence of the connection between Thea and Catherine and the in-novel movie, Stargirl. I kept waiting for a logical explanation on how these connections came to be, and even convinced myself there was something specific coming down the pike (I won't say what I thought, since it didn't come to pass- I don't want to inadvertently provide a spoiler!), so I was left with a plot-hole of my own making. I also would have liked more of a look into Thea's home life with her family to give our main character more depth.

Seriously, though- someone call Hulu!

As much as I enjoyed Julia Bartz's first novel, <i>the Writing Retreat</i>, this sophomore attempt was so lackluster for me. For a book that's less than 250 pages, itt just dragged on and on and on, and by the halfway mark I was so bored that I wanted to put it down. And by the way it all evened out, I should've DNF'd it.

There isn't any situation in this book that affirms its "locked door mystery" pronouncement in the summary, the cult portion of the novel wasn't culty and weird enough for me, and I agree with a lot of other reviews that say this book requires a lot of suspension of belief. And the writing? So bland. Zero style, zero prose.

Also, I'd like for once for a woman's kink to not be explained away by past trauma. Yes, what happened with Pastor John and Adam was terrible, no doubt, but it's okay to have a degradation kink just because that's your kink. It's fine.

I'd hate to see Bartz be a one-hit wonder for me, but I guess we'll see with her next novel.

This was an excellent physiological thriller in the vein of The Silent Patient. It is clear that Bartz is really coming into herself as an author and fine tuned a lot of her skills that weren’t as solid in The Writing Retreat. I was riveted from the beginning of this thriller set in a wellness retreat.

The narrative delves into themes of spirituality, the supernatural, cult dynamics, and past lives, while also addressing significant real-life issues such as sexual trauma and religious trauma. The potential directions for the storyline seem abundant. However, there were concerns regarding the pacing; the story initially felt prolonged and sluggish. Additionally, the exploration of spiritual and cult elements appeared excessive and lacked engagement, while the conclusion felt hurried and did not deliver a strong impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC copy.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7256564152
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In "The Last Session" Julia Bartz delivers a taut and harrowing thriller that delves deep into trauma, human vulnerability, and the sinister exploitation of the emotionally fragile.

The plot is compelling and richly layered, following Thea, an art therapist haunted by her own troubled past, as she embarks on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth behind a catatonic patient’s disappearance. Moving seamlessly between a psychiatric ward in New York and the eerie desert retreat of the Center for Relational Healing, Bartz creates a vivid and unsettling backdrop for the suspenseful narrative.

Thea’s journey is both psychological and physical, unfolding with an urgency that keeps the reader invested while allowing space for emotional depth. The pacing, which maintains a fine balance between tension and revelation, is excellent, and the narrative twists are carefully orchestrated, building intrigue and delivering shocks at just the right moments to hold readers' attention.

Thea stands out as a deeply flawed yet empathetic protagonist. Her struggles with addiction, the lingering scars of past abuse, and her determination to save a woman who eerily mirrors her own identity make her an unforgettable lead. The supporting cast, from the enigmatic Jonah to the shadowy figures of Moon and Sol, are equally compelling and complex, adding layers of mystery and moral ambiguity to the tale.

Ultimately, "The Last Session" is both a chilling thriller and a poignant exploration of the ways in which pain and vulnerability can be exploited. Bartz’s sharp prose and unflinching portrayal of emotional trauma elevate the story, making it as thought-provoking as it is gripping. This is a thriller with depth, complexity, and an unrelenting sense of unease, and readers will find this to be an unforgettable experience.

I really liked how The Last Session started out. It’s a mystery about a patient who shows up at a psychiatric hospital. Because of Thea, the therapist’s, past and connection she feels with this patient the rest of the story is about what she does to help her. In doing so the rest of the story goes down a crazy path. If you like realistic stories this might not be for you. However if you enjoy reading entertaining stories and are open to “out there” thinking then this would be for you. Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC!

I have a love hate relationship with this book now lol. The first 30% of the books was boring, 30-60% was interesting with a few twists, 60-90% had me thinking "wtf am I reading?", and the last 10% redeemed the book. The cult aspect was new to me, with that and the redeemable ending I gave it a solid 4 stars

I was hooked since the beginning of Catherine's story. She mysteriously ends up at a psychiatric hospital with no memory of anything. She looks traumatized and won't talk to anyone. Thea a social worker gets Catherines case, and she has a feeling that she looks familiar. Suddenly, Catherine dissappears, and Thea makes it her mission to find her. Thea finds some clues that lead her to a retreat in New Mexico. Let me tell you, it gets weird from that moment on. Weird people, and it gives cult vibes. I enjoyed the book for the most part.

That was not for me. The time jumping at the end felt very disjointed and confusing. The first three segments of the book felt anticlimactic, but not in the regular thriller way. It was an excellent idea, but the execution was not for me.

This was an interesting read with cult vibes! I was drawn into the story from the start! 🙌

I have to say, I did feel like this was a bit over the top for me though. Despite that, I did still enjoy it and would recommend checking it out! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

This was the first “cult” book I’ve read. The first half of this book was strong & kept me interested in the mystery unfolding. Things started to get a bit repetitive & off the rails, but I will say, Julia has insane creativity/research to come up with the ideas in this story! I was very impressed in that regard!
It was just okay for me; I definitely had to just enjoy the ride & suspend my belief in what was happening in the second half.
Thank you Atria Books for an early copy of The Last Session!

So many times I wanted to stop reading this awful novel.It started off fairly ok then it seemed to get better.Not!!For some reason I felt compelled to keep going to see where it would end. I found myself skipping large chunks of the utter nonsense that I found totally boring and unrealistic.At some point didn’t care how it ended.
Thank you NetGalley,author,Julia Bartz,and publisher,Altria Books for the opportunity to read,Last Session.
You may read all the other reviews about this novel because I really have nothing to add about this convoluted story.
On sale April 01,2025.

Wellness centers are supposed to be healing, it is right there in the name. That's not necessarily the case with the Center for Recreational Healing, led by a cultish like couple, Moon and Sol, as they are known. On the surface, the two seem to have good intentions, but with time, it is clear they have their own agenda, and morals, doing whatever ti takes to achieve those goals.

This story begins in NYC, where a social worker, Thea, first meets a Jane Doe. And while this woman isn't talking, Thea is drawn to her, not just because they look alike. I won't get into any details, but this woman eventually leads Thea to the Center when she is mysteriously picked up by people pretending to be her parents.

There are a lot of subplots in this story, maybe too many. The most intriguing one being Thea's childhood trauma, something Moon draws out during her time at the center.

If you think of Wellness Centers as spiritual mumbo jumbo, like I do at times, this book won't change that impression. Moon and Sol are clearly taking advantage of their guests' vulnerability, and with Thea and Catherine (Jane Doe), they take things to the extreme. Things that could put them in jail.

The ending is a bit over the top, but I'm glad some got justice and closure.

Overall, this book is an intriguing one, but didn't have my heart racing like I'd want with a thriller. Probably because I didn't connect with the character. However, if you like cult themed books, this one may be for you.

This thriller is full of twists and surprises, and inside look into recruiting for an intense cult.

As a child, Thea felt a connection to movie star Catherine O’Brien. They looked alike, they shared the same birthday, but there was something more.

Years later a Jane Doe who is admitted to the psychiatric ward Thea is working on seems strangely familiar. They seem to have a connection, despite not knowing each other at all. Jane Doe feels it too.

Their meeting starts a chain of events that bring Thea to a weekend retreat to jumpstart relationships. Something is just drawing her there.

As more and more is revealed, the intentions of the retreat and those in attendance become darker and more twisted.

I am fascinated by cult behavior and how someone can find themselves wrapped up in what appears to be outrageous claims and practices. Watching this happen step by step over just a few days shows just how easily someone can slip into a group mentality.

I really enjoyed this story and was definitely surprised by plot twists along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have complicated thoughts on this one. Overall- great concept and who doesn’t feel intrigued by a cult? However I got a little lost in all the details and would have to stop and re read occasionally, specifically in the parts pertaining to the reincarnation. Other than that it was a good thriller with really unique ideas!

What did I just read?? This thriller is bizarre. It takes readers into a cult mindset with a narrator who is unsure about reality. Is she living in a collective consciousness or is she just being gaslit?

Some topics for discussion are:
Grooming
Cults
Accountability
Sexuality

There is a diverse set of characters. When reading you feel like you’re really the at the therapy center. The narrator is unlikable at times. She borders between victim and a person who makes excuses for her actions.

Overall, the setting of a therapeutic retreat led by unhinged cult leaders was very entertaining. There were many twists and turns—- while suspending one’s beliefs is important to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.